Drone Season is Open

KentA · Oct 21, 2017

Got shot at today when I stopped by a friend’s place.

The old man was an avid hunter but isn’t healthy enough to get out anymore, so I suggested we just sit at his picnic table & send my X-Star up to scout his fields. When it was about 100’ above Bob’s old tree stand & maybe 1500’ away from his house, we heard a shot & knew it came from the edge of his woods. It was loud enough to send the quad up to maximum altitude & on a course for home.

Well old Bob was suddenly frisky & jumped on his ATV to hunt the shooter. From above I could see him race into the field & disappear under the trees. He came back to say they had a discussion & the guy wouldn’t be back. The excuse had been that he didn’t think Bob would want a drone flying over his property.

Since he is old enough to be wise, my friend wouldn’t tell me who the shooter was, but apparently warned him that I’m a much better shot than he is.

bjtap · Oct 21, 2017

KentA,
Don't really know how to react to what happened. As I was reading I was thinking 'call the police'. After your friend took care of the problem I was just relieved that all involved and the drone were okay, but that sure is a nerve wracking story. Humorous ending though.

Drone1 · Oct 22, 2017

FAA Confirms Shooting A Drone Is A Federal Crime.
According to Loretta Alkalay, an aviation attorney who teaches Drone Law at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, the statute also prohibits interfering with anyone "engaged in the authorized operation of such aircraft" and carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Since drones are considered aircraft, threatening a drone or a drone operator, according to Ms. Alkalay, would also be a federal crime subject to five years in prison under this same statute.

Jagerbomb52 · Oct 22, 2017

Deputies: Images from drone help catch Oregon man who shot it down

LuvMyTJ · Oct 22, 2017

I saw that Oregon story a few days ago, he must be really lucky or a skilled marksman to hit it with a .177 pellet and down it.

Jagerbomb52 · Oct 22, 2017

LuvMyTJ said:
I saw that Oregon story a few days ago, he must be really lucky or a skilled marksman to hit it with a .177 pellet and down it.

I agree. Either the drone got real close to the guy or he had one of those high velocity pellet rifles that compare to a 22 cal. rifle.
Either way unless the FAA steps up their game for shooting down UAV's as aircraft this guy is going to walk with a fine and be laughing.

LuvMyTJ · Oct 22, 2017

Agustine said:
I agree. Either the drone got real close to the guy or he had one of those high velocity pellet rifles that compare to a 22 cal. rifle.
Either way, unless the FAA steps up their game for shooting down UAV's as aircraft this guy is going to walk with a fine and be laughing.

I am waiting for the day the FAA actually prosecutes someone under the federal law for shooting at a drone. Not holding my breath.
As far as high power pellet rifles... I have a RWS Diana 34 that shoots a .177 cal pellet at 1000fps. Some rifles with go to 1625fps. A 9mm handgun shoots at about 1200fps. Popular calibers of these rifles are .177 & .22. They ain't your old Red Ryder that's for sure.