Questions on Starting a Career in Forestry

[Kezar]

Hello all, i am new to the forums here (past day or so), and have just gotten the time to post the topic i have been wanting to ask. I am not sure if this can be considered the correct sub-forum, and if not i ask a mod to please move it were it belongs... Now onto the actual post...

I am looking (have not decided), about going to college to study forestry in either the United States, or one of the nearby Canadian Territories. So far out of all the career paths i have looked into, forestry seems like a good fit for me, but i do have some questions, concerns, and possibly some myths that could use adressing, so that is why i am posting here, as when i have posted elsewhere, i seem to get alot of biasesness, and from people who equate forestry with only logging, or paper mills, ect.... My questions are in regards to all branches of forestry, in both the United States (my home country), or possibly Canada (where i would be willing to relocate to if needed, and may or may not possibly seek to move to depending on future circumstances, and no not Trump).

-Do you have to do overnight travel alot
-Do foresters "have" to relocate alot, reasons for this partially being hot weather (90+ when humid), causes heat-induced migranes for me, as well as the fact i perfer cold weather and a "real winter". The other reason is i would like to get settled someday (i would be fine moving around for 5 or so years, but i do want to settle), and possibly homestead to a degree.
-How is the industry doing in the following locations (For America: ME, MT, ID, MN, MI, and AK) and in Canada in general.
-Is it true there are expected to be many new job openings when baby-boomers retire?
-Would you consider this a "safe" or "stable" industry to be in in regards to the ability to find new work, and do jobs (full time jobs, and not seasonagetting l), tend to be "secure" in the sense you can expect the ability to work there if you want until you retire, or the company goes under barring any screw-up resulting in you fired (i assume burning down 3/4ths the company's timber-lands could result in being fired).
-Finally, in regards to the BIG maybe of Canada (on radar for various reasons, and a maybe for various reasons, all mostly political as i view the US as too far right, and Canada as too far left), would this be considered an industry in which it is "easy" (easy relative to other industry's) to get a job in as a immigrant? I think NAFTA covers it, but i am not entirely sure. I notice many of the major company's in Maine want you to be able to go to land holdings in Canada, such as Irving Woodlands, and for many positions, even require you to speak french, which bonus for me, i do to a degree, which while not much, is better than nothing.

Depending on how this goes i may or may not ask more questions, and i will clarify if needed

[WildlandFirefighter912]

You can try to get on with the Forest Service for forester jobs. Just look at the various locations that suit your needs.

Forestry will always be needed. People aint going to wipe their butt (modified by admin) with their hands anytime soon. Plus we need trees for clean air and water.

Private sector pays good and usually better pay than government sector but can be unstable.
Government sector pays decent but is more stable than private sector.

The US is not far right or left. Its too far confused about its own domestic and foreign policies.

[Ramicorn]

Would be easy to get a job as an "immigrant" in Canada, should be alot of jobs out west ie BC,Alberta and Saskatchewan even, and too a lesser degree should be able to find work east, might not be the most glamorous stuff though.

I don't know if any job is safe or stable these days, I often wonder if I should have done something other than forestry but doesn't seem like to many sure bets out there these days.

Most of the expats I know up here in Canada dont find that much different from the states, so if the US is too right for you and Canada too left, you'll find it mighty hard to find something in between me thinks.

[Kezar]

I was more stating that while down here (usa) would be my forst peiority, i would be willing to search in canada as well to get started (with goal of hitailing it back to the Usa, unless i like/enjoy it there).

[WildlandFirefighter912]

I would find something that pays good and a place I would work to build retirement.

Dont constantly hop job to job. Figure out what you want to do and give it all you got. You may quit and want to do something else but think seriously about your retirement in the future. Start saving now.

[Kezar]

That would hopefully be my plan once i end up in a good location, as i personally do not like to change places often, and if i find a place i enjoy, i would want to stay there, as while i can adapt to new ideas/procedures/issues, i like to have a place to call "home", and to prefabbly be able to live there.

So anyone here got any clue on the industry in those areas (listed again as AK, ME, MT, ID, MI, MN, and NC (the southernmost i would go) (listed in the rough order i would perfer).

[WildlandFirefighter912]

NC will be too hot for you. Most likely the Pacific NW would be where you want to go. Cooler but you have to deal with snow..lots of snow.

[Kezar]

Im a new wnglander, and i know snow. One of the reasons i was hesitant on the NW was the lack of winters from what i read here unless in ID/Mt (which some qualify as the PNW). NC would be to hor for me, but it would be at a level i could adjust over time, any further south and im done.

Im currently in New England, i know, and understand snow. My most perferred climate would have plenty of snow for real winters (atleast a foot a month). Areas im looking at in maine get 100-150 inches in winter for snow, which is great for snowmobiling, showshoeinf, and xcountry skiing.

