Drones can help you reduce the more tedious parts of the hunt, like finding downed game in tall grass before it starts to spoil. They can help you scout game or explore the lay of the land so you pick the best route.
There are many ways drones can help you hunt, but before heading out you must research what’s legal where you are.
Top Pick: DJI Mini 3 – Best budget drone for hunting
This budget drone does everything well that you need a hunting drone to do: stay up in the air for a decent amount of time, zip around quickly and have a decent thermal camera.
The Mini 3 comes with a thermal camera as standard. Its flight time is a generous 38 minutes and its top speed is from 39 up to 46 mph. It captures beautiful 4K video and 12 MP photos in the bargain.
It simply can’t be beaten at this affordable price point.
Premium Pick  | Mid-Range Pick  |  |
DroneSourced Rating: | DroneSourced Rating: | DroneSourced Rating: |
Primary Rating: 4.8 | Primary Rating: 4.5 | Primary Rating: 4.2 |
$419.00 | $999.99 | N/A |
Best drone for hunting comparison chart
| DJI Mini 3 | DJI Mavic 3 Pro | Potensic Atom SE | Parrot ANAFI thermal | Yuneec H520 | Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced | DJI Matrice 300 RTK | |
| Zoom | 4x | 3x | N/A | 3x digital zoom | N/A | 32x digital zoom16x thermal zoom | 30x optical zoom (Zenmuse Z30 camera) |
| Flight time | 38 mins | 43 mins | 31 mins (1 battery), 62 mins (2 batteries) | 26 mins | 28 mins | 31 mins | 55 mins |
| Top speed | 39-46 mph | 45 mph (72 kph) | 36 mph (57 kph) | 34 mph(55 kph) | 42 m/h(68 k/h) | 45 mph(72 kph) | 51 mph(83 kph) |
| Video | 4k | 5.1k30 or 4K120 | 4K HD | 4K 24FPS | N/A | 4K 30FPS | N/A |
| Photo | 12 MP | 48 MP | 12 MP | 21 MP | N/A | 48 MP | N/A |
| Maximum wind resistance | 23.6 mph (38 kph – level 5) | 12 m/s | Level 5 | 31 mph(50 kph) | not confirmed | 22 mph(35 kph) | 33 mph(53 kph) |
| Operating temperature range | 14-104°F (-10-40°C) | 32° to 104° F ( 0° to 40° C ) | N/A | 14° to 104° F (-10° to +40°C) | not confirmed | 14° to 104° F (-10° to +40°C) | -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) |
Best Drones for Hunting – Reviews
DroneSourced is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
DJI Mini 3 – best budget hunting drone
- Price: Check latest price on Amazon here
- Camera quality: 12 MP
- Zoom level: 4x
- Thermal capabilities: Thermal sensor features — 640×512 resolution, point and area temperature measurement, color palettes, temperature alerts, and isotherms.
- Additional feature: Split-screen mode — allows you to watch footage from the regular camera and the thermal camera simultaneously.
- Flight time: 38 minutes
- Max speed: 39-46 mph
- Noise level: 70 dB
- Weight: 249 g
- Video: 4k
- Wind resistance: 38 kph (level 5)
High-quality 4K30 video in landscape or vertical
Extended battery available for up to 51 minutes of flight
Built-in FlySafe and GPS features
Lightweight, foldable design perfect for hunting trips
No Hyperlapse or ActiveTrack features
One color profile
Does not have obstacle sensors for obstacle avoidance
No subject tracking
The DJI Mini 3 is a budget-friendly hunting drone. Its lightweight design, under 250 grams makes it an optimal choice for carrying on hunting excursions.
This drone features a 4K camera capable of capturing crisp, high-resolution images and videos, providing you with clear, detailed views on your hunting surroundings – day and night.
However, night video footage can blow out lighting from signs or lights, although that may not impact hunting activities much.
Combining GNSS, infrared sensing, and a downward vision system, the DJI Mini 3 offers precise hovering – perfect for monitoring game. The normal flight time of 38 minutes can be extended to up to 51 with an intelligent battery plus, facilitating extended reconnaissance of hunting areas.
As with its predecessors, the DJI Mini 3 is designed to minimize noise levels to avoid disturbing wildlife. Its top speed of 9-46 mph ensures quick and efficient area coverage.
One downside is the lack of obstacle sensors. It lacks ActiveTrack subject tracking, which would be quite helpful for hunting activities. For the price point, this drone still has plenty to offer though.
