Wildlife Harvest & Surveys

In its most basic form, wildlife management is matching the number of animals to the amount of habitat. Using a variety of techniques, Wildlife Consultants can conduct wildlife surveys for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep, quail, dove, turkey, song birds, and small mammals. These surveys provide an inventory of your wildlife and a snapshot of the population’s density and composition. In the case of game species, we can use the data to tailor-make harvest recommendations that will help you achieve your desired goals.

 

There is not a one-size-fits-all survey method.  Every method has its pros and cons. Wildlife Consultant understands the strengths and weaknesses of each method, allowing them to analyze the data using sound science and apply it using experience and common sense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight deer surveys:

A spotlight survey, the long-accepted industry standard, is probably the most common method used for counting deer. Because environmental conditions vary from day-to-day, professional biologists prefer to conduct at least three spotlight surveys with a seven to -10 day interval between each survey. Landowners and/or their managers are encouraged to join the survey crew because this direct involvement often generates even more interest in wildlife on your land. Surveys are typically done in the late summer  and early fall prior to the start of hunting season.

 

Helicopter surveys:

The helicopter survey  is the preferred survey method of many biologists This technique allows biologists to gather the best herd composition data over a relatively short period of time  and see the animals’ quality  while providing  an opportunity to take select aerial photos. Typically, helicopter surveys are conducted in a two-seat aircraft accommodating the biologist and the pilot, but if the landowner and/or manager wants to accompany the team, a four-seater can be used.  These surveys are typically done in late summer and fall and can be done post hunting season.

 

 

Trail Camera surveys:

On land with limited visibility or on small tracts, the trail camera survey is an alternative method for counting deer and other species.  With the advent of infra-red and flash technology, trail cameras can capture clear images that allow biologists to  categorize each individual buck  by age class and judge antler quality for harvest recommendations. At the end of the survey period, a  photo catalog of the individual bucks marked as either “culls” or “keepers” is prepared and provided to the  to help achieve desired management results. This survey technique is most effective beginning in late summer and continuing through the fall. It is also effective in late winter.

 

 

Game bird surveys:

Traditionally, game bird surveys are conducted for quail and or turkey. By using one or more techniques,  we can assist landowners in assessing  your game bird populations and determine population indices for your property. Techniques used for quail include listening stations, spring call counts, fall covey counts and roadside counts. For turkey, landowners can incorporate summer hen:poult survey and do winter roost surveys later. All these survey techniques provide the land manager with an index of bird numbers that can be used to track populations over time. It is can also be used to  assess bird population responses; thereby, gauging the effectiveness of  any habitat management practices.

 

 

Songbird inventory:

Wildlife Consultants can help songbird enthusiasts determine songbird species composition, relative population abundance and density in a given area, and monitor this over the long-term using point counts and or strip counts depending on the habitat type.

 

© Copyright 2018  All Rights Reserved.

Wildlife Harvest & Surveys

A good wildlife management plan provides the foundation for progress. It not only serves as a decision-making roadmap as you set goals for your property, but is a requirement for participation in a variety of programs ranging from Wildlife Tax Valulation to Managed Lands Deer Permits and Deer Breeder Permits.

 

In addition to conducting an objective site assessment of your ranch, Wildlife Consultants will sit down with you to discuss your goals. We know this is not our wildlife management plan to develop, but yours. Our role is providing expertise and recommendations, allowing you to meet your land and wildlife goals as efficiently and effectively as possible.

 

 

 

 

Wildlife Harvest & Surveys

A good wildlife management plan provides the foundation for progress. It not only serves as a decision-making roadmap as you set goals for your property, but is a requirement for participation in a variety of programs ranging from Wildlife Tax Valulation to Managed Lands Deer Permits and Deer Breeder Permits.

 

In addition to conducting an objective site assessment of your ranch, Wildlife Consultants will sit down with you to discuss your goals. We know this is not our wildlife management plan to develop, but yours. Our role is providing expertise and recommendations, allowing you to meet your land and wildlife goals as efficiently and effectively as possible.