What parts of the PNW are you talking? Seattle gets 11 a year, portland gets a whopping 3, although Couer De Alene gets 38, hell boone NC gets 35 on average, which is similar to CDA. Southeast alaska is similar to the PNW in Or/WA

[wannaergo]

Here in the UP we have no shortage of winter. People always say we have 2 seasons. Winter and mosquitos. Like everywhere else, the industry fluctuates. Right now everything is pretty tight, but hopefully it will come back. One thing I would say is, I hope you aren't expecting to get rich working in the woods. I don't think I've ever met a rich forester/logger, but heck, I guess there's a first time for everything

[WildlandFirefighter912]

Im a new wnglander, and i know snow. One of the reasons i was hesitant on the NW was the lack of winters from what i read here unless in ID/Mt (which some qualify as the PNW). NC would be to hor for me, but it would be at a level i could adjust over time, any further south and im done.

Im currently in New England, i know, and understand snow. My most perferred climate would have plenty of snow for real winters (atleast a foot a month). Areas im looking at in maine get 100-150 inches in winter for snow, which is great for snowmobiling, showshoeinf, and xcountry skiing.

What parts of the PNW are you talking? Seattle gets 11 a year, portland gets a whopping 3, although Couer De Alene gets 38, hell boone NC gets 35 on average, which is similar to CDA. Southeast alaska is similar to the PNW in Or/WA

Alaska can have some huge bugs from what ive heard..plus everyone carries bear spray or a gun. So if youre ok with that..try alaska...you can see russia from your house.


The Pacfic NW..west side of the cascades are more wet than the east usually. The east is like mix forest to high desert.

Ive been to oregon, montana, idaho, north california, utah. Oregon was nice. Idaho was nice too. North cali..bunch of dope and hippies...utah...well..yeah.

[Kezar]

Ok, this has turned more into what are these areas like in general, but what are those areas (listed), like for finding a job in forestry?

[wannaergo]

Depends on what you want to do I guess. If you want to be part of the production side, there's always people looking for workers. Just as long as there's work at least... I'm not sure about the forester side. Seems like there's usually openings

[WildlandFirefighter912]

Us forest service, Bureau of land management, department of indian affairs, department of natural resources, or the US park service is the main people that hire since most of those states contain US government land.

There is timber company land as well but theyll vary. You have to look in each state for the timber company.

[ppine]

If you want to be a forester, you can't worry about low pay, lots of travel, and scrambling to stay employed.  The Forest Service has grossly cut back on their harvesting so forestry jobs with them are in decline. Private companies, consultants, cruisers, and prescribed fire crews are on the increase. I was talking with some private fire guys this week out in the field.

Working in Canada can be an opportunity especially in BC, but there are a lot of rules in order to get a work visa or become a citizen. They have their own certifications that you have to take classes for. It is hard to get permission to work there without a job. It is hard to get a job without the certs.

I have no regrets about choosing forestry as a field of study but there were lots of times when staying employed took some serious gumption.

[curdog]

If you're looking towards nc as an option, there are usually state jobs available in the state.  But many of the positions are in eastern nc... which is far hotter than Boone. Even private forestry jobs are focused more towards eastern nc. The forest service has offices in every county, but there are more positions in the east than the west. ... and even though it's not as hot as some of the states further south,  we're supposed to have 5 days of 100+/- degree temperatures at the end of the week and the summer is just getting started.

[Kezar]

Ya, was doing more research, it seems boones climate would be the hottest i would go, still sticking to my guns on Maine, the Rockies (id or preferably MT), and the UP/NE MN due to climate, although they pwrsonally seem alittle populated, the south has population and climate issues.

Anyone here do work in Maine or Mt/Id? I know maine has a decent amount of companys, but cant find much on mt/id.

I also wish to ask how well off would a GIS minor be in the field? Ive read its good to have knowage, but not enough to determine if minoring in it would be a good future investment.

[Spartan]

It's a tough go in MT from what I see and experience, East of the divide for sure.  I would think forest management would be a good choice here but seems noone has really gone that direction.  for government I've been told that is the first to go budget wise when the fire budget is depleted.  A few private start up companies.  our forests are quickly becoming a wreck.  Logging for sure is not doing well here.  U of M in Missoula used to have a really good forestry school.  I took a class there once.  You could call them and see what kind of info they have on the industry here.   Might want to check MT State if you are after a gov job.  They do more with the timber industry here in my opinion.  also might want to check into what kind of grants and lending the gov is giving for managing land and that might help with some trend direction at least around here.  things like chipping, fire fuel reduction, that kind of stuff.  Just an idea.

[ppine]

The USFS has become the US Fire Service. Becoming a fire specialist is one career path. We used to say "every forester wants to go to one fire."  I think it is a crummy way to make a living.

Anyone serious about a career in forestry should be willing to take a job they can get. That is especially true starting out.  If that first job is in Nebraska living in a trailer at the end of the road, take it.  You can worry about your dream job later.  Plenty of people get a degree and then end up in construction or selling life insurance because they have some preconceived idea of where they want to work.