Video: 4K HDR | Flight Time: 38 min | Max speed: 39-46 mph | True Vertical Shooting
DJI Mavic 3 Pro – best high-end hunting drone
- Price: Check latest price on Amazon here
- Camera quality: 20 MP
- Zoom level: 3x
- Thermal capabilities: N/A
- Flight time: 43 minutes
- Max speed: 21 m/s or 45 mph
- Noise level: N/A
- Weight: 2.1 lb
- Video: 5.1k30 or 4K120
- Wind resistance: 12 m/s
Unparalleled image quality
Outstanding performance for flight time and max speed
Advanced features for superior control and versatility
Comprehensive obstacle avoidance
Advanced Pilot Assist System
Premium price
Steep learning curve
Heavier than many other drone options
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro elevates your hunting experience, earning its title as the best hunting drone for professionals and serious enthusiasts. It’s ideal if you prioritize advanced imaging and exceptional performance.
This drone’s superior camera quality includes a triple-camera module to capture crystal-clear, high-resolution images and videos.
I’ve personally tested and reviewed the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and was impressed with its phenomenal zoom capabilities that ensure that distant objects allow you to observe animals in the distance with impeccable precision and clarity. It is one of the best tools you can use for scouting and observing wildlife in detail.
With an extended flight time of up to 43 minutes and a robust max speed of 45 mph, it guarantees efficient coverage of expansive areas. At the same time, an optimized noise level ensures minimal disturbance to wildlife.
You can use it as a follow-me drone to track people or vehicles. However, the feature doesn’t work for animals, which may be quite a bummer for hunters.
These features collectively make the Mavic 3 Pro a preferred choice for those who demand unparalleled excellence and precision in their hunting expeditions.
Potensic Atom SE – beginner hunting drone
- Price: Check latest price on Amazon here
- Camera quality: 12 MP
- Zoom level: N/A
- Thermal capabilities: N/A
- Flight time: 31 minutes with 1 battery/ 62 minutes with 2 batteries
- Max speed: 36 mph
- Noise level: N/A
- Weight: 250 g
- Video: 4K HD
- Wind resistance: level 5
One of the best options available for its price point
Easy to operate, especially for beginners
Highly portable model weighing 245g with a foldable design
Expandable flight time with a second battery
Controlled with a phone app
Limited camera functionality
No collision avoidance
The Potensic Atom SE stands out as the best beginner hunting drone. It offers user-friendly controls coupled with practical, efficient technology. This model is a beacon for those newly venturing into drone piloting. With a 12 MP camera and 4k HD video capabilities, it strikes a balance between superb performance and simplicity. It offers image stabilization to help you better see your targets.
At only 245 g, its lightweight, foldable design makes it easy to bring on any hunting venture that you don’t even need to register.
One downside is that you must hook a phone up to the controller and operate this drone via the app. Some other users have found the controls to be very sensitive, but for the price point, it may be worth it.
Camera: 4K EIS | Weight: 250g | Motors: Brushless | Auto Return, | Lightweight | Foldable
Parrot Anafi Thermal – Best low-cost hunting drone
- Price: Check latest price at Amazon here
- Zoom: 3x digital zoom
- Flight time: 26 mins
- Top speed: 34 mph (55 kph)
- Video: 4K 24FPS
- Photo: 21 MP
- Maximum wind resistance: 31 mph (50 kph)
- Operating temperature range: 14° to 104° F (-10° to +40°C)
Costs 2.5x less than a separate thermal camera costs for other drones
Covers all the features you need
Flight time is restrictive at 26 mins
The controller uses your mobile phone as a camera
The most game-changing feature of a drone for hunting is a thermal camera, which most drones don’t have. The Parrot Anafi Thermal is a low-cost all-in-one thermal drone.
You won’t get the top performance on the market. Its wind resistance is a decent 31 mph, and its top speed is 34 mph. But its flight time is limited to only 26 mins.
You will be able to scout and trail find but making the most of the drone’s flight time will take more preparation using maps beforehand to launch in the right place (Google Maps is good for this).
It can shoot video in 4K at 24FPS and take 21 MP stills for when the mood catches you.
The best thing about it is the thermal camera does not need to be bought separately, so it offers great value for money. That also means fewer bits to pack and lose/forget.
One downside is the controller doesn’t come with a screen. You’ll need to connect your mobile phone to the controller. Some people don’t mind this.
