Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have been gaining popularity in several fields. Their uses in agriculture provide major management benefits while assessing production conditions. This study utilized an UAS to determine the flight zone upon approach and while hovering over different livestock species: cattle, goats, and horses. Barometric pressure, temperature, wind speed, and noise levels were all recorded to eliminate environmental variables affecting behavior. Selected animals were held in pens several days before the UAS flight to allow for the animals to acclimate and become familiar to the test area. Test areas were spacious so animals could flee and not feel confined during UAS approach and hover. Groups were tested with the UAS 3 times on separate days. Horses were tested in 2 independent groups: outdoor round pens and indoor arena. Cattle were split into 3 groups: cows with calves (CWC), cows without calves (COC), and weaned heifers (WH). Goats were tested as a group in their home pasture. With each test group, the UAS began at a height of 75 feet above the group and descended at 5 feet increments when hovering. Environmental measurements were similar for each flight. All groups were acoustically signaled before seeing the UAS. The animal flight zone varied by test group at different hovering heights. The COC and WH allowed the system to hover at 15 feet above ground before they casually moved from the UAS. CWC, did not flee from under the drone, but huddled closer together around their offspring responding in a protective behavior. The goats allowed the UAS to hover at 10 feet before moving. Horses tested indoors expressed a startled, frightened behavior at 25 feet. The outdoor tested horses were calm and showed unstartled behaviors consistent with other test groups. The geldings were much more relaxed and calm with the approach of the UAS than the mares, which had a higher flight zone. Though foals were not present, this difference could be attributed to their protective instinct. Understanding these behavioral responses could help producers utilize UAS for herd observations without disturbing animals in their natural environments.