Flis Forest and Land, LLC

06/02/2026

Summer is a great time to take a walk through your woods and look beyond the big trees.

One of the first things to pay attention to is how much sunlight is reaching the forest floor. Without enough light, young trees don’t stand much of a chance. You may have a healthy looking overstory, but if there’s no new oak, maple, cherry, hickory, or other desirable regeneration coming up underneath, the future of that stand may be lacking.

Summer also makes browse pressure easier to see. If seedlings and sprouts are getting hammered by deer, sunlight alone won’t fix the problem. Forest regeneration takes both proper light and a deer herd that allows young trees to grow past the browse line.

Good forest management and good deer management go hand in hand.

Take a look around this summer. What’s growing on your forest floor?

📌Flis Forest and Land, LLC
📲814-330-9861
📧[email protected]

05/28/2026

What are your goals for your property?

The first question you should ask yourself and from there, a plan can be built around improving forest health, wildlife habitat, timber quality, long term value, and so much more.

Your woods do not have to be managed like everyone else’s. They should be managed for your goals, your land, and the future you want to see or your kids to see.

Get on the right track by contacting me today!

📌Flis Forest and Land, LLC
📲814-330-9861
📧[email protected]

05/13/2026

What’s the regeneration of your forest look like? Maybe it’s been 5, 10, 20 years since it was last logged or maybe not at all. Maybe it feels stuck like nothings changed for the better.. Wouldn’t you want to nudge it in the right direction or have a forester write you a management plan on how to properly manage it yourself?

Let’s open up a conversation by giving me a call!
📌Flis Forest and Land, LLC
📲814-330-9861
📧[email protected]

05/08/2026

1 whole year in business! I was blessed with my clients and their respected properties my first year. Lots of knowledge shared and goals met! Here’s to more!

*email has since changed to
[email protected]

Welcome to Flis Forest & Land, LLC!
We’re excited to officially introduce our forestry services and consulting business, dedicated to restoring and improving privately owned forests across Pennsylvania.

With a strong foundation in sustainable forestry and a deep respect for the woods, we partner with landowners to unlock the full potential of their woodlands. Whether it’s developing long-term management plans, improving wildlife habitat, or enhancing timber value, we’re here to help you enhance your forest for generations to come.

Follow us for updates, forestry tips, habitat improvement ideas, and ways we can support your goals. Let’s grow together!

Get in touch:

Call or text (814)330-9861
[email protected]

04/15/2026

I recently had the opportunity to evaluate a nice 45 acre woodland that had been previously managed. Based on what I observed, the past treatment appeared to be a single tree harvest where a few higher grade overstory trees were removed. In other words, this was essentially a high grade.

That said, the stand still has a lot of potential.

The new overstory is now made up predominantly of black cherry and sugar maple, with some great promise for the future. Most of the trees are already beyond roughly 1.5 log merchantable height and now have the opportunity to continue developing into solid diameter, higher quality trees.

That disturbance also allowed enough sunlight to reach the forest floor, which helped establish a decent layer of desirable regeneration in this case, sugar maple and hickory saplings.

In the photo, there are also a few beech saplings present. That is perfectly fine from a diversity standpoint, but they should be monitored periodically so they do not begin crowding out the more desirable stems. There are also plenty of Rubus species present, which is great for berry production and wildlife value, but not so much that they are becoming overwhelming. And finally, the dreaded black birch is present as well, though in this case it does not appear to be growing as aggressively as is often seen.

The landowner’s primary goal is to improve the woods over time, with deer hunting for the grandchildren as another objective.

So what are the next steps to help reach those goals?

There may not be much that needs done right now, but this is certainly a great time to capitalize on existing stand conditions and guide this property toward becoming the highest quality woodland possible.

📍Flis Forest and Land, LLC
📞 (814)330-9861

04/08/2026

🚨Breaking the ice for 2026 with an extremely important message for landowners!🚨

Spring is here, and people are ready to get outside and start projects on their properties. With that comes an influx of businesses advertising their work and services. That can be a good thing, but it is not so good when misinformation is being spread.

Recently, I saw a post directed at Pennsylvania landowners that needed to be addressed. In that public post, it stated that ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) was invasive in Pennsylvania. That is completely false. Ironwood is a native hardwood species found here. Misinformation like that can be detrimental to your property. What if that tree was providing food for turkeys, songbirds, or small mammals, not to mention the vertical habitat it offers wildlife?

