Best Thermal Imaging Drones For Hunting [2024 Update]

Drone hunting has become widespread, and thermal imaging drones for hunting can better spot, track and locate prey, and we will explain the updated version of the best thermal imaging drones for hunting in 2024!

Is Thermal Camera Drone Hunting Legal?

From an ethical point of view, hunting with the advantage of the high-tech equipment of thermal imaging drones may be seen as a violation of the principles of fair hunting, while reducing the chances of escape for prey.

From a legal point of view, the use of thermal imager drones for hunting may be suspected of destroying wildlife ecosystems, angering people, and threatening public safety. But at present, there are still no relevant laws and regulations restricting thermal imaging drone hunting.

We recommend that, in any case, the use of drones for hunting must comply with local laws, regulations and ethical standards.

How can a thermal imaging drone help me for hunting?

Thermal drones are fitted with an infrared camera for thermal photography and videography (also known as thermal imaging).

Thermal drones are used to detect any object that emits a temperature difference from its surroundings. In game hunting, thermal drones track and locate animals more effectively than traditional hunting methods.

Specific performance of thermal imaging drones for hunting:

• Locating Animals: - Thermal drones locate animals hiding in dense foliage or in low-light conditions. Thermal cameras on drones can detect an animal's thermal signature and display it on a monitor, allowing hunters to pinpoint its location.
• Tracking Injury Game: - If a hunter injures an animal, thermal imaging drones are able to detect the animal's heat signature, which is especially useful in dense forests where tracking is difficult.
• Reconnaissance: - Aerial reconnaissance using thermal drones can provide information on an animal's location, movement patterns and behaviour.
• Surveillance: Hunters can use thermal imaging drones to monitor an area for poachers or other illegal activity.
• Safety: - Thermal imaging drones can also be used to check the area for predators and other potential hazards.

Best Thermal Camera Drones for Hunting 2024

Autel EVO II 640T V3

The Autel EVO II 640T V3 drone is equipped with a new generation thermal camera with a resolution up to 640 x 512 @ 30 Hz. The drone is foldable, highly compact, with dual camera sensors, three-axis gimbal stabilization, and 10 thermal color palettes when viewing thermal images, which can quickly find prey tracks in complex hunting areas.

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Autel Robotics EVO II Dual 640T V3 Rugged Bundle

$4,799.00 USD

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Autel EVO II 640T V3 has a maximum horizontal flight speed of 20m/s, a maximum flight time of 38 minutes, and a maximum image transmission distance of 15km. It is controlled by the Autel smart remote control V3. The remote control has a 7.9-inch screen and a brightness of up to 2000 nits , in a low-light environment or at night, you can observe the traces of the thermal imaging camera drone tracking the prey.

Autel MAX 4T

Autel MAX 4T will be one of the most leading commercial drones in 2023, with semi-autonomous drones, multiple sensor cameras, and leading A-Mesh networking technology to build a drone fleet to achieve a wide range of drones Deployment, the top of the drone has a replaceable load interface, which can be equipped with RTK modules, megaphones, flashes, and lights. The MAX 4T drone can also be interconnected with EVO Nest and Autel Skycommand Center to form a highly effective drone aerial solution.

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Autel Robotics EVO MAX 4T

$8,799.00 USD

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The maximum horizontal flight speed of Autel MAX 4T can reach 23m/s, the maximum flight time is 42 minutes, and the farthest image transmission distance is 20km. It is controlled by Autel smart remote control V3. The current max series and V3 remote control are not compatible. Autel MAX 4T will undoubtedly be a high-cost hunting thermal imaging drone, which serves more commercial organizations and public safety departments.

DJI Matrice 30T

The DJI M30T is part of the DJI Matrice 30 series, delivering a powerful payload in a foldable package. It features a new remote control and app DJI Pilot 2, 3 high-resolution cameras and the ability to create 2D maps and shoot in 4K or higher resolution. This drone has intelligent mission functions such as obstacle avoidance, ActiveTrack, map autonomous missions, automatic takeoff and landing docking station.

