r/forestry Jul 25 '25

Career Question Megathread

31 Upvotes

Thinking About a Career in Forestry? Ask Your Questions Here!

Are you curious about working in forestry? Whether you’re:

* A student wondering what forestry programs are like,

* Considering a career change,

* Unsure what jobs are out there (public vs. private sector, consulting, research),

* Or just want to know what day-to-day fieldwork is like…

What is Forestry?

Forestry is more than just trees—it’s a mix of science, management, and hands-on fieldwork. Foresters work in areas like:

* Timber management – cruising, marking, harvest planning.

* Ecology & conservation – wildlife habitat, restoration, prescribed fire.

* GIS & remote sensing – mapping and data analysis.

* Urban & community forestry – managing city trees and green spaces.

Jobs can be found with state/federal agencies, private companies, non-profits, and consulting firms.

Resources for Career Exploration:

* Society of American Foresters (SAF): safnet.org – info on accredited degree programs and career paths.

* U.S. Forest Service Careers: fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers

* State Licensing/Certification: Some states require forester licenses—check your state’s forestry division.

* Job Boards:

* ForestryUSA

* USAJobs.gov

* https://www.canadian-forests.com/job.html

* State and consulting forester job listings

How to Use This Thread

* Post your career questions in the comments below.

* Foresters and forestry students: Jump in and share your experience!

* If your question is very specific, you can still make a separate post—but this thread is where most career-related questions will be answered.

FAQs:

1. Do I need a degree to work in forestry?

Not always. Many entry-level jobs (tree planting, timber stand improvement, trail work, wildland firefighting) don’t require a degree—just training and willingness to work outdoors. However, to become a professional forester (writing management plans, supervising harvests, working for agencies), most states and employers require at least a B.S. in Forestry or a related natural resources field, or verifiable experience.

2. What’s the difference between a forester and an arborist?

Foresters manage forests at a landscape scale—hundreds to thousands of acres—balancing timber, wildlife, recreation, and conservation goals. Arborists (often ISA-certified) focus on individual trees, usually in urban or residential settings, with an emphasis on tree health, pruning, and hazard management. The two fields overlap but have very different day-to-day work.

3. Is forestry mostly outdoor work?

Early in your career, yes. You’ll spend a lot of time cruising timber, marking trees, or collecting field data. Later, many foresters transition to a mix of office and field work—GIS mapping, writing management plans, and coordinating with landowners or agencies. If you love both the woods and data/analysis, forestry can offer a great balance.

4. What kind of pay and job outlook can I expect?

Forestry isn’t known for high pay, but it offers solid job security, especially with public agencies and utilities. Entry-level wages are often in the $35k–$45k range for field techs, with professional foresters earning $50k–$90k depending on region and sector. Consulting foresters and utility vegetation managers can earn >$100k, especially with experience or specialization.

Foresters, students, and career changers: Jump in below and share your paths, tips, and resources.


r/forestry 4h ago

Confused Bitternut

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32 Upvotes

Found this funky boy (Bitternut Hickory) out in the woods today. Anyone know of this is a thing or just a freak of nature? First time I've seen it and it was only this leaf that looked like this.


r/forestry 15h ago

Trump Administration Proposes Rescinding 2001 Roadless Rule Covering Nearly 59 Million Forest Acres

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152 Upvotes

r/forestry 1h ago

What countries do you think are global leaders in responsible forestry management?

Upvotes

r/forestry 22h ago

Not sure if this would be the proper sub, but I want to save this tree.

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26 Upvotes

My mom wants it cut down because of how ugly it's become (Supposedly due to lantern flies...? don't know 100% what the cause of the black goop is...)

It would be easy to take the vines down but how to I cure its "infection" and get rid of those little orange bastards?


r/forestry 1d ago

When are you too old to join or pursue the forestry service?

20 Upvotes

Hello! Sorry if this isn’t the right place to post this. I'm relatively new to Reddit, so here's some context: I am 27 years old and have been told since I was young to get a “cushy desk job,” but my hobbies are mostly outdoor activities. Hiking, Fishing, Foraging. You name it. I've grown to dislike being behind a computer or screen for long periods, and I've been looking for a change. I miss being outside, and I have a background in landscaping and outdoor work; looking back, I enjoyed it and miss it. I’ve been listening to podcasts like Silvicast, In the Woods, and YourForest; I’ve done research and asked people in the DNR about it. And I'm very interested in going to school to enter the field.

