The DroneOn Show

Mike & Kevin

The Drone On Show is your ultimate podcast for everything drones! Join us as we dive into the exciting world of drone technology, from our company’s groundbreaking work using thermal drones to recover lost deer for hunters and agricultural drones to revolutionize crop spraying for farmers. But we don’t stop there—we explore it all: cutting-edge advancements, regulations, and the limitless possibilities of drones in every industry. Expect thrilling stories, expert insights, and a passion for innovation that keeps you hooked. Whether you’re a drone enthusiast, hunter, farmer, or tech lover, tune in for a show that soars above the rest!

  1. 22 JAN

    10K Drone Acres & Ground Rigs: Newt's Florida Ag Grind & First-Flight Disaster | DroneOn Show Ep 38

    In this episode of the DroneOn Show, host Mike chats with Newt, a Florida cattle farmer with 150 mama cows across three ranches who's also a veteran applicator branching into spray drones after years in the business with ground rigs and spreaders. Newt shares how he jumped into drones to secure his customer base when a client switched to aerial spraying for tall corn that ground rigs couldn't handle without damage, leading him to buy a full rig and spray at least 10,000 acres in his first season—enough to cover costs and stay in the black. They break down the realities of the application game: slim 5-8% profit margins after factoring in trucks, labor, insurance, and hidden costs; the need to travel for more corn work; trailer tweaks like plumbing upgrades and inductions for guys coming from ground rigs; and why drones shine in Florida's wet, humid fields where rigs get stuck or create ruts. Newt dishes on efficiency tips like marking obstacles for better autonomous flights, and a hilarious first-flight crash where his T50 sucked up the controller and exploded props—but survived with just blade swaps to rack up 5,000 acres. If you're eyeing the spray drone life, from startup costs and customer retention to crash lessons and landing pro tips, this raw field talk from a cattleman-turned-drone op delivers. Chapters (00:00:00) - How To Round Up Cattle(00:00:40) - How to Run Drone Applications on a Trailer(00:03:59) - Do You Need a Drone to Spray Your Fields?(00:07:00) - How to get 11,000 acres planted in 24 days(00:07:41) - What was the biggest challenge of learning the drone system?(00:09:27) - Urea Applications, High Volume(00:12:57) - Chemical Salesmen and Cropping Consultants(00:13:50) - How To Weed Your Pastures(00:16:37) - Farmers Talk About Drone Spray(00:20:03) - Be Careful With Your Field(00:23:27) - Drones on the job: Night Spray(00:27:10) - T60X Spray Drone(00:29:59) - How To Survive A Drone Crash(00:35:00) - Flying a drone in the corn(00:38:08) - How To Hydrate a T50(00:41:08) - Don't Land Your Drone On a Trailer

    45 min
  2. From Thermal Recoveries to 15K Spray Acres – Drone Pilot Life | The DroneOn Show Ep 37

    16 JAN

    From Thermal Recoveries to 15K Spray Acres – Drone Pilot Life | The DroneOn Show Ep 37

    In Episode 37 of the DroneOn Show, host Mike catches up with Henry, a local Ohio-based thermal drone pilot who's also diving into agricultural spraying, fresh off flying 15,000 acres of fungicide on corn across Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana with Dennis's crew. Henry breaks down the surprisingly easy transition from enterprise drones to spray drones—taking just about 10 hours to get comfortable—highlighting how stable they are despite the extra weight and why manual plus mode is a quick learn for anyone with prior drone experience. They dive into a typical 14-16 hour spray day: starting at sunup for calm winds, pushing through weather challenges (mostly minor this season), and the grind of beating storms while keeping drones clean nightly. Henry shares wild deer recovery stories, like yelling at 2 a.m. after finding "impossible" deer on back-to-back calls (one a liver shot, another a shoulder hit), plus spotting over 800 deer and 25 bears on a massive 5,000-acre thermal survey—leading to DNR involvement for bear studies and potential future wildlife work with bobcats and dens. The convo hits on drone tech's future, from using the Matrice 4TD as repeaters for insane range to DJI docks enabling worldwide remote flights via Starlink, and Henry's $5,000 repair saga turning his crashed 30T into a near-new backup. If you're eyeing a spray drone business, thermal recoveries, or just love real field stories of risk, sacrifice, and success, this episode packs it in. Chapters (00:00:00) - Thermal Drone Pilot Transition to Spray Drone(00:01:34) - Deer Recovered in the Night(00:03:16) - Flying Drone in the Field(00:04:04) - How many acres did you cover with Dennis this year?(00:05:32) - How Much Did Weather Affect the Harvest?(00:06:20) - Don't Trust Just One Source For the Weather(00:09:09) - Drone Crash: Power Line Stabilization(00:10:59) - Drone Crash Saves a Drone From Eating Corn(00:12:38) - Ag Boundary Guys:(00:16:23) - A Drone With a Pickup Truck?(00:20:06) - Have You Got What it Takes to Own a 15,000-(00:20:59) - Drones on the Road(00:23:55) - Drones Full Time, No Family(00:26:19) - Drones to Deliver Deer Corn?(00:30:46) - Deer Hunting With a Drone(00:34:16) - Thermal Drone(00:35:26) - DJI 4 TD vs. 30T Drone(00:38:47) - A 4 TD Thermal Pilot(00:42:12) - Do You Need a Full-Time Pilot?(00:43:08) - Deer Searching During the Day(00:45:57) - Deer Found Dead in Spray Drone(00:47:31) - Deer Search and Recovery on Drone(00:51:01) - You Can't Help Hunting(00:52:44) - Deer Hunt in West Virginia(00:54:59) - Flying a drone to deliver corn(00:56:01) - Drone Rescue: Night Spring(00:57:39) - Drone Recovery in the Amish Country(00:59:35) - Do People Think a Drone Is Looking At Their Property?(01:02:31) - Black Bear Found in My Backyard(01:04:44) - Flying a thermal drone over the DNR property(01:08:39) - Deer Drone Crash(01:10:56) - Drones in the Air

