With limited time available for telemetry flying, wildlife biologist Ken Gray was concerned about getting the location data he needed from his radio collard sage-grouse. Ken contacted Owyhee Air and discovered they not only could collect the location data for him, but presented the data in a timely and professional manner.  Ken has since been able to add additional radio collar sage-grouse to his study. When Ken has the time he flies, but when he doesn’t he’s still assured to get the quality location data he needs from Owyhee Air.

North Wind, Inc. was looking for an aviation company to assist them in aerially downloading spread spectrum elk collars in the Wyoming Mountains. Because Owyhee Air is dedicated to aerial wildlife research and had the ability to remotely mount a specialized antenna which increased the reception range of the receiver and download speeds, North Wind, Inc. chose Owyhee Air over closer competitors. North Wind, Inc. was not only able to acquire all the data from its spread spectrum collars, but additionally recorded positions on twenty VHF elk collars and performed herd size counts on several elk herds - all on the same mission.

After several days attempting to locate deer drop-off collars from the ground, Biologist Chris Hampson contacted Owyhee Air. Flying with Owyhee Air, Chris was able to acquire precise locations of all the drop-off collars.  These pin-point locations later became extremely important to Chris as the antenna of one of his collars had been chewed off, making it nearly impossible to find without the precise location from the air. Even under normal conditions, topography often makes finding signal locations from the ground difficult.

With its on-board computer, Owyhee Air can upload and fly clients predetermined flight profiles. Owyhee Air often flies identical, repetitive flight profiles for federal and state agencies as well as private consultants. For many types of aerial surveys, identical repetitive flight profiles greatly enhances statistical validity of aerial surveys.

• In 2008, Owyhee Air provided flying services for the USFWS for their analysis of fixed wing wild horse surveys. More testing was completed in 2009. Indications are that fixed wing accuracy may be identical to rotor wing accuracy, but at a tremendous cost savings.
• In 2009, the Nevada Department of Wildlife developed a computerized fixed line transect waterfowl survey for the entire state. NDOW contracted Owyhee Air to provide air services for this waterfowl survey.
• In 2008 and 2009, the Bureau of Land Management contracted Owyhee Air to fly extensive Wilderness Study Area (WSA) road incursion flights. With the BLM providing the computerized shape files of the WSA’s, Owyhee Air was able to fly precisely along WSA boundaries, allowing BLM observers to accurately record and map potential problem areas.
• Owyhee Air annually provides repetitive computerized line transect services for waterfowl surveys for the USFWS at the Ruby Valley NWR
• TEC, Inc. contracted with Owyhee Air in 2009 to fly customer provided line transect routes for sage-grouse lek surveys near Rawlins, Wyoming.
• Owyhee Air was contracted by Hayden-Wing, Inc. for prairie dog line transect surveys near Pinedale, Wyoming.
• Owyhee Air has flown aerial invasive weed surveys for several clients. Flight path profiles and invasive weed positions are plotted in flight.
• Owyhee Air is currently testing a beta program where computerized fire perimeters are plotted in flight and downloaded via satellite data link to fire fighting ground crews.

In 2009, Idaho Department of Fish and Game contracted Owyhee Air to fly pronghorn surveys using a new sampling technique similar to that currently in use by Wyoming Game and Fish which required custom manufactured dowel mounts and a laser rangefinder mount. In two short weeks IDFG was up and flying pronghorn surveys with Owyhee Air.