Yes, with conditions. We asked Georgia DNR Law Enforcement in writing before offering deer recovery in our home state, and in October 2026 the Division confirmed in writing that drones are permitted to locate downed or wounded game in Georgia, on the conditions below. Found From Above books verified Georgia thermal pilots for deer recovery under those conditions, and the same pilots fly pet and livestock searches across the state.
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Before offering deer recovery in Georgia, we wrote to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and asked how the law applies to post-harvest drone recovery. On October 19, 2026, Lt. Adam Loudermilk of the Law Enforcement Division replied in writing: drones are permitted to be used to locate downed or wounded game, on the conditions listed on this page.
One honest nuance: this is the Division's written enforcement position, not a change to Georgia's statute. The text of O.C.G.A. section 27-3-13 has not changed, and we do not claim otherwise. We operate to the Division's stated conditions, and if that position changes, we will update this page and our bookings to match.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Source: Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division, written reply to Found From Above, October 19, 2026.
Mark the last blood, note the time of the shot and the direction of travel, then back out. Send the request right away; the first evening is the best window.
We match a verified Georgia pilot near you and confirm the landowner permission for the launch spot. The pilot confirms the full price and an arrival window, and a $100 deposit holds the booking.
The pilot flies a thermal grid over the property, marks the deer location, and guides you in for the recovery. A success fee applies only if your pilot charges one and the deer is found.
Guide ranges below. Your pilot confirms the exact price before anything is booked.
A thermal grid search for your downed deer, usually flown after dark, on private property with landowner permission. Some pilots add a success fee, paid only when the deer is found.
Thermal search for a lost dog or cat. Early calls matter most; a fresh trail and a recent sighting give the pilot the best starting point.
Find escaped cattle, horses, or other livestock, or run a herd check over big pasture faster than it can be ridden or driven.
Yes, with conditions. Georgia DNR Law Enforcement confirmed in writing in October 2026 that drones are permitted to locate downed or wounded game in Georgia: private property only, only for game the hunter legally hunted, landowner permission to take off or land, never on DNR, USFS, USACOE, or other DNR managed property, and never to scout, pursue, harass, or aid in taking wildlife. This is the agency's written enforcement position, not a change to the statute.
Per Georgia DNR Law Enforcement: the deer must have been legally hunted; the flight is on private property only; the operator needs landowner permission to take off or land; recovery is not permitted on DNR, USFS, USACOE, or other DNR managed property; the drone operator is not the taker of the game; the drone may not aid pursuit, scouting, harassing, or taking; and all FAA rules apply, with the Part 107 certificate as the correct certificate.
Most Georgia searches run about $350 to $450. Some pilots add a success fee, often around $100, charged only when your deer is found. Your pilot confirms the full price before you book, and a $100 deposit holds the booking once a pilot accepts.
No. Georgia DNR Law Enforcement's position is that drone recovery is not permitted on DNR, USFS, USACOE, or other DNR managed property. Georgia recovery flights on this network are private property only, with landowner permission.
Mark the last blood and the direction of travel, then back out and stay out of the area. Grid walking can push a wounded deer and spreads scent everywhere. Note the time of the shot, and have landowner permission ready for the ground the pilot launches from and any ground you may need to cross.
The search fee still applies, because the service is the pilot's time, travel, and flight. A thermal search improves the odds a great deal, but no honest operator guarantees a recovery.
Georgia is our home state, and deer season is underway. With DNR's position now confirmed in writing, Georgia hunters can book recovery on private land under the Division's conditions. Founding Pilots list free for year one and pay 10 percent only when a job books through the platform.