THERMAL DEER RECOVERY

Thermal Drone Deer Recovery

When blood trails disappear, cover gets thick, or terrain makes tracking difficult, thermal imaging can provide a fast view from above without adding unnecessary foot traffic through the search area.

Every recovery is planned around the shot details, conditions, property layout, and safe flight operations.

Text is the best way to reach me. During deer season I may be in the woods or assisting with another recovery when you reach out. A text makes sure I see your message, and I’ll respond as soon as I can.

Text 414-212-5525 Send Recovery Details

DEER RECOVERY PRICING

$325 Flat Rate

The $325 flat rate includes travel and a full thermal drone search with no added recovery or find fee.

Travel: The first 60 miles of round-trip travel from Muskego, WI are included. Additional round-trip travel beyond 60 miles is $0.70 per mile. Any mileage charge is confirmed before dispatch.

Payment is due at the time of service.

Text 414-212-5525

CALL • FLY • RECOVER

Call

Reach out as soon as possible. We’ll ask about the shot, timing, last sign, and property.

Fly

A focused thermal search is planned to cover likely travel areas while minimizing ground disturbance.

Recover

If an expired deer is located, we provide clear location guidance for the recovery.

WHEN DRONE RECOVERY HELPS

More Information Without More Foot Traffic

Thermal assisted recovery is especially useful when:

• Blood trails are limited or lost
• Thick cover reduces visibility
• The deer traveled farther than expected
• Terrain makes tracking difficult
• Low-light or nighttime conditions are present

Thermal technology does not replace good shot decisions or appropriate waiting periods. It gives us another tool when a recovery becomes uncertain.

WOUNDED DEER RECOVERY

When Should We Search?

The best time to launch depends on where the deer was hit. Some hits allow for a quick recovery, while liver and abdominal hits often need more time. If you are already tracking on foot and the trail becomes uncertain, avoid pushing farther into bedding cover. Ground pressure can bump a wounded deer and make the recovery more difficult. A thermal drone lets us gather information from above with much less disturbance.

DON'T WAIT TO CONTACT US

Call now. Fly at the right time.

You do not need to wait several hours before reaching out. Contact Antler Aerial as soon as you think you may need help. After you text or call, I'll send you a few questions by text about the shot, deer reaction, last known location, blood or other sign, and the property. Those details help me better understand what happened and plan the best recovery window.

Text 414-212-5525 Call instead

RECOMMENDED RECOVERY WINDOW

Typical starting point after the shot

When uncertain, use the longer wait.

Heart / major artery30–60 min

Rapid expiration is typical.

Confirmed double lung45–60 min

Usually a relatively quick recovery.

Possible single lung / questionable chest4–6+ hr

Can remain mobile considerably longer.

Liver6–8 hr

Often beds while still alive. Avoid pushing it on foot.

Liver + suspected stomach8–10 hr

Treat conservatively as an abdominal hit.

Stomach / paunch10–12 hr

Early ground tracking can bump the deer from its bed.

Intestines / obvious gut10–12+ hr

A longer waiting period is usually appropriate.

Hit back / exact organ uncertain8–12 hr

Assume liver or gut until the evidence suggests otherwise.

Not sure where the deer was hit? Mark the last sign, back out and avoid pushing farther into cover. Continued ground tracking can bump a wounded deer and make the recovery more difficult. Contact us and I'll work through the shot details with you before deciding when to launch.

WISCONSIN RECOVERY GUIDANCE

Why waiting can matter legally, too

Wisconsin prohibits hunting wildlife with the aid of aircraft, including drones. Antler Aerial's thermal service is intended for recovery of an animal reasonably believed to be deceased.

If a deer located during a thermal recovery appears to still be alive, the search is stopped and Antler Aerial will not provide location information that could be used to aid in taking the animal.

That does not mean you should wait to contact us. Reaching out early lets us plan an appropriate flight time, and if a deer is found alive we can discuss whether a later follow-up is appropriate.

View current Wisconsin DNR hunting regulations

These are general recovery guidelines, not guarantees. Shot angle, weapon, weather, temperature, terrain, deer behavior and sign at the hit site can change the recommendation. When in doubt, contact Antler Aerial and use the more conservative wait. Hunters remain responsible for complying with current laws and regulations.

IMPORTANT RECOVERY GUIDANCE

If the Deer Is Found Alive

Not every deer located during a recovery is expired. When a deer is found alive, observation is done from a distance without adding pressure or causing unnecessary movement.

If a deer is found alive, the search is stopped.

Wisconsin prohibits hunting wildlife with the aid of aircraft, including drones. If a deer we locate appears to still be alive, Antler Aerial will not provide location information that could be used to aid in taking the animal.

Our goal is to support ethical recovery decisions, not rush outcomes.

View Required Waiver

DEER RECOVERY

Frequently Asked Questions

As soon as possible. Even if you plan to wait before tracking, early communication lets us discuss the shot, timing, conditions, and the best next step before additional ground pressure is put on the area.

If blood or other sign becomes limited, the trail becomes uncertain, or you believe the deer may be bedded nearby, mark the last known sign and back out. Avoid grid searching or pushing cover while a recovery plan is being made.

It can. Continued ground tracking can bump a wounded deer from its bed and make recovery more difficult. If the trail becomes uncertain, mark the last sign and back out. A thermal search can gather information from above without adding more foot traffic through the search area.

Yes. Thermal imaging can be very effective in low-light and nighttime conditions when safe and legal flight conditions allow.

No recovery method is guaranteed. Thermal imaging can improve search efficiency and provide useful information, but terrain, vegetation, weather, timing, and the nature of the hit all affect results.

The search is stopped and the animal is observed from a distance. The search is stopped and the deer is observed from a distance. Wisconsin prohibits hunting wildlife with the aid of aircraft, including drones. If a deer located during a thermal recovery appears to still be alive, Antler Aerial will not provide location information that could be used to aid in taking the animal. A later follow-up may be discussed when appropriate.

Mark the last blood or last sighting if possible, then back out. Avoid grid searching, pushing cover, or adding unnecessary foot traffic until a plan is made.

NEED HELP WITH A RECOVERY?

When In Doubt, Back Out and Reach Out

Texting is usually the fastest way to send the shot details, location, and last known information we need to assess the recovery.

Text 414-212-5525 Contact Antler Aerial

RESPONSIBLE RECOVERY

Recovery With Ethics in Mind

At Antler Aerial, ethical deer recovery starts with following all applicable laws and regulations and using this technology responsibly.

We believe the responsibility to the animal does not end when the shot is taken. We owe it to the animal and to the resource to make every reasonable effort to recover what we harvest.

We also recognize that drones can be used in ways that cross ethical lines or create an unfair advantage. Antler Aerial will not use a drone to locate an animal for the purpose of pursuit, provide real time information intended to assist a hunter, or otherwise use drone technology to aid in taking an animal.

When called for deer recovery, our role begins after the shot.

That means giving the deer appropriate time, avoiding unnecessary ground pressure or bumping a wounded animal, respecting property boundaries and landowners, and using the drone responsibly as a recovery tool.

Our goal is not to change the hunt. It is to help recover an animal that may otherwise be lost.

View Deer Recovery Waiver