Read more: the best drones with screens in the controller
On the plus side, the drone transmits live video in HD 720p video to the controller so you’ll have a crisp window on the terrain. It does keep your phone busy though when you might need it for other things. This makes you more reliant on your phone and it’s never ideal to be too reliant on one piece of equipment
Depending on your budget though it is worth it for the price. The Anafi Thermal is anything between 2 – 10x as cheap as other options on this list, once the separate camera has been bought where necessary.
Camera: 4K HDR | Foldable Quadcopter Drone | Compact| Autonomous, Dark Grey
Yuneec H520 – Most versatile mid-market hunting drone
The base drone is very good value for the price
Separately bought thermal cameras have picture-in-picture mode
Separate cameras are expensive
Flight time is below 30 mins before a camera is attached
Might need to use the drone for something as well as hunting to get your money’s worth
If you are hunting on your own land or you have a farm, the Yuneec H520 can help you hunt and survey your terrain.
Like all drones that don’t come with a camera, you can buy cameras for specialized purposes.
The drone itself is cheap low-cost but the separate cameras will cost you. However, as an investment into hunting and, for example, agriculture, you’ll get good value for money from it.
Its bright orange design helps you keep track of it. It’s easy to lose track of a drone between looking down at the screen and navigating trees, especially if your eyes aren’t what they used to be.
Thermal cameras for hunting get an easy ride because you’re only looking for heat signatures, not for the temperature of the heat signature. The average body temperature of a deer is 101.4°F (38.5°C). This can easily be picked up by even the cheapest compatible thermal camera that Yuneec sells.
Both compatible Yuneec cameras have a picture-in-picture mode, which is great for scouting efficiently.
The Yuneec H520 offers 28 minutes of flight time, depending on which camera you use.
Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced – Cheapest low-cost advanced hunting drone
- Price: Check latest price at Amazon here
- Zoom: 32x digital zoom, 16x thermal zoom
- Flight time: 31 mins
- Top speed: 45 mph (72 kph)
- Video: 4K 30FPS
- Photo: 48 MP
- Maximum wind resistance: 22 mph (35 kph)
- Operating temperature range: 14° to 104° F (-10° to +40°C)
32x digital zoom and 16x thermal zoom, great for scouting and trail finding
Great 45 mph top speed
Good value for money as thermal camera included
Based on an older drone model, so flight time is low at 31 minutes
With 32x digital zoom and 16x thermal zoom as standard, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is a great scouting drone.
The 5.5-inch 1080p controller screen has a handy half-thermal and half-visible light mode to help you scout. It’s not as intuitive as Autel Robotics EVO II 640T Dual Thermal’s picture-in-picture but it is still useful for scouting.
Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is a commercial-grade drone. Its top speed is 45 mph so you’ll be able to scout the area quickly, which is just as well because its flight time is only 31 minutes.
This is no surprise as it’s based on the discontinued Mavic 2. The inclusion of a thermal camera as standard more than makes up for this though.
DJI has omnidirectional object sensing to help you navigate the terrain, although it doesn’t have the tracking capabilities of other DJI products.
You can take great photos at 48 MP, which is way beyond what you’d need for visually saving waypoints when trail finding.
You’ll have access to the collision risk with any other manned and unmanned aircraft using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, keeping both your drone and other fliers safe.
DJI Matrice 300 RTK – Best high-end hunting drone
Can carry three cameras
Fitted with two batteries
Laser rangefinder gives you the distance of anything up to 1200m away. Amazing for scouting
The IP45 rating makes this the most resilient to the elements
Very expensive base drone and very expensive cameras
Only worthwhile if you have a lot of money to spend
Large drone so difficult to carry
The Matrice 300 RTK is like a Swiss army knife. It does everything. This is the drone for the hunter who needs to have the best gear, and is happy to pay for it.
Yes, you need to buy cameras separately, but it can carry three, each optimized to a different function.
The H20T – Quad-Sensor Solution camera, for example, has a thermal sensor that measures heat in tiny intervals of 50mk and a laser rangefinder that can tell you the distance of anything up to 1200m away, with a 20 MP zoom camera to boot. This is easily enough to observe game and their behavior patterns.
The Zenmuse Z30 camera has 30× optical zoom, incredible for scouting and trail finding.
With no payload attached, the Matrice 300 will fly for an incredible 55 mins. With one camera, you’ll get 43 – 48 mins, with two 39 – 40 mins, and with three it is 31 mins.
Its battery setup is ideal for a drone. It can carry two at a time. With another two charged spares there’s no way you’ll run out of time. You can even switch the batteries without having to turn the drone off.
