Hivel Thermal Solutions LLC

What To Expect

Before You Push Your Trophy into the Next County, Consider the Process...

You just shot your dream buck. In the height of excitement, your shot placement may have been questionable. Do you start the track or do you back out? As avid hunters, we know the right answer, even when our anxiety tells us otherwise.
Do you spend the next several hours wondering? Do you risk bumping the deer and starting a frantic track? Or do you call us to get the answers you need in a fraction of the time?
With our state-of-the-art thermal drone deer recovery technology, we cover ground you can’t even reach on foot, saving you the pain of crawling on your hands and knees through the thickest brush in Southeastern Ohio.
Lost the blood trail? Our thermal drone technology can help locate wounded deer when traditional tracking comes up short. Learn more about our wounded deer recovery services in Ohio and how Hivel can help bring your deer home.

How Does Drone Deer Recovery Work?

STEP 1: Call Us First. Give us a call before you back out of the woods. We will gather basic information: your exact location, weapon type, time since the shot, if you've already attempted tracking, and—most importantly—how you feel about the shot placement.
STEP 2: Mapping the Plan. We deploy a skilled, FAA-licensed thermal drone pilot directly to your location. Once your pilot arrives, you will review an aerial map of the property together to determine the exact shot location and the flight trajectory your trophy likely took.
STEP 3: The Thermal Search Flight. Your drone pilot will design a precise flight path and execute an aerial thermal grid search of the area. We account for critical variables like terrain, thick canopy vegetation, weather conditions, and time of day. Flights are operated at the pilot's professional discretion in strict accordance with FAA VFR flight safety regulations.
STEP 4: Locating Your Harvest. Once our thermal sensors acquire the target signature, your pilot will determine the status of the animal.
- If the animal is expired: A precise location pin will be dropped, and exact GPS coordinates will be provided to guide you directly to a seamless recovery.
- If the animal is still alive: The pilot will log the location and return the aircraft. In strict compliance with ODNR laws, we can provide no further tracking assistance until the game has expired. If you choose, you can schedule an additional tracking flight a minimum of 6 hours later to re-evaluate.

⚠️ Important Tracking Note: To ensure absolute safety clarity and lawful operation, there is no on-foot tracking allowed on the property while the recovery drone is actively in flight.

Why Choose Thermal Deer Drone Recovery?

Zero Ground Clutter: We glide effortlessly over the thickest briars, swamps, and ridges in minutes. Impassable terrain that would take hours to track blindly on foot.
Prevent Spoiled Meat & Coyote Damage: Aerial thermal imaging excels in total darkness. We locate your harvest fast, ensuring your venison is safely preserved before local predators or rising daytime temperatures ruin it.
Ethical & Stealthy Operations: We deeply respect the game. Our commercial aircraft operate at specialized altitudes that minimize acoustic noise, ensuring we locate your animal cleanly without spooking it or disturbing other wildlife on your land.

Our Central & Southeastern Ohio Service Radius

Headquartered out of Junction City, Hivel Thermal Solutions, LLC provides ultra-rapid, 24/7 emergency drone deer recovery services across Central and Southeastern Ohio. Our certified team is fully equipped to travel outside our primary zone upon request.

Perry County (Junction City, New Lexington, Somerset)
Athens County (Athens, Nelsonville, Glouster)
Muskingum County (Zanesville, Dresden, New Concord)
Licking County (Newark, Granville, Pataskala)
Fairfield County (Lancaster, Pickerington, Baltimore)
Morgan & Hocking Counties (McConnelsville, Logan)

2026 Flat-Rate Pricing & Standby Rates

Standard Deployments: A flat rate of $200 for all thermal deer recovery operations within Perry County and adjoining counties.
Extended Travel: Hunting further out? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Operations outside our service area is fully serviced with a small fuel surcharge depending on final mileage.
Youth Hunter Commitment: As part of our commitment to passing on the outdoor tradition, our thermal drone deer recoveries are 100% FREE of charge for all youth hunters in Southeastern and Central Ohio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at rsawvel@hivelthermalsolutions.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

How does thermal drone deer recovery work, and when should I call?

Our thermal drone uses high-resolution infrared cameras to detect the precise heat signature of a downed deer, even through dense timber, thick brush, and tall crop fields. You should call us as soon as you realize a track has gone cold or you suspect a marginal hit. The best strategy is to back out of the area immediately to avoid bumping a bedded animal, then give us a call to dispatch the drone.

Can the drone operate at night, and will it spook other deer on the property?

Yes! Thermal technology actually works best after dark when ambient ground temperatures cool down, creating maximum contrast against the body heat of a deer. Our drones fly well above the tree canopy, operating quietly and completely out of sight and hearing range for wildlife. This allows us to locate your buck without pushing live deer off your hunting property or disturbing neighboring ground.

What info do you need from me, and what happens once the deer is located?

All we need is your last known point of hit (or last blood), access to the property boundary, and permission to fly. Once in the air, we scan the grid and stream real-time thermal video directly to a handheld monitor so you can watch the search unfold. When the heat signature is confirmed, we provide exact GPS coordinates and a clear, direct walking path to take you straight to your recovered deer.

Immediate Thermal Drone Deer & Game Recovery in Southeastern Ohio.