Texas anglers can no longer use drones to carry or drop bait, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced Monday.
The department said the change comes after a review of federal regulations and consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Drones are considered “aircraft” under the Federal Airborne Hunting Act of 1956, which prohibits using aircraft to take or attempt to take wildlife.
Under federal law, including Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, using any aircraft to assist in taking wildlife—including fish—is illegal. TPWD said that means anglers cannot use drones to deploy bait while fishing, a practice that had become increasingly popular among surf and bank fishermen.
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