Minor dispute of Drone Rules at Mesa Falls Recreation Area just outside Yellowstone National Park;
Here's the basic story, I shot this a couple of weeks ago. We were en route to Yellowstone Nat'l Park and we usually stop here on the way. I assumed I couldn't fly here just because it was a Recreational Area, and they accepted a National Parks Pass as a voucher for payment of entry, so I was certain I couldn't fly. Well my brother in law just asked the front desk at the Visitor's Center about drones, and they told him they weren't banned, and handed him a paper with drone suggestions and regulations. I was a little shocked to hear they weren't banned, so I double checked, and then happily ran to my vehicle to grab my Phantom 4. During this shoot, I stayed over the river and falls, careful of any down drafts and misty spray. I had the shots and was bringing it in for a landing when I heard the Park Ranger yelling to get my attention, only yelling because of the roaring volume of the waterfalls. My tablet recorded the audio from the conversation Basically there is /was some disagreement in the park with drone rules, the ranger was of the opinion they were banned. She said the rules say no flying over crowds, which I rebutted that I was only over the river. Then the disturbance of wildlife, but the loud waterfalls covered that one, the drone was almost impossible to hear. In the end we ended with a handshake, trading email addresses, and an offer from me to donate any of my shots to the Park Service there. I'm still waiting to hear what the official ruling is at this time, but when I do I promised I would inform the drone community at large.
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