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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Dropped golf course a loss for the south coast ... Trading coho for chinook ... UPDATED: Ten dead in UCC shooting ... Our View: Dropped golf course a loss for the south coast ... Trading coho for chinook ... UPDATED: Ten dead in UCC shooting ... HUNTING Legislature looks at banning hunting with drones Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 30, 2015 at 12:13 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 30, 2015 at 12:13 PM » Social News A bill to ban the use of drones while hunting or fishing is sailing through the Oregon Legislature as hunting groups and others join to ensure the principles of outdoors fair-chase keeps up with technology. House Bill 2534 is getting close to hitting a full vote by the Oregon Senate after a hearing Wednesday in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee that resulted in a recommendation for the Senate to pass it. The Oregon House unanimously passed the bill in March. It is set for a third reading today. The bill specifically bans drones for hunting or fishing, as well as for harassing or tracking any fish or wildlife in the state. Moreover, the bill would ban the use of drones for interfering with lawful fishing and hunting activities. Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division officials say they have not yet encountered drone use by hunters or anglers and supporters say this bill would ensure that here. Supporters fear using drones, also known as "unmanned aerial vehicles," armed with cameras will give hunters an undue edge when looking for deer or elk herds prior to or during their time afield. It has enjoyed broad support from sportsmen's groups like Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the Medford-based Oregon Hunters Association. "Fair chase is a crucial element of modern-day hunting, and drones don’t fit within the definition of fair chase," OHA state coordinator Duane Dungannon says. "Technology is advancing so fast that it's difficult to stay out in front of it. This is an effort to at least try to catch up with it." Keeping hunters from using advances in technology to boost their chances goes back decades with the ban on using aircraft to spot big-game animals. In Oregon, it has long been illegal to hunt big-game until at least eight hours after communicating or receiving information from an aircraft. Two years ago, ODFW added language that specifically mentions drones in that eight-hour window. The current bill jumps far past the eight-hour window for an all-out ban not only on spying on animals' whereabouts from the air but also spooking or herding them with drones and from harassing hunters and anglers with them. Oregon traditionally has been on the front-end of fair-chase issues, having banned some electronic duck decoys as they reached the market more than a decade ago. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in 2002 also banned the use of holograms as hunting decoys even before that technology hit the sport-hunting market. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 30, 2015 at 12:13 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501