 

 

 

 

Spotlight deer surveys:

A spotlight survey, the long-accepted industry standard, is probably the most common method used for counting deer. Because environmental conditions vary from day-to-day, professional biologists prefer to conduct at least three spotlight surveys with a seven to -10 day interval between each survey. Landowners and/or their managers are encouraged to join the survey crew because this direct involvement often generates even more interest in wildlife on your land. Surveys are typically done in the late summer  and early fall prior to the start of hunting season.

 

Helicopter surveys:

The helicopter survey  is the preferred survey method of many biologists This technique allows biologists to gather the best herd composition data over a relatively short period of time  and see the animals’ quality  while providing  an opportunity to take select aerial photos. Typically, helicopter surveys are conducted in a two-seat aircraft accommodating the biologist and the pilot, but if the landowner and/or manager wants to accompany the team, a four-seater can be used.  These surveys are typically done in late summer and fall and can be done post hunting season.

 

 

Trail Camera surveys:

On land with limited visibility or on small tracts, the trail camera survey is an alternative method for counting deer and other species.  With the advent of infra-red and flash technology, trail cameras can capture clear images that allow biologists to  categorize each individual buck  by age class and judge antler quality for harvest recommendations. At the end of the survey period, a  photo catalog of the individual bucks marked as either “culls” or “keepers” is prepared and provided to the  to help achieve desired management results. This survey technique is most effective beginning in late summer and continuing through the fall. It is also effective in late winter.

 

 

Game bird surveys:

Traditionally, game bird surveys are conducted for quail and or turkey. By using one or more techniques,  we can assist landowners in assessing  your game bird populations and determine population indices for your property. Techniques used for quail include listening stations, spring call counts, fall covey counts and roadside counts. For turkey, landowners can incorporate summer hen:poult survey and do winter roost surveys later. All these survey techniques provide the land manager with an index of bird numbers that can be used to track populations over time. It is can also be used to  assess bird population responses; thereby, gauging the effectiveness of  any habitat management practices.

 

 

Songbird inventory:

Wildlife Consultants can help songbird enthusiasts determine songbird species composition, relative population abundance and density in a given area, and monitor this over the long-term using point counts and or strip counts depending on the habitat type.

 

Wildlife Harvest & Surveys

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A good wildlife management plan provides the foundation for progress. It not only serves as a decision-making roadmap as you set goals for your property, but is a requirement for participation in a variety of programs ranging from Wildlife Tax Valulation to Managed Lands Deer Permits and Deer Breeder Permits.

 

In addition to conducting an objective site assessment of your ranch, Wildlife Consultants will sit down with you to discuss your goals. We know this is not our wildlife management plan to develop, but yours. Our role is providing expertise and recommendations, allowing you to meet your land and wildlife goals as efficiently and effectively as possible.

 

 

 

 

Spotlight deer surveys:

A spotlight survey, the long-accepted industry standard, is probably the most common method used for counting deer. Because environmental conditions vary from day-to-day, professional biologists prefer to conduct at least three spotlight surveys with a seven to -10 day interval between each survey. Landowners and/or their managers are encouraged to join the survey crew because this direct involvement often generates even more interest in wildlife on your land. Surveys are typically done in the late summer  and early fall prior to the start of hunting season.

 

Helicopter surveys:

The helicopter survey  is the preferred survey method of many biologists This technique allows biologists to gather the best herd composition data over a relatively short period of time  and see the animals’ quality  while providing  an opportunity to take select aerial photos. Typically, helicopter surveys are conducted in a two-seat aircraft accommodating the biologist and the pilot, but if the landowner and/or manager wants to accompany the team, a four-seater can be used.  These surveys are typically done in late summer and fall and can be done post hunting season.

 

 

Trail Camera surveys:

On land with limited visibility or on small tracts, the trail camera survey is an alternative method for counting deer and other species.  With the advent of infra-red and flash technology, trail cameras can capture clear images that allow biologists to  categorize each individual buck  by age class and judge antler quality for harvest recommendations. At the end of the survey period, a  photo catalog of the individual bucks marked as either “culls” or “keepers” is prepared and provided to the  to help achieve desired management results. This survey technique is most effective beginning in late summer and continuing through the fall. It is also effective in late winter.

