Service Foresters are here to help!
The DNRC has 14 Service Foresters and two Urban Foresters located in various offices across Montana. They are available for free one-on-one consultations regarding private and urban forests with private landowners, communities, educators, and more. They often act as a liaison to individual programs and specialists within the DNRC's Forestry Assistance Bureau.
Service Foresters provide assistance and expertise on a variety of topics, including:
- Develop forest stewardship or management plans
- Identify appropriate cost-share grants and programs
- Provide recommendations on sources of cost-share assistance
- Identify forest insect and diseases and make management recommendations
Compliance with Montana’s forest practice laws and rules:
- Timber sales: Planning and carrying through to completion
- Silvicultural systems: Select a system suitable for the site, forest type, and objectives
- Marketing: Identifying markets for timber and non-timber forest products
- Biomass utilization
- Reforestation: Site preparation, choosing appropriate species, ordering seedlings, and proper planting techniques
- Silvicultural treatments: Pruning and thinning (pre-commercial and commercial
- Classroom and field presentations to organizations, students, and the general public.
- Information and/or specialist contacts for resource issues such as invasive weeds, range management, wildlife management, water, soils, etc.
- Fire prevention and hazard reduction
- Creation of a defensible space around homes and outbuildings
- Urban forest assessments
- Education and outreach
- Arbor Day activities
- Program development
Use reference map above for 'Map Location'. Swipe table on mobile device for full details.
| Map Location | Name | Office/Unit | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Rank |
Libby Unit |
177 State Lands Office Rd. |
|
| 2 | Holly McKenzie |
Kalispell Unit |
655 Timberwolf Parkway |
406-751-2268 |
| 3 | Nathan Cole |
Plains Unit |
14 Airport Rd. |
|
| 4 | Shawn Morgan |
Polson Field Office |
500 1st St. E. |
|
| 5 | Jack White |
Swan Unit |
34925 MT Hwy 83 South |
|
| 6 | Bill Burdick |
Missoula Unit |
3206 Maverick Ln. |
|
| 7 | Kyle Carpenter |
Clearwater Unit |
48455 Sperry Grade Rd. |
|
| 8 | Daniel McConnell |
Hamilton Unit |
1801 N. 1st St. |
|
| 9 | Sean Steinebach |
Anaconda Unit |
1300 Maguire Rd. |
|
| 10 | Kyle Harrington |
Helena Unit |
8001 N Montana Ave. |
|
| 11 | Elias Davis |
Bozeman Unit |
2273 Boot Hill Ct. |
|
| 12 | Cody Knoop |
Lewistown Field Office |
613 NE Main St. |
|
| 13 | Noah Wilson |
Billings Field Office |
1371 Rimtop Dr. |
|
| 14 | Andy Miller |
Miles City Field Office |
85 Garryowen Rd. |
| Name | Office | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Kopilow
East Region |
Southern Land Office | 1371 Rimtop Dr. Billings, MT |
|
| Vacant, contact Alexis Armstrong | TBD | TBD |
|
Consulting Foresters
Consulting foresters or mill foresters can be hired to assist landowners with forest management. Your local Service Forester or neighboring landowners may be able to provide recommendations for consulting foresters in your area. The Montana DNRC also maintains a voluntary list of consulting foresters across the state. Inclusion on on this list does not imply endorsement, and landowners are encouraged to check credentials and references.
