Testimonials

 

“We have contracted with Native Range Capture Services every year since 2013 to perform wolf capture and radio-collaring in Wyoming.  In all regards, the Native Range crew excel.  Mark, David, and crew are efficient and effective during capture operations, catching wolves easily from packs with existing collared individuals as well as locating and capturing wolves from uncollared packs, which is no easy task in the broad landscape of northwest Wyoming.  Not only are their capture and handling abilities outstanding, but their approach to the job at hand is as well.  The crew has always been relaxed and flexible, which makes the often stressful realities of wildlife capture planning and implementation much more easy-going and enjoyable without sacrificing professionalism in any regard. Thanks for the great work Mark, David, Lisa and crew!”

Ken Mills, Large Carnivore Biologist, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 2017

“We have flown about 250 hours in the last three years with Native Range, mostly on Golden Eagle nest surveys (after their primary capture season). Working with this crew is FUN! At the same time,  ALWAYS professional, ALWAYS with safety as Priority One. Pilot David Rivers is efficient, thoughtful, a great route planner, yet flexible throughout a full day of flying. We will continue to use Native Range as much as we can.  They are the gold standard by which we rate all others.”

Dale Stahlecker, Wildlife Biologist, Eagle Environmental Inc., 2017

“The Southern Ute Wildlife Division has been working with the Sheltons and their crew since 2006. Whether flying with Mark or David the professionalism and efficiency in how they work is unmatched. With Native Range there is never a question about having successful survey flights or capture results; they get the job done. Additionally their whole support crew is fantastic to work with, from Lisa and Pamela taking care of the administrative work to the fuel truck drivers and other capture staff, everyone is super friendly and easy to work with. The entire experience with Native Range is top notch and I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a helicopter crew for wildlife work.”

Aran Johnson, Wildlife Biologist, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, 2017

“NRCS has conducted moose captures for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for two consecutive winters (2016 and 2017) and are slated for a third year. NRCS is an outstanding company. They excel in every facet of their work; communication, logistics, planning, and wildlife capture and handling. Their staff is courteous, extremely hard working, competent and smart. The pilot, David Rivers and his team rapidly understood our needs within the Moose Project, philosophically as well as on the ground. The ease in which the NRCS Team assimilated our needs and objectives was seamless. Department staff who have had the pleasure to work with David and his team all hold them in very high regard. Considering the heavily forested cover in Maine and very erratic winter conditions on the ground, we could not ask more from NRCS in their flexibility, commitment and exceptional service to get a large number of moose collared in quick order while maintaining the upmost standards of safety for their crew as well as the moose themselves.”

Lee Kantar, State Moose Biologist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 2017

“I have contracted with Mark Shelton and David Rivers of Native Range for a variety of capture jobs, including mule deer, pronghorn and elk. Having worked with various capture crews over the last 10 years to capture ~1,500 ungulates, I can say with confidence that Native Range is second to none in terms of their flying ability, safety, animal handling, and professionalism. We have captured animals using both Hughes 500 and Robinson R44 helicopters. The R44 has always performed as well (or better) as the 500, and has much better visibility….In short, I highly recommend Native Range.”

Hall Sawyer, Research Biologist, WEST Inc., 2012

“I have observed Mark Shelton capture big game the past four years in North Dakota, and he is without question the best and most highly skilled helicopter pilot with whom we have ever worked. Mark’s expertise with a helicopter not only makes a very dangerous project much safer, but the well-being of the animals being pursued is also greatly increased due to his exceptional piloting skills. Furthermore, Native Range’s gunners are very efficient at properly and safely net-gunning animals, which not only shortens the amount of time needed to deploy collars, but enhances the welfare of the captured animals. The Native Range crew has captured bighorn sheep and deer in North Dakota the past four years without a single capture-related mortality. Consequently, NDGF has contracted their services again this year to capture bighorn sheep and mule deer”.

Brett Wiedmann, Big Game Management Biologist, North Dakota Game & Fish Department, 2012 

 

“We have worked with Lisa and Mark Shelton on helicopter captures every winter since 2009. Our study involves the capture of mule deer along the South Saskatchewan River valley and to date Mark and his crew have captured over 350 animals for us. The captures are often very complicated with the retrieval of specific deer as well as the avoidance of other collared animals. The animals are brought back to a central processing area where we take a number of samples and then the crew return the animal to where it was first captured. Mark and his crew have always been very accommodating, patient and flexible with our demands. There are often a large number of people at the processing site and the helicopter crew are always concerned about our safety and well-being as well as the animal’s. We have worked with another helicopter company in the past but by far we prefer Mark and his crew. The animal’s safety is top priority for them and their animal handling skills are exceptional. The crew are very friendly and easy to get along with but also always professional and courteous to the customer. We plan to use Native Range for our capture in 2013 and will continue to use them in the future”.

Marnie Zimmer, CCWHC Biologist, Saskatoon, SK, 2012

 

“Despite the difficult circumstances Native Range performed in an exemplary manner. All coyotes in need of recapturing were quickly located and captured by Native Range. In addition our sample size was significantly bolstered thanks to Native Range. Mark Shelton and his crew maintained a perfect balance of professionalism and congeniality during the three days they assisted with our research efforts. I have worked with several other capture companies, and I can easily and honestly state that Native Range is by far the best company I have encountered. I will continue to use Native Range for my current research, and hope to work with them on future projects”.

Bryan Kluever, PhD Candidate, Wildland Resources Department, Utah State University, 2011

“Mark has piloted over 30 separate aerial net gun capture operations for us and has captured in excess of 1,200 animals in Nevada. Without question, Mark is the most skilled, safe and successful aerial net gun capture pilot NDOW has contracted with during my tenure with the agency….We all speak highly of Mark and how successful our captures are completed by him and his crew. Mark is more than just an exceptional pilot. He truly is a great person, who cares about the animals he captures, is very conscientious of his work, respectful of the biologists and volunteers he works with and is always striving to be the most effective he can at every capture event even under the most difficult conditions”.

Mike Cox, Big Game Staff Biologist, Nevada Department of Wildlife, 2010