    1h 11m
  3. Ex-Logger's Drone Rise: 111 Deer Found and Spray Business Launch | The DroneOn Show Ep 36

    9 JAN

    Ex-Logger's Drone Rise: 111 Deer Found and Spray Business Launch | The DroneOn Show Ep 36

    In this episode of The Drone On Show, Mike sits down with Cameron Hershberger to dive deep into the world of thermal drones for deer recovery and the booming spray drone business in agriculture. Cam shares his incredible journey from a logging background to building a thriving drone service that's recovered over 100 deer in just one season! We cover everything from starting a side gig that exploded into a full-time passion, the challenges of balancing hunting with drone work, wild stories of close calls in the woods (both logging and deer tracking), and Cam's plans to expand into Belize for untapped farming opportunities. Plus, tips on customer service, regulations, and why passion beats profit-chasing in this industry. Whether you're a hunter, drone enthusiast, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with real-talk insights, and advice on avoiding scams in drone recoveries.

    1h 3m
  4. From Forestry to Drone Tech: Habitat, LiDAR & Public Hunts | The DroneOn Show Episode 35

    2 JAN

    From Forestry to Drone Tech: Habitat, LiDAR & Public Hunts | The DroneOn Show Episode 35

    In Episode 35 of the DroneOn Show, Mike chats with Madison Raber, owner of Tree Stand Forestry and a seasoned drone pilot. Madison shares his expertise in forestry consulting, focusing on timber harvesting and habitat improvement for deer hunters. Dive into discussions on using thermal drones for deer recoveries, herd surveys, and the devastating impact of EHD in Ohio. They also explore emerging tech like LiDAR for timber analysis, hunting stories from public lands, and even spray drones for invasive species control. Whether you're into drones, hunting, or land management, this episode is packed with insights! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more DroneOn content. Chapters (00:00:00) - Shopify vs Spotify(00:00:18) - Drone De Recovery(00:01:28) - How do you manage a timber harvest?(00:02:40) - Drone Hunting: EHD Impact on Deer(00:05:53) - Don't Buy a Deer Farm(00:09:17) - Timber Assessment: LIDAR Technology(00:13:48) - Want to fly a thermal drone?(00:17:25) - Mike Flanagan on Starting His Own Drone(00:18:54) - Dempsey: Drone Calls Down(00:23:00) - Drones for Deer Recovery: Overreach?(00:26:56) - Truck Cameras Illegal in Montana(00:28:44) - Pennsylvania hunters can't even track their deer legally(00:31:15) - Pete on Hunting in PA(00:34:18) - Deer Hunting in the Pennsylvania woods(00:37:37) - Back to the Traditional Gear(00:40:14) - George Clooney on Having Twins(00:40:55) - Are You Ready to Hunt Big Game?(00:42:15) - Elk Hunting in the Mountains(00:44:39) - Reid on Spray Drones(00:46:30) - How Much Has the T100 Changed From The 40s?(00:50:27) - Do you Need a Drone to Harvest Honey and Multiflower Rose?(00:55:22) - Ohio Outdoors: Invasives

    59 min
  5. FCC Drone Ban EXPLAINED: Is This the End of DJI in America?

    24/12/2025

    FCC Drone Ban EXPLAINED: Is This the End of DJI in America?

