Georgia Forestry Today (Sept | Oct 2015)

GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Volume 11, Issue 5 September | October 2015

HOW WILDLIFE BOOSTS GEORGIA’S BOTTOM LINE

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September | October 2015

Georgia Forestry Today

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On the Cover:

GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Printed in the USA PUBLISHER: A4 Inc. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alva Hopkins ahopkins@a4inc.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Wendy Burnett Alva Hopkins Stasia Kelly Sandi Martin Roland Petersen-Frey

PRODUCTION MANAGER Pamela Petersen-Frey p.frey@a4inc.com

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division works to conserve, promote, and enhance our native wildlife resources and outdoor heritage, which, in turn, improves outdoor recreation opportunities and experiences for Georgians and visitors.

Read the story on page 8.

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GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY is published bi-monthly by A4 Inc., 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115. Recipients include participants of the Forest Stewardship Program and the American Tree Farm System.

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher, A4 Inc., nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Part of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher. Correspondence regarding changes of address should be directed to A4 Inc. at the address indicated above. Advertising material should be sent to A4 Inc. at the e-mail address: p.frey@a4inc.com. Questions on advertising should be directed to the advertising director at the e-mail address provided above. Editorial material should be sent to A4 Inc. or to Alva Hopkins.

GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115

September | October 2015

Volume 11, Issue 5

September | October 2015

Georgia

FORESTRY TODAY P.08

How Wildlife Boosts Georgia’s Bottom Line P.24

The Outdoorsman | Advanced Dove Hunting

P.28

State Forestry Association Announces Andres Villegas as Next President

P.13

Adding Public Hunting Ops On Private Land

P.14

Forest inSight Conference to Focus on Innovations in Forest Management

P.16

New UGA Study Shows that ‘Southern Pine Decline’ Isn’t Happening on a Large Scale

Forestry Calendar

P.19

Message from the GFC Director

September 22

P.20

GFC News

P.21

Putting Traction Into Forest Action Plan

If you have a forestry event you’d like to see on our calendar, please contact Alva Hopkins at ahopkins@a4inc. com with the subject line ‘Calendar Event.’

Greene-Morgan Forest Landowners Association Trade Show and Quarterly Meeting Buckhead, Georgia Info: 770-207-4204

October 6-8 SFI Annual Conference Resort at Squaw Creek Olympic Valley, California Info: Amy Doty, 202-596-3458, amy.doty@sfiprogram.org

October 20-22 Forestry for Non-Foresters Flinchum’s Phoenix Athens, Georgia Info: Ingvar Elle, 706-583-0566

October 27 Forest inSight Conference Rainwater Conference Center Valdosta, Georgia Info: Sabra Rockwell, 706-795-0055

Georgia Forestry Today

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September | October 2015

List of advertisers American Forest Management ...............................................30

International Forest Company................................................. 6

Beach Timber Company Inc...................................................30

LandMark Spatial Solutions......................................................4

Blanton’s.........................................................................................3

Lanigan & Associates ...............................................................14

Bodenhamer Farms & Nursery...............................................12

Meeks’ Farms & Nursery ...........................Inside Front Cover

Canal Wood LLC......................................................................30 Cantrell Forest Products Inc. ..................................................30 Davis - Garvin ............................................................................26

Morbark ......................................................................................30 Outdoor Underwriters.............................................................12 Prudential....................................................................................11

F4 Tech ........................................................................................15 Farm Credit Associations of Georgia....................................15 Flint Equipment Company.....................................................29 Forest inSight .............................................................................18

Plum Creek ...................................................................................5 Rivers Edge Forest Products....................................................30 SuperTree Seedlings ..................................................................17

Forest Resource Services Inc. ..................................................30

WestRock ......................................................................................7

F&W Forestry Service..............................................................14

Weyerhaeuser .............................................................................10

Georgia 811 ...............................................................Back Cover

Whitfield Farms & Nursery ....................................................10

HEI...............................................................................................30

Yancey Brothers ............................................Inside Back Cover

Georgia Forestry Today

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In Georgia, environmental health and economic wealth are closely linked. Proper conservation and management of natural resources not only protect the state’s diverse wildlife—from game species such as white-tailed deer to endangered or rare species like gopher tortoises and their habitats—but also help support and drive the outdoor recreation industry, which contributes billions of dollars to Georgia’s economy every year.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division works to conserve, promote, and enhance our native wildlife resources and outdoor heritage, which, in turn, improves outdoor recreation opportunities and experiences for Georgians and visitors. The results are better environmental health and significant contributions to the state economy.

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September | October 2015

Hunting and fishing are big business in Georgia. There are more than 470,000 hunters and more than 950,000 anglers in the state, according to surveys and other data. Collectively, these groups account for more than $2.2 billion in retail sales and a $3.7 billion ripple effect each year. Hunting and fishing also are responsible for creating nearly 40,000 jobs and several hundred million dollars in federal, state, and local tax revenues.

