At Westslope Forest Management, we understand your forest’s needs. We have spent years learning the art of effective forest management and pride ourselves in our ability to maintain healthy forests. We use sustainable selective harvesting methods to ensure enhanced health of forests now and increased productivity in the future.
Montana Timber Sale Prep
Timber Sale Prep
Forest Management
We work with Federal, State and Private entities to help manage their forests. Prepping a forest for a timber sale consists of marking trees for harvest, contracting a logging professional, and marketing your forest products to local sawmills. We provide administration throughout the process and make sure the job adheres to Montana’s Best Management Practices Program until completion.
We are the middle man between you and the buyer of your timber. We ensure that the prices you are getting for your forest products are fair while keeping you informed throughout the process. When you are ready for a timber sale, WFM would love to be your agent. We are happy to send a forester to evaluate of your forest and give you an idea of what to expect..
Management Plans
Forest Management
We often assist landowners with science-based forest management planning. These plans define objectives and current conditions while informing decisions for resource management.
These plans serve as a templates for years to come, planning activities and locations.
Montana Forest Management Plans
Local experts for Montana timber inventory
Timber Inventory
Forest Management
Timber inventory is the collection of data throughout a forest stand for analysis. Information collected depends on the specific type of inventory, but often includes height, diameter, age, and potential for trees to grow in a given area (site index).
This data helps to characterize the stand and form management decisions.
Fuels Reduction
Forest Management
Western Montana has an increasingly long fire season. This can be stressful and costly for landowners during the summer months. Luckily, there are federal and state agencies that provide grants to landowners to help reduce the risk of wildfires in your forest.
Working with various granting agencies, we have treated over 5,000 acres of forestland in the wildland urban interface (WUI). These projects use cost share funds and timber value to provide cost effective fuels reduction for landowners.
Fuels reduction work in Condon, Montana
Precommercial thinning project in Frenchtown, Montana
Forest Thinning
Forest Management
A thinned forest is a healthy forest. Over crowded forests are more likely to become diseased and are at a greater risk during fire season.
Our crews provide commercial and pre-commercial forest thinning on State and Private lands to keep these forests healthy and productive for years to come.
Prescribed Burning
Forest Management
Prescribed burns help to reduce fuel loading while maintaining healthy plant communities, restoring nutrients throughout the soil and encouraging plant growth
WFM conducts several prescribed burns throughout the Montana area every spring and fall. We also contract our professional fallers and heavy equipment to State and Federal agencies during fire season.
Prescribed Burn in the Rattlesnake outside Missoula, Montana
Forest Insect and Disease Detection and Treatment
Forest Management
Our technicians are trained to detect signs of disease and damaging insects throughout the forest. We are able to identify and treat damage from insects and diseases.
We spend several hours every year attending trainings and we apply numerous methods to address forest pests and pathogens.
Weed Management
Forest Management
Non-native invasive weeds are a growing problem throughout Western Montana. Many of our projects involve a weed management approach after forest work has been completed. Our techniques include reseeding, chemical and non-chemical spraying, and occasionally pulling and covering dense areas. These techniques help to minimize weeds on any freshly disturbed areas. We assess weed species, densities, and landowner preference to select our weed management approach.
Local Montana weed management experts