Pecos County’s expansive landscape requires extensive measures when it comes to game management, and the Pecos County Commissioner’s Court on Dec. 12 awarded a bid to hunt down and manage game and nuisance animals across the county through the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

Concho Aviation of Sterling City and Trans Pecos Aviation of Fort Stockton submitted bids, with Concho Aviation awarded the bid at a cost of $360 per flight hour with a minimum 2.5 flight hours per day using an R22 helicopter.

In its bid, Concho Aviation’s Jeff Hill and Cathy McEntire said that if the terrain required a larger R44 aircraft, the charge would be $600 per flight hour. Concho would not charge the county for mileage or hotel stays.

Trans Pecos Aviation would be asked to provide the service if Concho was not available. Commissioner Mickey Jack Perry liked that Concho Aviation had several pilots and helicopters.

“They’re able to respond immediately, in most cases,” he said. “I think that’s something to be considered.”

Commissioner Tom Chapman agreed.

“Looking at the price, Concho has a better rate, although they’re a half-hour more on the minimum,” Perry added. “But they’re not going to charge us mileage or motel. I just like the fact that they have more choppers and more people available.”

Perry made the motion to accept Concho’s bid and added that if Concho wasn’t available for whatever reason, Trans Pecos would be asked to provide the service.