For anyone who hasn't ever hunted in mountain laurel, imagine a green, gnarly, twisted steel wool pad that's 3 to 12 ft. tall. Some areas it's so thick you literally can't swing a rifle or shotgun. It doesn't grow up straight and it puts out under-leaf-mold runners that trip the sh!t out of you as you move thru it. Anyone who has hunted in Pa. knows what it is. If it weren't for some drives happening in any given area, deer get in that stuff and STAY THERE unless someone moves them. Once the shooting starts, deer hole up in that laurel like rabbits. Daylight sightings go down to about zero. Where there's lots of laurel, driving is almost a necessity. And you WON'T push 'em all out.
I realize lots of states don't have mtn. laurel - and don't know what it is. Each state has it's own habitat and hunter preferences as to style of hunting. As far as safety goes - my Dad taught me " you only get one mistake with a gun.....and it might be your last. " If we don't police ourselves - take hunter-ed., practice shooting, practice " restraint " and not fill the air with lead on Hail Mary shots, shooting at a brown patch, etc. - then shame on us. We give the " anti's " ammunition for political action. If that's the way any of us act on a deer drive - we shouldn't be hunting IMO. I have told 2 people I would not hunt with them anymore because of their shoddy safety practices.
That said, I've taken part in deer drives over the years with guys who were safe, dependable, smart hunters. And I've been on drives with guys who never looked at a topo map, had no idea of the " lay of the land " and got lost in areas where roads or powerlines were within 200 yds. Nothing like " losing " a guy or two to ruin a day. And MAGGOTS like JackTerp mentioned above ^^^ that trespass & have no respect for boundaries or other hunters should be prosecuted, hunting privileges taken for 5 yrs.
I think drives should be legal, but like so many other things, common sense has to applied. Safety is #1 in all cases - not filling a tag at all costs. I'll remove myself from a hunting situation if I have safety concerns or I think the other hunter (s) don't know what they're doing. My own taste these days is for the 1 on 1 with the deer. I take my hunting REAL seriously. I won't hunt with just anybody. If I'm gonna hunt with others, I prefer one or two other TRUSTED guys, using the wind to sneak silently after having discussed planned routes. We move deer without panic. That's my take.