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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 Ashland man admits to laundering pot money ... Pot crash course offered in Ashland ... Animal Control rescues stranded Labrador ... Ashland man admits to laundering pot money ... Pot crash course offered in Ashland ... Animal Control rescues stranded Labrador ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: No eyes in the sky when hunting Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News There have been reports of hunters in Southern Oregon using drones to scout for deer and elk before hunting. Isn't that illegal and are game wardens going to do something about it? —Anonymous Sgt. Jim Collom of the Oregon State Police's Fish and Wildlife Division says he and other troopers in the Central Point office have heard the same rumors about people flying drones in the woods before and during hunting season. But Collom says he even did his own investigation into whether drones, or helicopters, were being used by hunters during the opening of the Cacsade's general bull elk season for rifle hunters with no success. "I've never witnessed a helicopter or drone doing it and this year was no different," Collom says. The current law is that drones are treated like helicopters have been treated for decades — that hunters can't hunt until at least eight hours after using a helicopter or drone to relay information from the air to hunters on the ground. Under that language, it's "nearly impossible" to prove that case on a drone, but perhaps more likely if anyone was using a drone or helicopter to spook deer or elk from lands not open to hunting into lands open for hunting, Collom says. That would be a wildlife harassment case, he says. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, however, last month expanded the drone restrictions beginning in 2016. The commission banned drones while hunting, trapping or fishing as an unfair technological advantage to scope out fishing spots or scout for game animals while in the field, regardless of how far in advance the flying occurs before hunting or fishing. —Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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