(The Wildlife Resources Division averages receiving about $14 million a year in federal Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration funds. The money comes from a federal tax on ammunition, guns, fishing equipment, and motorboat fuel. To receive the federal funds, Georgia must spend all state revenue from hunting and fishing licenses on sport fish and wildlife management to benefit hunters and anglers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closely monitors the division’s programs. Together, these agencies ensure that funds generated by Georgia hunters and anglers—state license revenue and federal funds—go to programs and projects that benefit sportsmen and sportswomen.)

Outdoor recreation in Georgia is not limited to hunting and fishing, of course.

Georgia Forestry Today

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Wildlife-watching activities such as birding and wildlife photography have grown tremendously in popularity in recent years and are now enjoyed by 2.4 million state residents and visitors annually, according to a 2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey. On average, wildlifewatchers spend $369 per person on food

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and lodging, transportation, equipment, and supplies each year. That spending amounted to an economic impact of more than $1.9 billion in 2011.

Shooting sports are another component. With more than 660,000 target shooters in Georgia, shooting sports account annually for $326 million in retail

sales and a total economic impact of $559 million, including more than $191 million in salaries, some $40 million in state and local taxes, and $48.5 million in federal taxes.

Commensurate to the size and impact of these outdoor recreation industries are Wildlife Resources Division efforts to manage the resources all of the above require.

The division manages 111 wildlife management areas and ten public fishing areas, providing nearly 1 million acres of land for hunting and more than 2,000 acres of water for fishing. Other facilities include ten fish hatcheries, 144 boat ramps, seven regional education centers visited by more than 97,000 students and adults in the most recent fiscal year, 17 shooting ranges, and 18 archery ranges.

The Wildlife Resources Division’s partnership with Georgia Southern University is producing a leading-edge indoor shooting facility, investing $5.8 million for public and collegiate access to this

September | October 2015

Matt Thomas lands an example of the largemouth bass fishing Georgia is known for.

Thomas is an assistant chief in Georgia DNR’s Fisheries Management Section.

growing recreational and athletic interest (details at http://recreation.georgiasouthern.edu/facilities/shooting-sportseducation-center).

Wildlife Resources is also responsible for managing wildlife and natural habitats statewide, from Georgia’s deer herd to largemouth bass in public waters.

Outdoor recreation experiences are enhanced through management and restoration operations. In 2014, for example, habitat improvements were completed on more than 82,500 acres of

Georgia Forestry Today

state-owned wildlife management areas.

These efforts included prescribed fires and planting more than 306,000 native tree seedlings on 4,900 acres of forestland to enhance wildlife habitat.

The division has a number of strategic goals to provide environmental and economic benefits and increase participation in hunting, fishing, and wildlifebased recreation. These include managing timber, increasing the acreage of managed dove fields (see ‘Adding Public Hunting Ops on Private Lands’) and

continued use of prescribed fire to create improved habitat for hunting.

Wildlife Resources also wants to increase participation in hunting and fishing to 1 million anglers and 500,000 hunters in Georgia, and expand shooting ranges across the state.

Our wildlife resources and natural heritage are critical to nearly every aspect of life in Georgia, and the economy is no exception. Continuing to reap the economic benefits of the state’s natural assets requires an investment in their

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protection, restoration, and enhancement. What we gain in return is a richer Georgia, environmentally and economically.

Learn more about Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division and its work at www.georgiawildlife.org. Elliot Ambrose is a University of Georgia graduate interning with the Wildlife Resources Division. v

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Conservation Incentives Guide Available e 2015 version of the Landowner’s Guide to Conservation Incentives in Georgia provides an updated and concise overview of conservation programs, qualifications, and contacts. View or download a copy at www.georgiawildlife.com/LandownersGuide. Also learn more by contacting forester and guide editor Steve Raper, of DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, at (478) 994-1438 or steve.raper@dnr.ga.gov.

September | October 2015

ADDING PublIC HuNTING OPS ON PRIVATe lAND

By Don McGowan

A three-year federal grant is helping Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division offer more public hunting opportunities on private lands.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program is a competitive grants program through which states and Indian tribes can increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation, such as hunting, fishing or hiking.

As one of nine state fish and wildlife agencies to receive a monetary grant out of 27 that applied in 2014, the Wildlife Resources Division is using the funds to work with willing landowners statewide, primarily to

provide more public hunting opportunities. Because of the high demand seen in recent years for public dove hunting, the agency has focused on increasing the number of public dove fields. Since late winter and into spring, Wildlife Resources’ Game Management Section worked with willing private landowners to set up dove field leases for this fall.