This is also the most robust drone you’re going to find, for hunting in all seasons. It has the best operating temperature range, from -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C), but also a feature you don’t see often in consumer drones.
It has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP45, ensuring it has good protection against rain getting inside the machine. That’s not a license to be careless about the elements but it does provide a sense of security.
It’s not a small machine though. Even folded, it is almost a 1.5 ft square. You’ll probably be using this from your truck rather than carrying it with you.
If price is no issue, look into the Matrice 300. If it is, you could do very well with a cheaper alternative.
Factors To Consider When Buying A Hunting Drone
Many hunters embrace drone technology for spotting and tracking wildlife. If you’re looking to start using a drone for your next hunting expedition, here are some things to consider:
Drone Size & Weight
The size and weight of a hunting drone play a crucial role, especially when transporting and maneuvering it in diverse terrains and conditions. A compact and lightweight drone is more portable and convenient to carry, especially when you’re hunting in remote locations.
The Winner: For a lightweight, portable drone weighing around 245g, I recommend the Potensic Atom SE.
Quiet Operation
Quiet operation is crucial in a hunting drone to avoid startling wildlife. A quieter drone can approach animals more closely, allowing for better observation and scouting without affecting their natural behavior.
The winner: For those prioritizing stealth and minimal disturbance, use a drone designed with noise-reduction technology, such as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.
Camera Quality
Zoom and overall camera quality are vital for clear and detailed observation of wildlife from a distance. High-quality optics and superior zoom capabilities mean you can scout more precisely, and identify the species around you from further away.
The Winner: For a drone with advanced camera features and exceptional zoom, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is ideal.
Thermal Ability
Thermal camera detect heat emitted by animals, allowing users to track and observe wildlife through obstructions like foliage. It’s especially vital for locating hidden or camouflaged prey that would be otherwise impossible to detect.
The Winner: If you’re looking for a quality hunting drone with a thermal camera and quality overall specs, we recommend the DJI Mini 3.
Speed
Speed impacts how quickly the drone can move throughout an area, which is crucial for covering large terrains effectively and following moving targets. A faster drone can keep up with swift animals and respond more promptly to the controller’s commands.
The Winner: For hunters seeking a drone with swift and agile performance, we recommend the DJI Matrice 300 RTK with a top speed of 51 mph.
Flight Time
Longer flight times allow for extended scouting sessions, vital for long hunting days. Long-lasting batteries are particularly useful for hunting in remote locations where it’s more difficult to recharge.
The Winner: For those who value extended operational time and fewer interruptions, we recommend the DJI Matrice 300 RTK.
Cost
It’s vital to balance the budget with the required features and specifications to ensure value for money. Compare the cost of the drone with your needs and how often you want to use it.
The Winner: For beginners or those with budget limitations, I recommend a more cost-effective and user-friendly option like the DJI Mini 3.
FAQs
– Is it wrong to use a drone to hunt?
Many hunters feel drones cannot be part of ethical hunting. That they make hunting unfair to the hunted game. You might be asking yourself, ‘Should I use a drone to hunt?’
Every step up in hunting technology makes hunting easier, from slings, to flint arrows, to metal-tipped arrows, to guns, to sniper rifles and scopes. Drones are the latest step, but having eyes in the sky feels like a much bigger leap than the previous advances. Some hunters think it removes the skill from the sport. Others swear by their hunting drones.
Technological change always divides opinion. Fair-chase hunting laws are already being passed in different states. Some states have banned hunting within 24 hours of scouting or trail finding with a drone. Some states have banned drones completely.
– Can drones be a part of ethical hunting?
There are legitimate positions on both sides, but also less controversial uses of drones in the middle, like recreational filming, and even locating shedded antlers from bucks.
Trail cameras have already been giving hunters a digital advantage, automatically tracking passing game by taking and sending motion-activated photos to hunters’ phones, so this is not entirely new territory.
Purists emphasize the need to allow game a fair chance to escape. Hunters who use drones would say scouting or trail finding with a drone doesn’t necessarily impact that so long as you don’t use your drone for herding.
Follow the law
Before using a drone at all, you must familiarize yourself with the law. This goes double for hunting with a drone because the additional hunting laws apply. Research the laws where you intend to hunt with your drone and be considerate of the local hunting community.
Other great posts
- Want to try fishing with a drone? See our picks for the best drones for fishing.
- Get a good practice drone for beginners at whatever your budget is.
- Buy a drone as a present for your children with our guide to drones for kids.
