nce all the permits are in order, the actual survey should be started 15 to 30 minutes after sunrise. On ranches with dense vegetation and/or hills, it is recommended to start at least an hour or more after sunrise due to shadows. On ranches of no more than 5,000 acres, the entire ranch can be surveyed rather than sampled. The survey should be flown by pasture. This provides shorter transects (line of travel) and the flight line can be maintained. Most often aerial surveys are conducted with both a pilot and an observer with each counting the deer observed. The observer records all bucks, does, fawns and any unidentified deer spotted. This data should be recorded on a data sheet. Data should be collected by pasture if a complete ranch survey is being conducted. Timing of aerial surveys is important. Ideally, deer population information is collected during late summer or early fall to have the most current information when developing harvest recommendations. Let Nueces Helicopters do your game surveys. Download the LOA form (requires Adobe Reader)