The agency is also looking for opportunities to lease private land for specialty hunts such as youth hunts, ladies hunts, and military veteran hunts, among others. These specialty hunts can center on deer, turkey, waterfowl or other game species. Wildlife Resources also has engaged organiza-

tions such the Georgia chapters of The Wild Turkey Federation and Quail Forever to help sponsor the specialty hunts.

Landowners who want to lease their lands for these purposes not only receive a lease payment, but Wildlife Resources biologists are available to work with the landowners to provide technical guidance on improving their wildlife habitat for any number of species. Participating landowners also receive liability protection similar to private landowners who lease their lands with the state’s wildlife management area system.

These new hunting opportunities include:

Tract Name

County

Game Management Regional Office

Type

Acres

# of FIelds

Days Open

London Farms

White

Gainesville (770-535-5700)

dove

81

4

9/5, 9/7, 9/12

Mossy Creek Dairy

White

dove

140

8

11/26, 11/28, 12/5

Anderson Farm

Wayne

Brunswick (912-262-3173)

dove

87

3

9/5, 9/19, 10/10, 10/24, 12/5, 12/19, 1/9

Heath Farms

Treutlen

Fitzgerald (229-426-5267)

dove

127

1

9/5, 9/12, 9/19

Hooks Farm

Emanuel

Fitzgerald (229-426-5267)

dove

67

1

9/5, 9/12, 9/19

Odum-Powers Farm

Appling

Fitzgerald (229-426-5267)

dove

110

3

9/5, 9/12, 9/19

Gainesville (770-535-5700)

For updates on these public dove-hunting opportunities, including any hunter quota restrictions and driving directions, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call the appropriate office listed above.

Landowners interested in participating in the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program can contact the appropriate Game Management Section office or call Don McGowan, Game Management regional operations manager, at (770) 918-6404. v Georgia Forestry Today

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Forest inSight Conference to Focus on Innovations in Forest Management

By Sabra Rockwell | Dougherty & Dougherty Forestry Services Inc.

International Forest Company (IFCO), Dougherty & Dougherty Forestry Services Inc. (DDFSI) and the Forest landowners Association (FlA) will be hosting the second annual Forest inSight Conference at the Rainwater Conference Center in Valdosta, Georgia, on October 27-29. e Conference seeks to connect forest resource owners and stakeholders with leading-edge updates on the sustainability, productivity, and profitability of the forest management sector in the Southeast. Speakers at the conference include the top experts in their respective fields. e venue and schedule are designed to maximize networking, technology transfer, and communication between researchers, service providers, and forest landowners.

“It is imperative that the forestry community continually communicate new technology and forest management systems to all sectors of the industry,” Wayne Bell, COO of IFCO said. “Our main goal with this conference is to educate forest landowners and management professionals on important topics that will help ensure the sustainability of forestlands and the benefits they provide for generations to come.”

Headlining speakers include Dr. Harold Burkhart, Virginia Tech University; Dr. Tim Martin, University of Florida; Dr. Steve McKeand, NC State University; Dr. Phil Dougherty, Center of Forest Research and Applied Management, DDFSI; Dr. Tom Gower, NC State University; Dr. Bronson Bullock, University of Georgia; and Scott Jones, FLA. Topics will include forest market trends, intensive management and tech14

nology, carbon and sustainability, impacts of a potential changing climate, forest stand modeling, tree improvement, and forest health.

Educational sessions, meals, and networking opportunities, including an evening reception for attendees, will be provided in addition to a trade show where attendees can connect with profes-

sionals from all sectors of the forest industry. On the last day, each attendee will also have an opportunity to participate in a field tour of advanced pine plantation management on Superior Pines Forestland in Fargo, Georgia.

“From an organizer’s perspective, last year’s conference reviews were outstanding, consistently noting that strong, cutting-edge information was presented in a clear manner from dynamic experts,” said

Derek Dougherty, President of Dougherty & Dougherty Forestry Services Inc. Cost of registration is $100 per attendee for the conference only, $120 for the conference and field tour, and $50 for the field tour only. A total of 13.5 continuing education credits are pending approval for the conference, and 4.5 credits are pending for the field tour. To access the full schedule of events, registration, and sponsorship information visit www.forestinsightconf.com. For more information, contact Sabra Rockwell at srockwell@progressiveforestry.com or (706) 795-0055.

Attendees may also make hotel accommodations at Hampton Inn & Suites Valdosta Conference Center. by calling 1(229) 241-1234 or by going online before Monday, October 5, 2015. Ask for the Forest inSight Conference rate of $79 per night plus tax. v

September | October 2015

Georgia Forestry Today

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New uGA Study Shows that ‘Southern Pine Decline’ Isn’t Happening on a large Scale

By Sandi Martin | Public Relations Coordinator | Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Researchers at the university of Georgia have a message for Southern tree farmers worried about unexplainable pine tree deaths: Don’t panic.

