Drone hunting protects deer antelope from the mowers

At dawn, before the sun has fully risen, Tobias Jilka, a 21-year-old student from Pattigham in the Ried district, takes his position at the edge of a meadow. He operates a drone equipped with thermal imaging technology, scanning the area from a distance of up to 100 meters. The purpose is clear: to locate and rescue young deer, known as fawns, before the arrival of high-performance mowers used in agricultural harvesting. These machines pose a deadly threat to the vulnerable animals, which have nowhere to flee once the tractors begin their work. The initiative is part of a broader effort by local hunters in Pattigham to protect wildlife during the critical period of hay cutting. Last year, the group invested around 6,000 euros in purchasing the drone and its necessary equipment. Three individuals operate the device, including Jilka, who often steps in when he is available. Both Lukas Radlinger and Katharina Haider, other members of the hunting community, have obtained the appropriate licenses to pilot the drone. When a fawn is detected, its location is marked on the screen and a QR code is generated. This information is then shared with volunteer helpers within the hunting association, who use Google Maps to navigate to the site. Locating the fawns can be time-consuming, as they tend to hide in tall grass, making them difficult to spot even after being identified by the drone. Once found, each fawn is placed into a special bag and transported to a nearby safe location. After three to four hours, the animal is released back into the wild. By making a loud noise, the fawn signals its presence to its mother, who is usually nearby. For Robert Gadermeier, one of the project's initiators, this process has yielded positive results beyond just saving fawns. The drone has also been instrumental in locating hares, pheasants, and their nests, including pheasant eggs that are subsequently incubated. Christopher Böck, managing director of the Austrian Hunters' Association, acknowledges concerns that some might perceive these efforts as a means to justify increased hunting quotas. However, he emphasizes that hunting decisions are based on population management principles, ensuring that animals are killed humanely and used as food. According to Böck, the benefits extend to farmers as well, since dead animals left in feed can lead to serious health issues such as botulism and meat poisoning. The use of drones by hunters in Upper Austria has been ongoing for several years, sometimes supported through European Union funding under Leader projects. While the exact number of hunting associations participating in such initiatives is unknown, Böck notes that more groups are joining the effort, and the methods are becoming increasingly effective. Timely communication from farmers regarding their mowing schedules is crucial for the success of these operations. Jilka highlights that cooperation between farmers and hunters is essential, citing a recent incident in the Mühlviertel region where a landowner refused a free drone survey of a field in Eidenberg. As a result, six fawns were killed during the mowing operation. The initiative underscores the growing collaboration between different sectors to balance agricultural activities with wildlife conservation. Farmers and hunters must continue working together to ensure that both economic interests and ecological preservation are maintained. The effectiveness of such measures will depend heavily on continued dialogue and mutual understanding between all parties involved.