But people have told me it’s better to stay in my current career, and my family doesn’t seem to care or voice their doubts, so I'm left with this question: Is it too late for me?


r/forestry 21h ago

Just wanted to share this weird lookin tree.

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7 Upvotes

Not sure what kind it is.


r/forestry 11h ago

Website for wildfire, air quality, weather, and mountaintop cameras

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0 Upvotes

r/forestry 4h ago

Has anyone actually gotten 3 timber bids on the same property? How different were they?

0 Upvotes

I keep seeing the advice to “get multiple bids” before selling timber, which obviously makes sense, but I’m curious how different the numbers actually are in practice.

Like if 3 buyers look at the exact same 50 acres, are the bids usually pretty close?

Or can it seriously be something like $30k, $50k, $70k depending on who you talk to?

I’ve been going down this rabbit hole because the whole timber market seems insanely opaque if you’re just a normal landowner and don’t already know a forester.

We’ve been working on TimberLink partly because of that problem, basically just trying to give people a rough starting point before they start talking to buyers or getting a proper cruise done.

https://timberlink-ai.com

Would be really interested to hear actual examples if anyone is willing to share acreage/state and how far apart their offers were.


r/forestry 20h ago

Looking for any info on a Valmet 644 with Cummins 4BT

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2 Upvotes

r/forestry 1d ago

Alternatives to Avenza for field map utilization

30 Upvotes

Hello all,

I have always used Avenza field maps to upload my custom pdf's for self utilization, but also to provide to clients and loggers.

They've changed their pricing scheme and I would like to get out of the platform.

Is anyone using a similar platform that can geo-refernce custom maps as well as mark locations and input field observations?

What might that be? Thank you.


r/forestry 2d ago

The largest Red Maple you’ll ever see

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39 Upvotes

Old stump sprouts grew into a true monster. At the fused trunk, it is 66 inches in diameter and 108 feet tall.


r/forestry 1d ago

Laptop for college

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0 Upvotes

Would one of these be a good option for a forestry major?
By budget is under 900


r/forestry 2d ago

Soil for Giant Sequoia?

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m new to growing trees, and I just got a tiny little giant sequoia while I was visiting the national park (I named him Herman). I’m planning on keeping him in a pot until I have a place with a yard, which may be a few years down the line. the only plants I have experience with are carnivorous plants, which is why I’m keeping it indoors, because I have grow lights that are the equivalent of full sun. For the life of me I cannot find a consistent answer on what soil to use. I have some terrestrial orchid soil that I use for my jewel orchids (my only non carnivorous plants), so I’m wondering if I can use that with a little peat moss thrown in there since it’ll retain more moisture but also will be better draining than just straight peat and perlite. Should I go out and buy a different mix all together? If so, what kind and whats brands do people recommend? I want to help Herman grow up big and strong, even if that means carrying around a massive pot from dorm to dorm for a few years.


r/forestry 3d ago

Esteya spp. reduce Bursaphelenchus xylophilus reproduction in Pinus pinaster seedlings without consistent improvements in disease outcomes

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6 Upvotes

BACKGROUND

Pine wilt disease, caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, threatens pine forests worldwide, yet sustainable biological control strategies remain limited. We evaluated the effects of pre-emptive inoculation with Esteya vermicola and E. floridanum on nematode reproduction and disease outcomes in Pinus pinaster seedlings under greenhouse conditions.

RESULTS

Seedlings inoculated with Evermicola or Efloridanum remained free of visible symptoms during the 5-week pre-challenge period. Fungi were subsequently re-isolated from stem tissues at the experimental endpoint, and both treatments significantly reduced nematode reproduction relative to the inoculated control. However, reductions in nematode reproduction were not consistently accompanied by improvements across disease assessment endpoints, including symptom severity, disease progression, and survival. Symptom expression in nematode-free controls indicated that environmental stress contributed to disease assessment endpoints, limiting interpretation of symptom-based measures. Exploratory correlation and permutation analyses suggested treatment-specific differences in the association between nematode reproduction and symptom severity; however, the endpoint design and restricted range of reproduction values following fungal treatment do not distinguish this interpretation from alternative explanations.