    Hey guys, me and Kevin sit down to discuss and dissect the new FCC Drone Ban rules.  Chapters (00:00:00) - FCC Drone Rules: Critical Components(00:03:01) - How to contact Drone Deer Recovery(00:06:16) - FCC action on drones: Don't Panic!(00:12:29) - President Trump on American Drone Manufacturing(00:18:21) - American Drone Company's IPO(00:23:37) - Drones: Go for It(00:24:31) - American Drone Users on the Future(00:26:58) - Firefighters: Neuter the T1 hundreds(00:32:11) - President Trump on American Jobs(00:34:24) - Mike From Minnesota on DJI vs. XAG Drone(00:37:13) - Trump on Foreign Drone Makeups(00:39:37) - FCC: National Security Review of DJI and Altel(00:43:25) - FCC: Drone Business is a National Security Threat(00:45:23) - Trump's Drone Dominance(00:48:16) - Farmers vs. Drone Wars(00:52:12) - Americans Buy a Drone Too Much(00:56:03) - DJI Thermal Drone Sales: No Retroactive Ban

    1 hr
  6. Agronomist on Walmart Drone Fails, Fungicide Wins & DJI Ban Concerns | The DroneOn Show Episode 33

    19/12/2025

    Agronomist on Walmart Drone Fails, Fungicide Wins & DJI Ban Concerns | The DroneOn Show Episode 33

    In this episode of the DroneOn Show, host Mike chats with Melvin Lahmers, an agronomist and seed consultant from TMK Bakersville who's been in the farming game for over 30 years, growing up on a family farm and helping growers feed the world through crop consulting, custom applications, and aerial tech. They dive right into a hilarious cold call from an 80-year-old farmer hunting for a drone to check on his cattle—bashing Walmart models that "only fly 500-600 feet" and skipping licenses altogether—while stressing how drones save calves and boost efficiency without needing Wi-Fi or fancy features. Melvin shares his pilot's perspective on scouting fields from the air, the evolution from satellite imagery to drones for spotting issues like irrigation problems or disease in corn, and why fungicide applications via drones are a game-changer for yield boosts in river bottom ground. They tackle big-picture topics like the potential DJI ban's massive impact on U.S. farmers (with no comparable American alternatives yet), regulatory hurdles, the "air show" crowd who just want to see drones in action, and tips for applicators on dealing with curious onlookers or charging for demos. Melvin opens up about his unique "confidence cards" he hands out for motivation, drawn from coaching youth basketball, and emphasizes the need for perspective in ag's fast-changing world. If you're into real talk on drone tech's role in modern farming, from practical cattle scouting to high-stakes policy fights, this episode delivers. Chapters (00:00:00) - Farmer Gets Sent A Drone(00:02:25) - The Bachelor Gets A Bubbler(00:03:13) - DJI Drone Ban: What It Means For Farmers(00:04:59) - Farmers on Drone Farming(00:06:16) - Melvin Larmor Lammer on(00:08:27) - Farmers: Aerial Application of Chemicals(00:12:13) - Fungicide on All Corn(00:14:54) - Flying Through the Cornfield(00:16:30) - What would be considered a specialty crop(00:19:31) - Does Head Scab Cause Crop Problems?(00:22:51) - How to Weed Your Wheat(00:25:40) - 3.3%? Yep(00:26:01) - Farmers on Drone Farming(00:30:02) - FAA Tells Drone Pilot to Stop Flying Drone Near Crops(00:32:33) - Tom Kearney on the Spray Drone(00:33:47) - Drones in the United States(00:37:36) - John Deere on His Drone and His Farming(00:41:24) - Flying Planes vs Drones(00:41:40) - Democracy for Drones(00:43:52) - Political Signs on Farmers' Fields(00:46:25) - Do We Need a Deer Repellent?(00:48:35) - UPS Drone Application(00:51:37) - Farmers vs Drones(00:54:46) - Drone vs. Weed Killer(00:57:47) - Farmers: Do We Need To Brush Hog Our Pastures?(01:00:48) - How to Choose Your Windscreen(01:01:06) - "Boring" Farming(01:02:14) - Farmers and the drones(01:05:28) - Drones for Agriculture(01:06:50) - Farmers Want a Drone to Spray Their Field(01:10:30) - Melvin Jones: More Confidence Than a Business Card(01:13:34) - TMC Bakersfield(01:15:47) - Landon on Spotify and Google Music

