American Forest Management has a staff of highly qualified forest managers and support personnel with the experience to manage timberlands to meet your wildlife objectives.
AFM's professional Wildlife Staff and Forest and Land Management Team are:
- Registered, licensed or otherwise qualified to practice forestry and/or wildlife management in their respective states.
- They are supported by an able and experienced group of forest technicians, forest management specialists and the best technology available.
At AFM, timberland management begins with defining the owner's objectives. We strive to reach a thorough understanding and agreement with the landowner on the purpose, time horizon and desired intensity of management for the property. The initial evaluation determines the emphasis, and thereby the resources, to be dedicated towards wildlife habitat enhancement, habitat management, habitat conservation, timber production, recreation, historic preservation, or other considerations. A subsequent on-the-ground assessment of the attributes of the property can then be used to develop a comprehensive management plan detailing future operations and their costs and benefits.
Our foresters working with AFM's Certified Wildlife Biologist have the capability to incorporate intensive and extensive pine and hardwood management strategies, wildlife habitat requirements, biodiversity considerations, soil and water quality conservation, aesthetic concerns and all other aspects of forest and land management into one comprehensive plan. This plan then serves as a flexible guide to assist the owner in reaching the management objectives for the property and is regularly updated.
An AFM Agreement for Wildlife Management Services can include some or all of the following activities:
Target Wildlife Species
- The first step of any wildlife management plan is to identify the primary wildlife species that the landowner is interested in
- Management recommendations will be based on the wildlife species the
landowner is targeting
- Target wildlife species can include game species such as white-tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, doves or waterfowl, or non-game species including rare, threatened or endangered species
Habitat Assessment
- Detailed assessment of the current habitat conditions on your property, based on the wildlife species you are interested in
- The assessment will identify population levels, limiting factors, and key habitat elements to be retained
Management Planning
- Develop a detailed, site specific, habitat management plan based on the landowner's management objectives and target wildlife species
- Plan will provide specific practices to enhance wildlife habitat on your property
- The management plan can be integrated into existing timber harvest plans or can include detailed timber management recommendations
Habitat Enhancement
AFM staff can assist you with the on-the-ground implementation of the management plan, which may include habitat enhancement practices such as:
- Understory Vegetation Management
- Fertilization
- Herbicide Applications
- Timber Management
- Protection, Creation and/or Enhancement of Key Habitat Elements
- Tree and/or Shrub Planting
Forage Enhancement
- Recommendations to enhance native plants that are beneficial to wildlife resulting in increased quantity and quality of browse, mast and seed producing plants
- Develop a complete food plot program for your property which will include the number and size of food plots needed, which crops will work best on your property and how to establish and maintain the food plots
Deer Herd Management
- Population census (estimate)
- Harvest recommendations
- Harvest data management
Threatened and Endangered Species
- Surveys
- Habitat Management
- Habitat Conservation Plans/Safe Harbor Agreements
- Coordination with state and/or federal agencies
Recreational Land
- Working with the AFM real estate group, we help you locate properties that are well suited for recreational or wildlife management purposes
- AFM can also help you lease your property for hunting and can manage all aspects of the hunting lease program
Pond Management
- Pond development
- Fisheries management
- Waterfowl management
Wildlife habitat is not a "fix it and forget it" proposition. To maintain quality wildlife habitat, active management is essential. AFM has the professional, trained staff with years of land management experience to assist with the creation and maintenance of wildlife habitat on your property.
