The head of the Cattlemen's Association in Australia's Northern Territory says he expects some farmers to shoot down drones used by animal welfare groups to survey farming practices.
The group, Animal Liberation, says it plans to use a drone to film properties in a bid to gather potential evidence of animal abuse.
It says the drones will fly as low as 10 metres above sheep farms and cattle yards reports the ABC.
Spokesman Mark Pearson says the practice will not contravene trespass or privacy laws.
He says animal welfare is in the public interest.
Cattlemen's Association president David Warriner says farmers won't put up with drones that could hamper helicopter operations and disrupt livestock.
He says it's very dangerous and if it's within 10 metres of livestock it will cause a lot of disturbance.
"It wouldn't surprise me if someone had a crack at one that was annoying them. They would I reckon. It wouldn't be hard to shoot a drone down with a shotgun, would it?"
