BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 28, 2025
What is ethical hunting? It’s following the laws, for sure, but much is left up to personal choices that we sometimes make in an instant. I am a meat hunter, not a trophy hunter, but I also am a nature lover. And I believe in fair chase. How all of that fits into my views on technology is complicated. I see nothing wrong with using game cameras. But the law doesn’t address the newer cameras that can be viewed in realtime from your cellphone. The difference between the newer cameras and drones is that you still have to walk to where the camera is and the deer or moose may no longer be there, whereas with a drone, you can follow it directly to an animal. Drones also are noisy and border on harassing the animals — and the people who also enjoy the nature experience. Using a drone to hunt with is not only illegal in Maine, it’s unethical. As with so many things, there could be compromise. ~ Julie Harris, BDN Outdoors editor