A new study published in Forest Ecology and Management analyzed growth in thousands of pine tree plots across the Southeast and indicates that ‘southern pine decline’ isn’t happening on a large scale. Some earlier reports and studies had hinted at large-scale deaths of pine trees from unexplained reasons.

But looking at the hard data shows that this is not the case, said Kamal Gandhi, an associate professor and forest health expert at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

“No one freak out,” Gandhi said bluntly. “There are some pine health issues that need to be addressed, but southern pine decline isn’t one of them.

There are a whole bunch of factors we need to consider at the local instead of regional level.”

Since the 1950s, when mature stands of loblolly pine in Alabama died, there have been reports of trees either dying or deteriorating for unknown reasons across the Southeast, and some researchers have pointed to root-feeding weevils and associated fungi as the culprits.

These tree deaths have been called loblolly pine die-off, pine decline, and, in the past five years or so, southern pine decline. The Southeast is the “wood basket of the world,” Gandhi said, so any hints that one of the most important economic drivers in this region is just dying off is a concern.

An annual report by the Georgia Forestry Commission shows that in this state alone, the forest industry supported more than 50,000 jobs and generated $365 million in revenue. Of the four 16

September | October 2015

southern pine species, one—loblolly—is particularly important to the forest industry as the source of wood pellets, lumber, and paper, among other wood products.

“Landowners had become concerned,” said David Coyle, a post-doctoral researcher at the Warnell School. “If this widespread southern pine decline was real, then landowners were wondering if they should change their management practices or even not grow loblolly if those trees were just going to die.”

Gandhi, Coyle, and other researchers at the Warnell School and U.S. Forest Service spent three years poring over data collected by the agency’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, looking for patterns in tree mortality rates and reviewing pine health issues in the Southeast.

Data in the inventory encompasses everything from forest location, size, tree growth, mortality, and how many trees are harvested to species. It provided everything researchers needed to look at

Georgia Forestry Today

6,533 forest plots to calculate tree growth and mortality. What they found was that only a small percentage of pine plots across the Southeast were dying off, and virtually all of those trees died for an identifiable reason—fire, insects, weather or invasive vegetation.

UGA researchers also don’t believe root-feeding weevils and the fungi they bring with them are behind the tree deaths.

“Everywhere you find dead or dying trees, you are going to find certain things, including these beetles and a certain group of root-infesting fungi,” Coyle explained. “It doesn’t necessarily mean these organisms caused the tree to die.”

Gandhi, Coyle, and Brittany Barnes, a research coordinator in the Warnell School, have been collecting data in an extensive research project investigating southern pine decline for the past three years.

“Our tentative results show that at least some of these fungi are in healthy and unhealthy stands and are not a threat

to our southern pine forests,” Barnes said.

“These fungi are widespread but not deadly.”

There are definitely environmental factors that do affect tree health, Gandhi said. These include site and soil conditions, drought, climate change, insects, pathogens, and natural aging of the trees.

However, the results of this study show that standard management practices are working just fine, Coyle explained.

“There isn’t a big problem,” he said.

“Stay the course on established management practices.”

The research group has created a Web site—www.sph.uga.edu—to provide foresters and landowners with upto-date information and science on a variety of pine forest health issues.

Additional study co-authors include Larry Morris, a professor in the Warnell School, and Forest Service scientists Kier Klepzig, Frank Koch, John Nowak, William Otrosina, and William Smith.v

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Georgia Forestry Commission

Robert Farris

Message from the Director Dear GFT Reader,

I

t’s been quite a while since we put our kids on the school bus with their new sneakers, notebooks, and lunch boxes. Yet it’s hard not to think about ‘back to school’ this time of year when we reap the sales at Target or get caught behind that bus when we’re in a hurry!

In every line of work, it’s simply good business to keep on learning. We are fortunate in Georgia to have a wide selection of places to turn for information that will keep us knowledgeable and competitive in forestry matters. Some of those opportunities are in actual classes and workshops, while many others are available virtually.

The quantity and combination of offerings hold something for everyone associated with the amazing natural resource with which we are entrusted.

The mission of the Georgia Forestry Commission is to provide leadership, service, and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia’s forest resources. A number of GFC events that fulfill that promise are presented throughout the year. From education about wildfire, invasives, and emerging markets, to tree planting how-tos and Smokey Bear lessons, GaTrees.org is the Web site that details GFC learning opportunities.

By clicking on Resources/ Events, you’ll find a calendar that lists events being planned throughout the state. Two events of note posted now include a Land Steward Workshop at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauay on September 25 and the Bioenergy Fuels & Products ConferGeorgia Forestry Today

ence in Atlanta on April 5, 2016. Dates for prescribed fire certification training by the GFC are also listed on this site, including the November 17-18 session at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus.

