Thermal Hog Scouting. Now Legal in Georgia.
Georgia HB 946, signed in 2026, explicitly authorizes the use of drones to locate feral hogs on private land — making aerial thermal scouting the most effective tool for hog control in the state's history. We cover up to 100 acres per flight, at night when hogs are active, and relay GPS positions to ground teams in real time.
HB 946 — What Changed in Georgia
Georgia House Bill 946 passed 163–1 and was signed into law in 2026. It explicitly authorizes the use of drones to locate feral hogs on private land in Georgia. Landowners, farmers, and hunters are now permitted to use aerial drone technology as part of feral hog control operations. Armed drones remain prohibited — the drone's role is precision location and real-time coordination, not the harvest itself. This is currently the only hunting-adjacent drone use case authorized under Georgia law.
Note: HB 946 applies to feral hog control only. Drones may not be used to locate deer, turkey, or other game species under current Georgia law.
We Find Them. You Handle Them.
Feral hogs are most active between dusk and 3am — exactly when you can't find them on foot. Our Matrice 4TD's 640×512 radiometric thermal sensor cuts through darkness, brush, and tree canopy to locate heat signatures at distances standard equipment can't reach. When we identify a sounder, we GPS-tag the position and relay coordinates to your ground team in real time.
The built-in NIR (near-infrared) auxiliary light lets us visually confirm species in complete darkness without spooking the animals — no visible light signature. Thermal detects, NIR confirms, GPS pins the location. Your team moves while the hogs are still there.
- Dusk and night thermal flights — covers up to 100 acres per 2-hour session
- Real-time GPS coordinate relay to ground crew
- NIR auxiliary lighting for visual confirmation without alert
- Sounder count, size estimate, and travel corridor mapping
- Written report with thermal screenshots and GPS data
- Hunters and landowners welcome on-site during the flight
- Coyote, predator, and nuisance animal detection included
Built for Landowners, Farmers & Hunters
Crop Farmers
Feral hogs cause an estimated $150 million in agricultural damage annually in Georgia. A single night detection flight identifies sounder locations, travel corridors, and wallowing areas — giving you actionable intelligence before the next night's damage.
Hunting Clubs & Lodges
Under HB 946, hunters are permitted on-site during the flight. Use thermal scouting to locate sounders in real time, then coordinate ground crews while the hogs are still in position. More effective than blind stand hunting and trail cameras alone.
Rural Landowners
Hog damage to fencing, water sources, food plots, and landscaping compounds fast. Knowing exactly where the sounder travels lets you target removal precisely rather than reacting to damage after the fact.
Timber & Forest Operations
Hog rooting destroys root systems, accelerates erosion, and compromises replanting areas. Thermal mapping identifies active zones across large acreage efficiently — no ground crews in the dark covering 500 acres on foot.
Feral Hog Detection Questions
Yes. Georgia HB 946, signed in 2026, explicitly authorizes the use of drones to locate feral hogs on private land. This is the only hunting-adjacent drone use case currently authorized under Georgia law. Drones may not be used to locate deer, turkey, or other game species. Armed drones remain prohibited — the drone locates, ground crews act.
Yes. Under HB 946, landowners, farmers, and hunters are permitted on-site during the detection flight. We locate sounders from the air and relay GPS coordinates to your ground team in real time so they can move while the hogs are still in position. This is a coordinated operation, not a solitary scouting flight.
The Matrice 4TD's radiometric thermal sensor detects body heat through darkness, brush, and light canopy. Feral hogs maintain a consistent body temperature of approximately 101–102°F — significantly warmer than surrounding vegetation at night. The sensor maps temperature differentials across the ground and flags heat signatures consistent with hog body size and shape. Our built-in NIR auxiliary light then illuminates for visual confirmation without producing visible light that would alert the animals.
Thermal contrast improves as ambient temperature drops. Best results occur when air temperature is below 75°F — which covers most of the year in the CSRA outside of summer midday hours. Dusk through 3am is the optimal window, aligned with peak hog activity. Flights are also better after a dry spell; wet ground reduces thermal contrast slightly. We will advise on optimal timing when you book.
A standard 2-hour flight covers up to 100 acres at systematic grid altitude. Larger properties can be quoted on a custom basis — we can split into multiple flight sessions on the same night or across consecutive nights. Multi-night packages are available for properties over 300 acres.
We need legal access to fly over your property. For most rural parcels this means your permission as the landowner or a signed access authorization from the landowner. We do not require advance site visits for flat to moderately rolling terrain. For properties with complex obstacles (power lines, towers, structures) a brief daytime pre-flight review may be warranted.
A written report with thermal screenshot imagery of identified heat signatures, GPS coordinates of sounder locations and travel corridors, estimated sounder count and size, and notes on active wallowing and rooting areas identified during the flight. Delivered digitally within 48–72 hours of the flight.
* Best thermal results when ambient temperature is below 75°F. Travel beyond 30 miles from Augusta: +$1.50/mi round trip. After-hours dispatch beyond midnight: +$50. Weather reschedules: no charge.
Ready to Find What's Destroying Your Land?
Text or call (706) 214-2772 — or submit a booking request and we'll schedule a night flight that works for your operation.