you made the shot, but the trail runs cold. Do you keep searching… or call in a drone? The answer often comes down to timing.

Thermal drones work best while the deer’s body is still holding heat, especially at night. Call too late, and that heat signature fades. Call too early, and you risk pushing a wounded deer farther.

Best times to call?

• Lost blood trail
  • If your flashlight and tracking skills aren’t cutting it, don’t waste hours wandering and potentially spooking your deer. Call in the drone before rain, snow, or other hunters erase sign completely.
• Night hunts
  • Thermal imaging shines brightest in the dark. When you’re hunting evening sits and lose the trail, a drone can cover acres in minutes compared to hours of grid-searching.
• Thick cover or marshy terrain
  • Heavy brush, tall grass, and swampy ground swallow up sign quickly. A drone gives you an overhead view, cutting through cover hunters simply can’t navigate easily on foot.
• Minimal blood / marginal shot
  • Gut shots and high hits may not leave a solid trail. In these cases, drones can help confirm where the deer bedded down instead of forcing you to blindly push through the woods.
• Warm early-season hunts (to prevent spoilage)
  • When temperatures are high, every hour counts to avoid spoilage. A drone recovery gives you a fast turnaround so your meat doesn’t go to waste.

The bottom line…

Drones aren’t just a cool gadget… they’re a powerful tool to make sure your hunt ends with a recovery, not regret. The key is knowing when to call. Too soon, and you risk pushing your deer. Too late, and the heat signature fades.

When in doubt, reach out. We’re happy to walk you through timing based on your shot placement and conditions.

Call/Text deadon drones when you need recovery help this season : (740) 507-3868