Our many partners offer numerous education events as well, so it’s wise to bookmark Web sites and stay abreast of upcoming events. At the Georgia Forestry Association’s Web site, www.gfagrow.org, you’ll find details on the October 27-29 Forest inSight Conference in Valdosta, which features several well known speakers who will cover forest management and research topics. Forestry Day at the Capitol and Advocacy Summit is scheduled for February 3-4, 2016, in Atlanta, and next year’s GFA Annual Conference & Forestry Expo has already been posted for July 23-25 at Jekyll Island, Georgia. The Southeastern Wood Producers Association at www.swpa.ag features an event calendar with Continuing Logger Education opportunities and chapter meetings as well.

The Southern Fire Exchange is an excellent resource for all things fire related at www.southernfireexchange.org. A number of webinars, symposia, and advanced workshops are available online, so you can ‘attend class’ according to your own schedule. Wildfire preparedness and safety are the focus of the “Backyards and Beyond” Conference sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, October 22-24.

The USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station’s Web site at

www.srs.fs.usda.gov features an extensive selection of online forestry tools, models, and datasets needed to effectively and efficiently sustain the South’s forests. At Southern Regional Extension Forestry, www.sref.info, you’ll find a News and Events calendar and also a Mobile App category that’s got a lot to offer. “Leafsnap” is a tree identifier that works off of leaf photos. “Invasive Plants in Southern Forests,” “The Prescribed Fire Smoke Management Pocket Guide,” “ESRI ArcGIS,” and “Service Forester’s Tool Kit” for our smart phones make ‘take-out education’ a reality.

The course calendar for the University of Georgia’s Continuing Education at the Warnell School http://conted. warnell.uga.edu/ really makes me want to sharpen my pencils! Lots of interesting CE classes in Athens are on the docket, including “Issues in Tree and Forest Health Care,” with Doctors Kamal Gandhi, Kim Coder, and Jean Williams-Woodward, October 27-28.

November 10-11 brings “Forest Roads in the Piedmont and Coastal Plains,” and December 7-8, the “10th Southern Forestry and Natural Resource Management GIS Conference” will be held.

Whether it’s online training, an interesting seminar or a new app, I hope you'll take advantage of some learning opportunity this fall. Continuing education is the key to keeping Georgia’s forestry leaders at the top of their class.

Robert Farris GFC Commissioner e 19

GFC News The Georgia Forestry Commission is echoing federal agencies’ warnings about the dangers of operating drones in areas where manned aircraft are involved in wildland firefighting operations. A campaign by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Forest Service says flying a drone near firefighting aircraft poses a hazard to pilots and people on the ground. “When aircraft are grounded because an unmanned aircraft is in the vicinity, lives are put at greater risk,” the agencies said. A fine of $1,000 to $25,000 can result from endangering manned aircraft and people on the ground with drones. e The importance of wood in construction was emphasized recently at a special workshop for architects and engineers held in Atlanta. Based on wood’s value to an increasing number of consumers seeking a lower cost, renewable, sustainable product, wood structures were highlighted in a Wood Works presentation on mid-rise construction design. The seminar covered basic wood properties, the importance of moisture content to limit shrinking/swelling, and building codes. As the housing market continues to recover, analysts say we may see increased demand for wood structures. For more details on wood utilization trends, contact GFC’s Dru Preston, Jonathan Brown, Bill Pryor or Risher Willard. e Advanced genetics are making this season’s GFC seedlings especially attractive to private and non-industrial landowners. The wide variety of species and qualities offered include more single family types that exhibit certain desirable traits, including enhanced rust resistance and straightness. The Georgia Giant is a mix of three of the fastest growing loblolly families in the Southeast, producing 54 percent more volume per acre at age six. The Elite Straight Loblolly is a favorite for poles as it ranks extremely high for straightness and fusiform rust resistance. Select Piedmont third cycle seedlings produce 101 percent more volume per acre at age six, and slash pine seedlings are producing 38 percent more volume per acre at rotation age on a high hazard rust site.

Hardwood seedlings are also available. Get more information and order at www.gatrees.org, 1-800GATREES or call the Flint River Nursery directly at (229) 268-7308.e Air potatoes (Dioscoria bulbife) have landed in Georgia! This non-native plant is of concern because it actively competes with and displaces native plants.

It is a twining vine with a distinct heart-shaped leaf that can grow eight inches per day, to 70 feet or more. The plants drop tubers that produce new plants, making it very difficult to control. The GFC is supporting a project that launched a biocontrol release of the air potato beetle, with the goal of reducing the plant to levels that can be controlled with herbicide. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/ow5vz6d. e 20

September | October 2015

By Joanna Warren GfC Communications and Public affairs specialist Georgia’s Forest Action Plan maps strategies that keep Georgia’s forestland sustainable for present and future generations.

