Aerial Wildlife Surveys: Soaring Insights for Smarter Land & Wildlife Management
At RAPTOR UAV Solutions, we provide precision Aerial Wildlife Surveys and Thermal Drone Census services across Michigan, specializing in non-invasive, data-driven insights for private landowners, hunting properties, farms, and conservation efforts in Mid-Michigan and Genesee County.
Our Thermal Wildlife Census uses advanced thermal imaging to detect heat signatures through dense cover, snow, or low-light, delivering accurate deer counts, buck-to-doe ratios, fawn recruitment, and spatial distribution maps. With enterprise-grade drones like the Matrice 4TD, we reveal hidden animals that ground surveys or trail cameras miss.
Key services include real-time aerial monitoring for:
- Whitetail deer population surveys & game censuses
- Habitat assessments & migration tracking
- Livestock & predator monitoring
- Nighttime or winter yarding observations
Equipped with high-res thermal and RGB cameras, we cover large properties from Flint to Saginaw, providing GPS-mapped reports, density estimates, and management recommendations. This low-disturbance method minimizes animal stress while supporting harvest planning, habitat improvement, tax valuation, and conservation.
Our FAA-certified pilots deliver high-resolution thermal imagery and professional reports, empowering smarter land stewardship and sustainable outcomes—just as a raptor keeps watch from above, we ensure no detail escapes. Let us soar over your property so you can focus on what matters most.
FAQs for Our Aerial Wildlife Surveys
What is a Aerial Wildlife Survey?
An Aerial Wildlife Survey is a method of monitoring and estimating wildlife populations, distribution, and habitat use by conducting observations or capturing images/data from aircraft (such as planes, helicopters, or drones), often using advanced sensors, cameras, or human observers to cover large or remote areas efficiently and noninvasively.
This technique supports conservation, management, and research by providing accurate data on animal abundance, migration patterns, and environmental changes with minimal disturbance to the animals.
Will the drone bother the deer?
When flown at appropriate altitudes (typically 200-300 feet) and distances with quiet operation, drones cause minimal to no disturbance to deer, as shown in multiple wildlife surveys using thermal UAVs where deer showed no noticeable reaction or flight response. However, flying too close, low, or aggressively can startle them and cause stress, so responsible operation is key to avoid bothering wildlife.
What information will I receive?
With an Aerial Wildlife Survey, you’ll receive a comprehensive breakdown of deer numbers observed, buck-to-doe and fawn ratios, mapped locations via GPS pins for onX Hunt or Google Maps, photos of key animals, and optional thermal footage or habitat overlays.
When is the best time of year to run a Aerial Wildlife Survey?
The best time to conduct an aerial wildlife survey for white-tailed deer is late winter (typically January to March), when deer are more visible due to reduced leaf cover, snow aiding contrast, concentrated movement on winter ranges, and minimal vegetation obstruction. Preseason surveys (late summer to early fall, e.g., August–October) are also effective for assessing antler development, fawn recruitment, and population structure before hunting season, though they may be less ideal for precise density estimates due to denser cover and scattered deer distribution.
Raptor Eye View of Your Property and the Wildlife on it: Book Your Aerial Wildlife Survey
Ditch the guesswork—get drone-driven deer intelligence that counts. Precise population counts, buck-to-doe ratios, GPS-marked observations, and optional thermal footage help you make confident, season-long decisions on your land.