Next, it may be hard to see, but every mast producing, large timber hardwood was marked for harvest. This is what high grading looks like. This property stood out from neighboring lands because it was one of the last to retain that kind of value, especially aesthetic value. It is rare to find a quality forest like that. Unfortunately, the property owner unknowingly hired a logger without first consulting a forester and lost it all. This property will now likely transition into a grove of multiflora rose, oriental bittersweet, and invasive honeysuckles.

Lastly, this property is in the beginning stages of takeover following a disturbance such as a thinning. It shows how, earlier this year, a thinning was completed, and within just a couple of months an invasive species moved in and began trying to establish itself. Japanese barberry is every bit as bad as multiflora rose. It can spread quickly and must be managed properly.

All of these examples point to one main problem: a qualified professional was not involved to help manage the property the right way. With a consulting forester involved, each of these properties could have been improved with a few extra steps, and the landowner could have been properly educated on what they actually have on their land.

📍Flis Forest and Land, LLC
📞 (814)330-9861

10/20/2025

❗️Another rare find in Pennsylvania’s woods❗️

Today was one of those days that stops you in your tracks. I stumbled upon an American chestnut tree and yes, a true American chestnut, growing wild here in Pennsylvania. Most people will never see one in their lifetime (or notice atleast). Once one of the most dominant and valuable trees in our eastern forests, these giants were nearly wiped out by a blight that swept through the U.S. over a century ago.

This one had burrs (the spiny husks that hold the nuts), and a few had actual nuts inside.. a rare sight! Not every nut will be viable though; many are empty or lack a developed embryo due to poor pollination or genetic incompatibility. But even the chance of finding a live seed that could sprout is something truly special.

For a little perspective: before the blight, it’s estimated that 1 in every 4 trees in the Appalachian forests was an American chestnut. They grew fast, produced abundant, sweet nuts for wildlife and people alike, and the wood was incredibly rot resistant. After the blight, most surviving trees die back before they can mature and reproduce.

Looking Ahead: With advancements in blight resistant breeding, genetic research, and selective backcrossing, the future of the American chestnut is looking brighter than it has in a century. If ongoing programs continue to succeed, we could one day see restoration plantings of true American chestnuts thriving once again across the Appalachians. Discoveries like this one serve as living reminders that nature still holds the blueprint and with the species resilience, persistence, science and stewardship may finally bring this legendary species back to its rightful place in our forests.

Flis Forest & Land, LLC 🌲

10/11/2025

Look what I came across today… a white walnut (Butternut) tree!

These native trees used to be found all over Pennsylvania, but they’ve been hit hard by a fungal disease called butternut canker. Healthy ones are becoming tougher and tougher to find and in some areas they’re nearly wiped out.

Officially they’re listed as “apparently secure” here in PA, but honestly… I’d have to challenge that. In my opinion, they should be listed as at least threatened, if not more. Finding a healthy one feels like spotting something rare these days.

If you ever come across one on your property or in the woods, take note because you’re looking at something special!

09/05/2025

🍂Fall.. Are you excited for it yet??🍂

There’s something about fall in Pennsylvania that makes people stop and look around. The woods light up in shades of red, orange, and gold, and every year we’re reminded why this season is so special.

But have you ever wondered why leaves change color? All summer long, leaves are full of chlorophyll the green pigment that powers photosynthesis. As days shorten and nights cool, trees begin preparing for winter by slowing down food production. Chlorophyll breaks down, and the other pigments called carotenoids (yellows and oranges) and anthocyanins (reds and purples) finally get their chance to shine.

This year, you may have noticed fall arriving a little earlier than usual. That’s due to a combination of late summer stress factors such as sun, heat, drought, and shorter day length all push trees to shut down sooner. But here’s the exciting part.. these same conditions often mean we’ll get a longer and more vibrant fall season, stretching out the color show across September and October.

At Flis Forest & Land, LLC, we get to experience this transformation up close every day. Whether we’re walking timber stands, marking trees, or writing management plans, the shift from green canopies to fiery fall colors is one of the most rewarding parts of the year.

So as the cool mornings roll in, take a moment to step outside and enjoy the show. This fall is shaping up to be a long one and we’re here for it. 🍁

08/12/2025

⁉️Was your forest high graded?⁉️

High grading takes the best trees and leaves behind poor quality trees but your woods can bounce back! With the right management plan, you can rebuild a healthy, diverse forest with strong seedlings, a full midstory, and eventually a more desirable overstory.

Act now to reclaim your forest’s potential and fix past mistakes!

📞 Flis Forest and Land 814-330-9861