Putting traction into forest action Plan I love the trees in Georgia. From the stately rows of planted pines in the south to the rugged hardwood forests that blanket the mountains in the north, I just can’t imagine the state without them. But in a region like ours, where the population and urban areas are booming, healthy forests don’t just occur by happenstance. It takes careful assessment, planning, and hard work to make sure that our trees are able to support the state’s ecosystems and timber industry. Fortunately, this is exactly what the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) was created to do. To help us stay on track, we have developed the Forest Action Plan, which outlines the steps necessary to keep our land beautiful and healthy.

By following these guidelines, every day we get a little closer to our agency vision of healthy, sustainable forests providing clean air, clean water, and abundant products, both for today’s needs and for future generations. e Forest Action Plan resulted from a mandate included in the 2008 Farm Bill. Legislators asked each state forestry agency to complete a comprehensive assessment of forests and forestry-related conditions in their state, and to develop a strategy for guiding the agency programs in the face of decreased funding and resources. e Farm Bill provided three national Georgia Forestry Today

priorities upon which the state agencies were to concentrate their efforts: conserve working forest landscapes, protect forests from harm, and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. In order to complete this process, the GFC partnered with a number of organizations, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and other natural resource entities and stakeholders. e two documents resulting from this collaboration comprised the Forest Action Plan. In it, the Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources outlines current forest-related benefits and services, and identifies eight key threats to Georgia’s forestlands [Figure 1]: water quality, urbanization, forest health, biodiversity, air quality, fire management, land tract fragmentation and parcelization, and economics and changing markets. e companion Strategy document lists a number of goals and action items to address these threats, such as minimizing the negative environmental and economic impacts of invasive species in Georgia, and protecting Georgia communities from wildfire. Since its completion in April 2010, this plan has been guiding our efforts to provide leadership, service, and education on forest protection and conservation.

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Heard County Commissioners learn more about Georgia's Forest Action Plan priorities from GFC’s Joanna Warren.

e 2008 Farm Bill mandated that each state reevaluate their action plan every 10 years to reflect changes in circumstances affecting forest health. is calls for new collaborations with stakeholders, updated surveys of Georgia’s forest resources, and a reexamination of the goals and action items aimed at mitigating each threat.

However, in order to reflect progress that state forestry agencies have made in the interim between these reassessments, the National Association of State Foresters has set a standard of providing updates to Forest Action Plans in five year intervals. is is where I come in. I am the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Communications and Public Affairs Specialist, and part of my job is to coordinate this 22

update. e good news is that the GFC has made a lot of progress on the goals and objectives set out in the original document. From presenting fire prevention education programs and developing an online database to track burn permits and wildfires, to increasing seedling sales by 6.2 percent and creating a Circuit Rider Arborist program to assist more communities with urban forestry issues, the folks in every one of our program areas have been working to improve our agency and find ways to better serve Georgia’s citizens.

However, this means that even without completely overhauling the entire document, as is mandated for the ten year reassessment, there is a lot of information that needs to be edited or updated. But

with the help of our program managers, we’re coming into the home stretch. As soon as it is finished, the updated Forest Action Plan will be available on the Georgia Forestry Commission Web site, gatrees.org. e GFC has foresters and rangers providing forest management advice and assistance to every part of the state, but we can’t do it alone. With over 90 percent of the forestland in Georgia privately owned, it is crucial that we work together with landowners and local governments to ensure we meet our goals. at’s why I’m traveling from county to county and talking to Georgia’s county commissioner boards to spread the word about what citizens and counties can do to contribute to September | October 2015

our forest conservation efforts.

I’ve found that many people only associate the Georgia Forestry Commission with plowing firebreaks or selling seedlings, when actually there are so many more services and programs that we provide to help people take care of their trees —regardless of whether it’s one in a forest of 10,000, or the one holding a tree house in their back yard. Depending on the location and desired usage, trees may require a completely unique approach to their management. For example, in urban settings, trees are oen desired to beautify the area or provide energy savings and are oen located away from other trees. In Georgia Forestry Today

these situations, cities may need the help of one of our circuit riding arborists to determine when and how they should be pruned to maintain an attractive appearance, or to make sure there is enough permeable surface surrounding the trees so that rain can penetrate to their roots. A pine tree that is part of a tree farm presents a very different scenario. ese trees oen provide habitat for wildlife, and will ultimately be harvested and made into timber products. In these situations, landowners may want one of our professionals to help develop a management plan for the tract of land, to register their land in the carbon sequestration database,

or get help plowing firebreaks to protect the trees from wildfire.

At the Georgia Forestry Commission, we want to help people figure out what is best for their trees, no matter what form that may take. It is my hope that my presentations across the state will encourage commissioner board members and land owners to contact their local GFC county unit and take advantage of services that they didn’t know about before.