The maximum horizontal flight speed of DJI Matric M30 can reach 23m/s, the maximum flight time is 41 minutes, and the farthest image transmission distance is 15km. M30T is a value-for-money drone among thermal imaging drones, but as a hunting thermal imaging drone, the price is as high as $15,000, which is not an ideal price.

DJI Mavic 3T

Mavic 3 Enterprise is an updated version of Mavic 3 or Mavic 3 Cine, divided into M3E and M3T, M3T is a drone with a thermal imaging camera. The Mavic 3 Enterprise Series drone can do just about anything, but the drone body doesn't have onboard memory.

The maximum horizontal flight speed of DJI M3T can reach 21m/s, the maximum flight time is 45 minutes, and the farthest image transmission distance is 15km. The DJI M3T is an option most users should consider when hunting a thermal imaging drone.

Autel EVO II 640T V2 Enterprise

The maximum horizontal flight speed of Autel EVO II 640T V2 can reach 23m/s, the maximum flight time is 38 minutes, and the farthest image transmission distance is 15km. Controlled by Autel Smart Remote Control V3, the difference from Autel EVO II 640T V3 is the difference in the camera sensor.

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual

The maximum horizontal flight speed of DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual is 72 km/h, the longest flight time is about 31 minutes, and the farthest image transmission distance is 10km. DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual can be used for wildlife hunting very well, and it is a mid-to-high-end level of thermal imaging drones.

Teledyne FLIR SIRAS™

SIRAS™ is the first professional drone with thermal imaging and visible light camera payloads from Teledyne FLIR, a well-known manufacturer and sales company of thermal imaging cameras.

Affordable, easy-to-fly, and IP54-rated thermal imaging drones with interchangeable payload systems, the SIRAS thermal imaging drone is suitable for industrial and utility inspections, firefighting, law enforcement, and search and rescue missions.

The maximum horizontal flight speed of SIRAS can reach 18m/s, the maximum flight time is 31 minutes, the farthest image transmission distance is 9km, and there is no geographical fence limit. In hunting thermal imaging drones, it's just a novice just getting its ticket.

Yuneec H520

The Yuneec H520 is a powerful, non-foldable device with great reliability, stability and precision. One of the features of Yuneec H520 series is that it does not transmit data to a remote server, and the team mode function controls drones and cameras separately.

Yuneec H520 series has multiple interchangeable camera gimbal loads, E30Z/X, E90/X, E10T/X, CGOET/X. Among them, E10T/X is used as the thermal imaging camera load.

The cost of the Yuneec H520 is high, and it is necessary to consider cost and applicability when choosing a thermal imaging drone for hunting.

Another role of drones in hunting games: deer recoverers

Drones are a game changer for hunting, drones are used for carcass recovery. Use thermal imaging drones to recover your money for deer recovery.

Don't risk chasing deer on foot or with tracking dogs to avoid hitting deer. Instead, hire a thermal imaging drone pilot and use a thermal imaging drone to find buck carcasses or other prey.

Thermal imaging drones can find the buck you shot at 400 feet in the air, while finding the carcass from the air without disturbing other wildlife and getting precise coordinates to recover it. This balances the benefits of drones with potential risks

Explore the future of hunting with thermal imaging drones

With the continuous advancement of technology, the application prospects of thermal imaging drones in the hunting field are very broad. In the future, the use of thermal imaging drones in hunting will be more intelligent, precise and diverse, providing hunters with more powerful tools and support.

Change is the only constant, even in an activity as time-honored as hunting. At present, there are some voices of opposition to drone hunting, claiming that it violates the principle of hunting fairness. We need to find a balance and hope to see the government work with forward-looking people in the hunting field. Together, they can formulate regulations to protect hunting while embracing the positive impact of technology, so that technological progress can enhance rather than hinder the spirit of hunting.