    1h 16m
  7. Kirk Price | The DroneOn Show Episode 32

    12/12/2025

    Kirk Price | The DroneOn Show Episode 32

    In Episode 32 of the DroneOn Show, host Mike sits down with Kirk Price, a West Virginia-based hunter, YouTuber, and outdoor enthusiast who tagged out early during Ohio's gun week. They kick things off with a wild story from opening morning: using a thermal drone to spot a trespasser on leased land, complete with a suspicious white truck sporting a Yeti sticker and no hunter orange in sight—leading to a full video reveal on both channels. Kirk shares his journey from filming silly backyard videos as a kid to building a massive YouTube following, including his viral hit featuring a bear born without front arms that's still thriving in the wild. The conversation dives into bear hunting with hounds in rugged West Virginia terrain, drone regulations for scouting and recoveries (including chats with wardens about filming hunts), and why bear meat gets a bad rap—plus Kirk's favorite recipes like Instant Pot roasts and bear burgers that prove it's delicious when prepped right. They touch on everything from Amish diners and thermal drone tips to Kirk's sports fandom and his take on not naming wildlife to avoid humanizing them. If you're into real hunting tales, drone tech in the field, and wild game cooking, this one's a must-listen. Kirk Price Instagram: @kirkprice_ Kirk Price YouTube: @KirkPrice Chapters (00:00:00) - Deer Hunt Opening Day in Ohio(00:01:06) - Deer Hunting in the Amish Country(00:04:28) - Suspect Uses Thermal Drone to Recover Lost Dog(00:05:49) - Flying a Drone in West Virginia(00:09:14) - When I Was a Kid, I Filmed in My Backyard(00:10:58) - Kurt Price Launches His Own YouTube Channel(00:15:02) - Bear Hunting Videos on YouTube(00:19:03) - Bear Recovery with a Drone(00:19:43) - What Makes A Holler?(00:22:21) - Real Estate Teacher Gets Her License(00:25:49) - Real Estate and Flying Drones(00:26:42) - Dogs' Names on YouTube(00:30:00) - How Do People Pick A Dog's Name?(00:30:32) - Amish Hunting With Hounds(00:33:19) - Drone on a Bear Hunt(00:33:51) - How To Kill a Bear(00:37:07) - Do You Should Shoot a Bear?(00:40:33) - How Many Hounds Do You Have?(00:43:23) - How To Hunt With Dogs(00:47:22) - How To Buck a Deer On Your Property(00:52:11) - A Deer Is Saved From The Streets(00:54:50) - Ruben on His SNL(00:54:59) - Dempsey Drone Deer Recovery(00:58:13) - Demanding a Deer With a Drone(01:01:05) - Dogs and the Science(01:01:26) - How To Eat Bear Meat(01:05:25) - Black Bear's Viral Story(01:07:47) - A Bear's Arms Are Cut Off(01:10:41) - Duck Hunting Videos(01:11:12) - Flying a Tiger Around the World(01:13:51) - Kirk Price: My Real Estate Instagram

    1h 15m
  8. Why California Has Been Slow on Spray Drones & Why That’s About to Change | DroneOn Show Episode 31

    05/12/2025

    Why California Has Been Slow on Spray Drones & Why That’s About to Change | DroneOn Show Episode 31

    In Episode 31 of the DroneOn Show, we sit down with Eugene Punelli, a former crop-dusting company drone pilot turned independent operator out of Bakersfield, California. Eugene shares his real-world experience flying DJI T-50s (and soon a T-100) alongside traditional airplanes and helicopters in the heart of America’s breadbasket – California’s Central Valley. We dive deep into why California spray volumes run 5–10 gallons per acre and what that means for drone efficiency on massive fields of almonds, pistachios, carrots, grapes, corn, alfalfa, and cotton. He opens up about how growers are reacting to spray drones, the real tension (and mutual respect) between drone pilots and traditional ag pilots, and the advantages of night spraying in avoiding bees and heat. Eugene also breaks down California’s unique regulatory hurdles, including PCA requirements that make the state slower to adopt drones than the Midwest, and shares his bold plan to go independent with bigger drones, more trailers, and what equipment he’s buying next. Finally, we tackle the big question: Is it too late to start a drone spraying business in California in 2026? If you’ve ever wondered how drone spraying works on the West Coast versus the Corn Belt, this episode is gold.

    49 min
See All (38)

About

The Drone On Show is your ultimate podcast for everything drones! Join us as we dive into the exciting world of drone technology, from our company’s groundbreaking work using thermal drones to recover lost deer for hunters and agricultural drones to revolutionize crop spraying for farmers. But we don’t stop there—we explore it all: cutting-edge advancements, regulations, and the limitless possibilities of drones in every industry. Expect thrilling stories, expert insights, and a passion for innovation that keeps you hooked. Whether you’re a drone enthusiast, hunter, farmer, or tech lover, tune in for a show that soars above the rest!

Information

  • Creator
    Mike & Kevin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The DroneOn Show

You Might Also Like