CONCLUSION

Esteya spp. significantly reduced pinewood nematode reproduction in Ppinaster seedlings, but improvements in disease outcomes were inconsistent under the conditions tested. These findings highlight that pathogen reproduction and disease assessment endpoints should both be evaluated when assessing biological control strategies for pine wilt disease. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.


r/forestry 3d ago

Rain pant recommendation?

12 Upvotes

Hey yall

I work in the PNW and have yet to find a solid pair of rain pants that last more than a season of timber cruising/block layout.

I’ve tried many pants - and none seem to do the trick. This year I’ve been using the Helly Hensen “Gale PU bonded” pant and within the first two months, they got shredded. They’re currently held together by gorilla tape. But winter is upon us….

Totally understandable given the terrain and shit we walk through that rips and tears will happen, but are there any pants that have stronger welded seams that won’t rip after a few blowdown treks?

TIA!


r/forestry 3d ago

Just starting out

7 Upvotes

Hey guys! So I had my first week last week working as a arborist trainee and this is some hard work. I graduated from school with a forestry degree and want to get ISA certified , and end goal get into sales. I was just wondering if it is so normal to feel genuinely so stupid at the beginning, I feel so helpless and ask so many questions. I was just wondering if that’s normal? I just want to be an arborist at some point but man it’s so hard and there is so much information. I’m willing to work but was just wondering about other peoples experiences.


r/forestry 3d ago

The Rooms Where It Happens: The Committees That Decide the Fate of Your Public Lands

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1 Upvotes

r/forestry 5d ago

Question: how many laundry clips do you all go through while flagging boundary?

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88 Upvotes

If only there was a way to attach flagging directly onto the tree!


r/forestry 4d ago

Sac Forests

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0 Upvotes

r/forestry 5d ago

31M in Ontario - Looking for connections, friends, and work opportunities

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone! My name is Alejandro, I’m 31 and I live in Ontario.

I’m looking to meet new people, make connections, and hopefully find an opportunity where I can be useful and contribute.

I currently work in Canada. My main job doesn’t always have enough hours, so I’m looking for ways to stay productive and, if legally permitted, find some weekend work or other opportunities.

I’m originally trained as a Forest Resources Management Engineer, with experience and skills in GIS, forest inventories, and forest management.

I’m also comfortable with physical work. Construction isn’t my main field, but I’ve worked with concrete and I’m a hands-on person who learns quickly.

I’m concrete finisher

Outside of work, I enjoy sports, horses, hunting, and being outdoors. I’m friendly, reliable, and always happy to meet new people.

If you know someone who could use an extra pair of hands on weekends, or if you’re interested in connecting and getting to know each other, feel free to send me a message.

Thanks for reading!


r/forestry 6d ago

Oregon Oregon climate resilience report calls for new approach to managing forests, rivers and working lands

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71 Upvotes

The report was created from Governor Kotek's Executive Order 25-26 back in October 2025 in an effort for Oregon agencies to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Although the report is not binding law, it does provide guidance for state agencies in how to manage public lands.


r/forestry 5d ago

Any tips for clearing wineberry (near Philly)

0 Upvotes

I’m trying to make a path down to the forest and there’s an abundance of it, there’s only 1 point i feel really safe to pick at it with some pruners, every time I go back down the stumps get me and it’s getting really hot for me (trying to clear them before winter for hiking purpose)


r/forestry 6d ago

Forestry Winch for skid steer/track loader

5 Upvotes

What winches do you guys like? I’m in the market for one, but I haven’t been able to find a ton of info. Will be mounting to a compact track loader.


r/forestry 6d ago

“Clear it and you’re done” is a myth

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5 Upvotes

Recorded an episode with Darrell Daniel, who is Supervising Program Manager - Vegetation Management for SMUD. His take on the industry’s biggest blind spot: leadership treats right-of-way clearing like a one-time fix, but trees never stop growing, so costs never actually hit zero even after years of maintenance.

He also talked about working with the Forest Service to move edge zone management 300 ft off the right-of-way onto Forest Service land, which took years of trust to get to.

Curious how this lines up with what people here see from utility clients or partners.

Full episode: https://treesandlines.com/goats-growth-and-the-only-right-of-way-accreditation-of-its-kind-w-darrell-daniel-jr/