I have about 6 acres wooded, and it hasn't been cared for for about 20 years, I would like to start caring for it,mainly for wildlife. Does anyone know if Indiana DNR will come by and walk it with me and give advice, or do I have to pay some kind of arborist to do so?
David in Southern Indiana.
I don't know about free inspections by the Indiana DNR, but it would be worth your time to contact the local small woodland owners association and also check to see if Indiana has a master tree farmer program.
Baldbob, Thank you so much for your tip about the Small Woodland Owners Association. I had no idea that such a group existed. I have already gone to the Indiana group's website. :laugh:
See if your county has an extension office or a USDA office and find out if they have a forestor. I had a free walk thru and verbal session done by the extension forestor here in middle TN. It wasnt enhaustive but a general chit chat and all the questions i had about management were thoroughly answered. Definitely helpful and set me on a great path.
Thank you, Mike. I'll check with the USDA too. David
In MO, the Department of Conservation has a free forestry advising program if you agree to follow their requirements, but don't know about Indiana.
Ask them. Indiana DNR Forestry (https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4750.htm)
I'll bet indiana DOT is happy to give you a free inspection but i dont recommend you socializing with them.
;)
Check out https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2352.htm.Whitman (https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2352.htm.Whitman)
Make sure not to put the Whitman at the end.
https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2352.htm (https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2352.htm)
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-87.pdf
Thanks to all.
OSHA will also provide free, through inspections of your timber operation, but like Mike said....
Thanks to all who responded. Final update- I contacted the Indiana forester for my county,
who met me on my property. We walked through a 5 acre section of my woods, and she
ID'ed several trees for me and talked about woodland management. About a month
later she mailed me a very detailed report which addressed my wishes about how to take
care of my woods.I was happy that she pointed out my invasive aliens and instructed me in their removal. The report was full of websites that I could go to for more information.
So, I would recommend to anyone in Indiana that asks, that it is a great idea to ask DNR to do a walk-through and give advice.
Quote from: Danausplexippus on September 21, 2018, 10:49:28 AM
So, I would recommend to anyone in Indiana that asks, that it is a great idea to ask DNR to do a walk-through and give advice.
Absolutely. Should be step one for any new or prospective landowner regardless of state. Typically it's free. Normally "free advice" should be valued at acquisition cost, but with service foresters, the value is derived from the fact they don't have a financial interest in your decisions. Plenty of loggers will tell you one thing or another, or any other sources will be glad to advise one way or the other depending on their perspective..
Not a dig at loggers, as a group I've found them to be several orders of magnitude ethically above used car salesmen, payday loan outfits or members of Congress. I'll apologize for including them in the above group . They deserve better than that.
Once again the "Loggers vs Foresters" debacle has to be raised....jeesh.
My bad. I certainly didn't mean to disparage loggers. They work hard, have a lot of capital invested and work on slim margins. Maybe if I differentiate "procurement" forester from "service forester" would help. I didn't know the difference 20 years ago, and it can be confusing to folks new to the business side of things.
The big difference is who writes their paycheck!