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Advancements in technology — in particular, the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones — is continuing to prompt restrictive regulations from state game agencies, state lawmakers and other groups that manage lands for wildlife and recreation.

The latest move comes from the Colorado Wildlife and Parks Commission, which, after the second reading of a proposal at its regular meeting in May, approved a new fair chase policy that specifically defines fair chase practices.

"The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission defines Fair Chase as the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of free-ranging Colorado wildlife in a manner that does not give a hunter or angler improper or unfair advantage over such wildlife. … The Commission recognizes that new or evolving technologies and practices may provide hunters or anglers with an improper or unfair advantage in the pursuit and taking of wildlife, or may create a public perception of an improper or unfair advantage. Improper advantage includes conditions such as:
- A technology or practice that allows a hunter or angler to locate or take wildlife without acquiring necessary hunting and angling skills or competency.
- A technology or practice that allows a hunter or angler to pursue or take wildlife without being physically present and pursuing wildlife in the field.
- A technology or practice that makes harvesting wildlife almost certain when the technology or practice prevents wildlife from eluding take."

Colorado was the first state to ban the use of drones for hunting or scouting in 2014. Since that time, Michigan, New Hampshire, Alaska, New Mexico and Montana have banned drone use by hunters, either through legislation or regulatory action by the state game commission. Game agencies in Idaho and Wisconsin have determined drone use was already covered under current prohibitions of aircraft to hunt, to harass hunters or to disturb wildlife.

With the commission's approval, Colorado becomes the first state to address drone use and technology as part of its tenets of fair chase.

The Commission's action was applauded this week by the Boone and Crockett Club, the oldest conservation organization in North America that created the first big game scoring system and pioneered the establishment of responsible, ethical and sustainable-use hunting known as Fair Chase.

"Definitions are important, but even more so is a general understanding of the concept of fair chase," said B&C president Morrie Stevens. "Fair chase has been a important part of the values of our organization and our members dating back to our founder, Theodore Roosevelt. We're certainly pleased to see a state with such rich outdoor traditions and values in hunting and angling like Colorado step up to say, 'how we hunt and fish is just as important as why.'"

Earlier this year, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department acted to prohibit the use of drones, smart rifles and live-action game cameras while hunting or attempting to take wildlife.

In December 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration hurriedly implemented a drone registry system in anticipation of what was expected to be a huge increase in the number of UAVs received as Christmas gifts. The FAA reported the number of drones in operation increased from about 200,000 in 2014 to 1,600,000 in 2015 — with at least two million expected to be sold in 2016.

- J.R. Absher