New Mexico is looking into banning the use of drones for hunting big game animals.
The state would join Colorado, Montana, Alaska and others that have outlawed the use of drones for hunting, according to ABC News.
Sportsman groups and animal advocates are pushing to see such laws passed in every state. These groups support the idea of fair chase, and argue that hunting should not be based on technological advancements, but on skills and traditions honed and passed down over generations.
"Hunting an animal with your physical senses, with your eyes and your ears and even to a lesser extent your sense of smell, that puts you on fairly even ground with these animals that can see far better, hear far better and smell far better than we can," said Joel Gay, spokesman for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
New Mexico's Gaming Commission will vote on the law later this month, Summit Daily News reported. If the law is passed, it would be illegal to use drones to signal an animal's location, as well as to harass a game animal. It would also be illegal to hunt a protected species that is observed from a drone within 48 hours.
While these rules already apply to manned aircraft, the goal of the proposal is to redefine aircraft so that unmanned, remote-controlled drones are included.
Some people do not believe drone-assisted hunting should see so much regulation. Blake Henning, vice president of lands and conservation with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said he has not heard any concerns from group members about the issue. Henning added that while drone-assisted hunting will have to eventually be regulated, the technology could be used to help wildlife research, ABC News reported.
Drones are currently being used by scientists in Nepal and South Africa to keep track of endangered species as well as poachers.
Vermont is looking into making changes to its hunting rules, ABC News reported. Wisconsin and Idaho have changed their laws to prohibit using aircraft to hunting wildlife.