For more information on the Forest Action Plan, or to view the document, please visit the Georgia Forestry Commission website, at http://tinyurl.com/ne3y3ky. e 23

The OUTDOORSMAN

by John Trussell

Advanced Dove Hunting 24

September | October 2015

ove hunting is probably the most popular small game hunting in Georgia, with good reason. The hot weather, sweat, gnats, and other distractions become only minor problems when the sky is filled with the gray ghosts of September, the morning dove.

Dove hunting is a fun, simple sport, but here are a few pointers you may find useful. First, always pack your bug spray, hat, sunglasses, sun block, dove stool, and plenty of cold water to drink. If you don’t have a place to hunt, check out public hunting on a state WMA or investigate dove hunting clubs, like Floyd and Fred Moye’s Redbone Hunting at 770-358-1891.

Remember you are out there dove hunting to have fun, so do not become overly concerned if you miss more birds than you hit. I've read that the national average on dove is about three birds to a box of shells. That’s pitiful, isn’t it?

Somebody’s getting rich, and it isn’t you or me. If you really want to get depressed, just sit down and figure out how much that dove meat is costing you per pound. However, don’t fret over your birds-to-shell shot average, and remember not to waste shells on birds out of range that you might wound.

At one time, I was really skeptical of dove decoys, but I’ve learned they can be deadly if used properly. Around a water hole, place them in a bare tree as high off the ground as possible. If a dead tree is not located close by, go find a dead sapling and stick it in the ground a few feet away from the water. After you place your decoys in the tree, you’ll find the doves will be drawn to it like magnets. In a shooting field, the decoys can be placed on a fence line or placed in a group out on the ground within gun range. Doves have a gregarious nature, and when they see the decoys, they assume everything’s alright for them to drop in.

If you want to shoot dove, a shotgun is essential, of course, and the gauge is the shooter’s choice. Most hunters opt for the 12-gauge because it is the largest practical size you can buy and is the most versatile when it comes to shooting a wide range of game. You don’t see many 16gauges anymore because it has been overshadowed by the 12 and 20-gauges. The 20-gauge is useful because it doesn’t kick quite as much as the 12-gauge, and is consequently often preferred by women, young shooters, or shooters with small body frames. The .410-gauge shotgun is fine as a first gun for youngsters because it is usually equipped with a safety switch, and its light weight makes it easier for young shooters to learn the basics of safe gun handling. But the .410’s small bore size and its full choke are rough on results, so I’ll recommend that your student move up to a 20 or 12-gauge with light loads as soon as they’re able to safely handle it.

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Although the weather will be hot and the sun bright, many hunters will take to the field at noon, knowing the birds won’t show up until 3:30 or so. But they’re not there early because they want a tan. They’re watching the few dove that straggle in during the mid-day to see if they can establish a flight pattern for the birds and thus place their stands in the most productive area before the crowd arrives.

Whether the shooting field is large or small, the birds will quickly establish a preferred route to come and go from their feeding area. This flyaway can be the edge of the woods, a fence line, a gully, or even a single tree. The dove will fly along these objects because they offer cover and possibly a sense of security. They’ll often land in a tree, especially a dead one, to check out a field before they decide to fly in. A lone tree on the edge of a field is usually a good bet for a stand.

If the feeding field is near a small watering hole, so much the better because the dove can meet most of their needs in a small area. But even if the watering hole is in the 25

middle of nowhere, it’ll still attract birds so long as the dove can land on a clean bank and walk to the edge of the water. Watering holes are one of my favorite places to shoot because they’re often scattered far and wide.

When you locate one, chances are you’ll have it all to yourself because these spots are usually overlooked by the average hunter. A watering hole is also a very good spot to use your dove decoys.

From analyzing my own shooting and watching others shoot, I have concluded that most misses are caused by insufficient leading. By this I mean the shot pattern is falling behind the flying bird. It is rare that a hunter would lead a dove too much, so if you miss a lot of birds on opening day, you are probably just being overly cautious and shooting behind the birds. Try leading them another foot, and usually your hits will increase. If you need some additional help, just switch to an improved cylinder choke and keep all your shots within 35 yards.

There is no easy formula for hitting a flying dove, but remember to point your gun directly at your target and then quickly calculate the appropriate lead and fire while following through on your swing. If the dove is coming straight in, a little less lead is required, so shoot about a foot in front of the bird to connect. If he is going straight away, shoot about a foot under him.

On parallel shots, where the bird is flying by you, a lead of about two feet is normally required for a dove flying at about 30 mph at 35 yards. Of course, if you throw in a few trees for the birds to fly through and a stiff cross wind, all rules go out the window and you will have to shoot by the ‘seat of your pants.’ Most birds are missed by beginners because they are out of range.