 

 

Game bird surveys:

Traditionally, game bird surveys are conducted for quail and or turkey. By using one or more techniques,  we can assist landowners in assessing  your game bird populations and determine population indices for your property. Techniques used for quail include listening stations, spring call counts, fall covey counts and roadside counts. For turkey, landowners can incorporate summer hen:poult survey and do winter roost surveys later. All these survey techniques provide the land manager with an index of bird numbers that can be used to track populations over time. It is can also be used to  assess bird population responses; thereby, gauging the effectiveness of  any habitat management practices.

 

 

Songbird inventory:

Wildlife Consultants can help songbird enthusiasts determine songbird species composition, relative population abundance and density in a given area, and monitor this over the long-term using point counts and or strip counts depending on the habitat type.

 

Wildlife Consultants

© Copyright 2018  All Rights Reserved.

Wildlife Harvest & Surveys

Wildlife management valuations can expand your land management options, while ensuring that your tax bill reflects the production value of your land, not the market value. This is a useful tool for farmers and ranchers who want to change their focus from production agriculture to wildlife enterprises and for new landowners who want to maintain an ag valuation without running a traditional production ag operation.  An ag valuation, also known as a 1-d-1 land use appraisal, is actually a a “Taxation of Certain Open Space Land,” authorized by Texas Constitution Article VIII, Section 1-d-1 and further described in Sections 23.51 through 23.59 of the code.  Essentially, this law says that wildlife management can be considered an agricultural use that qualifies the land for agricultural appraisal.

 

Spotlight deer surveys:

A spotlight survey, the long-accepted industry standard, is probably the most common method used for counting deer. Because environmental conditions vary from day-to-day, professional biologists prefer to conduct at least three spotlight surveys with a seven to -10 day interval between each survey. Landowners and/or their managers are encouraged to join the survey crew because this direct involvement often generates even more interest in wildlife on your land. Surveys are typically done in the late summer  and early fall prior to the start of hunting season.

 

Helicopter surveys:

The helicopter survey  is the preferred survey method of many biologists This technique allows biologists to gather the best herd composition data over a relatively short period of time  and see the animals’ quality  while providing  an opportunity to take select aerial photos. Typically, helicopter surveys are conducted in a two-seat aircraft accommodating the biologist and the pilot, but if the landowner and/or manager wants to accompany the team, a four-seater can be used.  These surveys are typically done in late summer and fall and can be done post hunting season.

 

 

Trail Camera surveys:

On land with limited visibility or on small tracts, the trail camera survey is an alternative method for counting deer and other species.  With the advent of infra-red and flash technology, trail cameras can capture clear images that allow biologists to  categorize each individual buck  by age class and judge antler quality for harvest recommendations. At the end of the survey period, a  photo catalog of the individual bucks marked as either “culls” or “keepers” is prepared and provided to the  to help achieve desired management results. This survey technique is most effective beginning in late summer and continuing through the fall. It is also effective in late winter.

 

 

Game bird surveys:

Traditionally, game bird surveys are conducted for quail and or turkey. By using one or more techniques,  we can assist landowners in assessing  your game bird populations and determine population indices for your property. Techniques used for quail include listening stations, spring call counts, fall covey counts and roadside counts. For turkey, landowners can incorporate summer hen:poult survey and do winter roost surveys later. All these survey techniques provide the land manager with an index of bird numbers that can be used to track populations over time. It is can also be used to  assess bird population responses; thereby, gauging the effectiveness of  any habitat management practices.

 

 

Songbird inventory:

Wildlife Consultants can help songbird enthusiasts determine songbird species composition, relative population abundance and density in a given area, and monitor this over the long-term using point counts and or strip counts depending on the habitat type.

 

Wildlife Consultants

© Copyright 2018  All Rights Reserved.