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HB 175

Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - As enacted, authorizes the commission to promulgate rules or pass proclamations to authorize the use of drones to locate and retrieve deer that have been wounded by hunters. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 70.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee law now allows regulated drone use by hunters to locate and retrieve wounded deer, effective July 1, 2025, addressing animal welfare through technology with commission-established guidelines.

Pub. Ch. 478
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Bill Summary · HB 175

Legislative bill overview

HB 175 authorizes Tennessee's Fish & Wildlife Commission to create rules allowing hunters to use drones for locating and retrieving wounded deer. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit this technology under commission oversight, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Why is this important

Wounded deer that escape hunters often suffer prolonged deaths, creating both animal welfare and ecological concerns. This law addresses a practical problem by enabling technology that could reduce animal suffering and improve hunting efficiency, while establishing regulatory guardrails through the commission's rulemaking authority.

Potential points of contention

  • Technology and fairness concerns: Drone use could provide hunters with advantages some consider unfair, potentially shifting the balance in hunting and raising questions about "fair chase" hunting ethics
  • Scope and regulation uncertainty: The bill grants broad rulemaking authority to the commission without specifying operational limits—drones could theoretically be used for purposes beyond recovery, requiring careful implementation rules
  • Wildlife disruption: Repeated drone use in hunting areas could disturb non-target wildlife during sensitive seasons, though this depends on how restrictively the commission implements the authorization

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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