A flock of incoming doves sure look tempting. Surely you will ‘put the tag’ on several of those birds, and who 26

knows, maybe if you are lucky, you will get a double. Dreams are made of such stuff. It will never happen on a dove field unless you are truly blessed. Pick out one bird and concentrate on bagging it. If the first bird falls, then you can try for another one. If you are not careful, you will rush your shots, miss all the birds and end up with empty shell hulls, and those are really tough to chew on.

One of the most difficult chores after you have shot a dove is to find it.

I think it is a real shame to lose a bird, so I make every effort to find one once it is on the ground.

The first rule of finding a dove is easy…don’t hunt in places where it is

difficult to find them on the ground, such as high weeds or soybean fields.

The best way to find a downed dove is what I call triangulation. This simply means lining up the place where the bird fell between you and some other point on the other side of the bird’s drop point. When a bird falls, mentally pick out the drop spot on a bush, limb, etc., close to the spot and remember it.

Immediately look beyond the bird’s drop point to something in the background straight behind the bird, whether it be a tree or weed, as long as it’s straight behind the bird. Now put your hat on the highest point of your blind so you can find it when you

September | October 2015

go searching and have to look back to get your bearings. Walk in a straight line between your three points to the bird, and you should find him fairly easily. Don’t wait five minutes after you drop the bird to go look for him.

Do it the minute he hits the ground or you will forget where he fell. Even worse, the bird may be only wounded and crawl off so you will never find him. Once you get to the place where you see feathers, look around. Usually the bird is close by. If you don’t see the bird, look around in a circle around the spot until he is located.

Although some hunters spend hours plucking feathers off a dove, I have found that after spending hours on a hot dove field, I don’t want to spend another two hours cleaning birds. There is a better way. Since 95 percent of the meat is located on the dove’s breast, this is what I put in the freezer. Take a whole feathered bird Georgia Forestry Today

and with your right index finger, feel down the breastbone until you detect the end. It will be a soft spot almost between the bird’s legs.

By pulling the bird apart at this point with both hands, you can easily remove the insides and cut off the wings and head with your knife. The

skin over the breast is then removed and ready to be washed and placed in the freezer. Once you get the hang of it, the cleaning process only takes about a minute per bird.

You will be finished and in bed while others are still plucking feathers.

Good Hunting! v

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State Forestry Association Announces Andres Villegas as Next President

By Matt Hestad | Director of Communications & Public Relations | Georgia Forestry Association

At the Georgia Forestry Association’s Annual Conference and Forestry expo on Jekyll Island, Chairman Joe Parsons of Graphic Packaging International announced Andres Villegas as the next president of the Association. The news was the culmination of a national search process that followed the announcement of the retirement of Steve McWilliams who served as president of the association for 12 years. Villegas will begin his service to the organization on October 16.

Villegas brings to the Association more than 16 years of domestic and international experience in a variety of positions with Weyerhaeuser, Langdale Industries, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Andres is currently serving as plant manager for a Weyerhaeuser Engineered Lumber Product (ELP) mill in Corvallis, Oregon. “e Association undertook a global search to identify a leader who will ensure our ability to continue to create the healthiest business and political climate for Georgia’s forest environment, forest landowners, and forest-based businesses,” Parsons said. “Andres’ deep experience and vast knowledge of working forests locally and globally make him the ideal candidate to lead the nation’s longest-standing forest advocacy organization.”

Since early April, a 13-member search committee, co-chaired by former Executive Committee member Tom Norris of Interstate Paper Company and Past Chairman John Godbee, Jr. of F&W Forestry Services, worked to identify the Association’s next leader. In addition to overall management responsibilities, the 28

Andres and his wife leigh and son Alejandro

president serves as the Association’s chief lobbyist, providing daily representation for the forestry community while the Georgia General Assembly is in session.

“I have a passion for forestry,” Andres said. “Its an integral part of our state’s culture, history, and economy. I am excited to have the opportunity to learn more about the needs of the forestry community. Together, I believe we can continue working to ensure that forestry remains a leading industry in Georgia.”

Prior to serving as plant manager for Weyerhaeuser beginning in April 2014, Andres was the president of Catchlight Energy LLC, a joint venture between Chevron and Weyerhaeuser. He was responsible for positioning Catchlight Energy as the preferred partner for advanced biofuels producers utilizing forest-based

feed stocks and guiding the commercial, technical, and administrative operations of the company. Andres also previously worked for Weyerhaeuser in North Carolina and Uruguay in harvesting logistics and industrial development management roles respectively.

Andres received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from e University of Georgia and an Executive Certificate of Management and Leadership from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.

To read this article online and to see a video introduction from Andres, visit www.gfagrow.org and click on the ‘News & Press’ tab at the top of the page. Contact Matt Hestad with questions at 478992-8110 or matt@gfagrow.org. v September | October 2015

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