I'm not a guy that uses the drones for a full time job at the moment so my prices are whatever the situation calls for. If it's a long drive, difficult flying conditions, difficult terrain, to difficult people. Many things change the price. Most guys using this service as their main income charge $350-500 base fee and add a charge for mileage, and a fee for locating the deer.
The thermal drone can cover open fields in second with no impact and open canopy I can still cover large areas fairly quick. Obviously the thicker the canopy the slower I fly because I like be thorough to make sure I don't miss even the small thermal hits. You'd be surprised how well a dying deer can wedge itself into small spaces with only a head or leg sticking out.
When looking at the prices guys like myself charge I want you to think about things in a different perspective. Think of the price as how hard have you hunted, scouted, hung stands, cams, plots, and anything else you've done to get to the point you've hit a deer. Then add in the cost the service provider has put into their craft. The setup I have was just under 15k and then add in things like 1k for drone insurance, my time to get a pilots license, and milage/wear and tear on my vehicle and drone. Replacement props and batteries aren't exactly cheap.
Then you get into dogs. Same thing. Cost of the dog, quality food, vet care, time training, milage, and general upkeep.
Things happen in that moment of truth. You hunt long enough and take shots on deer and your going to have a miss hit at some point. YOU'VE put in all that work to get to that moment and you've tried your best to find that deer and for whatever reason you just can't set eyes on it. What do you do now? You going to be a guy that says the heck with it and just go shoot another deer next weekend? Or are you going to be the guy that realizes the worth of all of YOUR time, work, and effort and know there's other options to recover that deer or at least spot it to get a full picture of what went wrong and learn from it and what you can do different the next time?
Drones and dogs are tools in hunting. No different then a gun, bow, cam, stand, or any number of other things we buy every year to make for a successful hunt. The worst hunt I ever had was a deer that I didn't recover. The constant replays in your head and constantly wondering where it went, and if it's dead or alive can ruin an entire season. Technology has changed and we have more tools to aid us then ever before. It's our responsibility to do everything we can to locate that animal and learn from each hunt.
