Here is a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the Division of Forestry and forestry issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I get help in managing my forestland? Does it cost anything?
***You can get help managing your forestland by contacting the division's district office that serves your county. A forester can provide technical assistance at no cost.
2. Can I still manage my forestland and promote wildlife? Do I need to contact other agencies?
***Yes, you can manage your forestland and promote wildlife. A forester from the division and a wildlife biologist from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources work together to develop a forest stewardship plan for your forestland. Call the district office that serves your county.
3. How do I contact the Division of Forestry office that handles my county?
***Click here to find the district office that serves your county.
4. Does the Division of Forestry have information for teachers? How do teachers order the information?
***Yes, the division has information for classroom use. Teachers' kits for primary grades through high school are available at no charge to teachers. To order these kits you may contact Jennifer Turner or you can call 1-800-866-0555.
5. Where are the state forests in Kentucky? How are they different from the Daniel Boone National Forest?
***The Division of Forestry owns seven state forests. These forests are state owned, while the Daniel Boone National forest is federally owned.
6. What is the Kentucky Forest Conservation Act?
***The Kentucky Forest Conservation Act is a law that primarily regulates logging practices in Kentucky.
7. What is the state tree of Kentucky?
***The tulip poplar is Kentucky's state tree. This tree is also called a yellow-poplar.
8. What is Kentucky's state heritage tree?
***The Kentucky coffeetree is the state heritage tree.
9. How many acres of forestland are in Kentucky?
***Kentucky has more than 11.9 million acres of forestland. Eighty-nine percent of the forestland in Kentucky is privately owned.
10. How do I order tree seedlings?
***You can order tree seedlings by printing this seedling order form and mailing it to the district office that serves your county.
11. What species of seedlings are available?
***Visit the division's ordering seedlings page on this Web site for a complete list of species.
12. When is the best time to plant seedlings?
***The ideal time to plant trees is during the trees' dormant season, after leaf drop in the fall and before bud break in the spring.
13. When is the best time of the year to prune my trees?
***The best time to prune limbs from your trees is late winter and early spring.
14. When should I top my trees?
***Never
15. How do I plant the seedlings? What is the recommended spacing?
***Seedlings should be planted as soon after receiving them as possible. For more information on how to plant seedlings click here.
16. When is Arbor Day in Kentucky?
***Arbor Day is always celebrated in Kentucky on the first Friday of April.
17. What is the difference between the U.S. Forest Service and the Kentucky Division of Forestry?
***The Kentucky Division of Forestry is a state agency that works on privately owned and state-owned forestlands. The U. S. Forest Service is a federal agency that oversees the forest management of national forests.
18. What does a forester do?
***A forester provides technical assistance to forest landowners who want to manage their forests. Foresters evaluate the health and economic aspects of forests to determine the best way to get the most from this valuable resource.
19. What does a forest ranger do?
***A forest ranger technician's primary responsibility is firefighting and fire prevention. The forest ranger technicians in Kentucky also inspect active logging operations to ensure that loggers are complying with the Kentucky Forest Conservation Act.
20. What type of education is required to become a forester or forest ranger technician in Kentucky?
***To become a forester in Kentucky, you must have a four-year college degree in forestry. To become a forest ranger technician, you must have an associate's degree in the biological or physical sciences.
21. I am interested in selling some timber. Can the Kentucky Division of Forestry provide assistance?
***Yes, the division can provide technical assistance through the district office that serves your county.
22. How do I become a master logger?
***To become a Kentucky Master Logger you must successfully complete the three-day Master Logger Training Program.
23. Where can I get tax information on my woodland property?
***Tax information about your woodland property can be found in our Landowner Assistance section and at the Web site for the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.
24. What is an old-growth forest and are there any in Kentucky?
***An old-growth forest is an uncut, virgin forest with very little human-caused disturbance. Blanton Forest is the only recognized old-growth forest in Kentucky.
25. What is a multiple use forest?
***A multiple use forest combines a balance of diverse resource uses that takes into account the long-term needs of future generations. Some of the uses include, but are not limited to, recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, wildlife and fish, etc.
26 What is the leading cause of forest fires in Kentucky?
***The leading cause of forest fires in Kentucky is arson. Arson is the act of intentionally and/or maliciously setting a fire. Wildland arson is a serious crime that hurts all Kentuckians.
27. What does the term "fire season" mean and when is it?
***In Kentucky, we have two official fire hazard seasons as established by the state legislature in KRS. 149.400. The fire seasons run from February 15 - April 30 and October 1- December 15.
28. What is the "6 p.m. burning law?"
***During the official fire seasons, (February 15 - April 30 and October 1 - December 15) as outlined in KRS. 149.400, "it shall be unlawful for any person to set fire to, or procure another to set fire to any flammable material capable of spreading fire, located in or within one hundred fifty (150') of any woodland or brushland, except between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., prevailing local time, or when the ground is covered with snow".
29. Do I have to notify the Division of Forestry before I do any outdoor burning?
***The public is not required to notify the Division of Forestry before conducting outdoor burning. Other agencies do regulate outdoor burning. The Kentucky Division for Air Quality and the Kentucky Division of Waste Management regulate outdoor burning. Check with these agencies before conducting any outdoor burning.
30. What are the penalties for violating the "6 p.m. burning law?"
***The penalties for violating the "6 p.m. burning law" are not less than $100 nor more than $500, imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both fine and imprisonment.
31. Whom do I call if I see a forest fire?
***Call your local fire department, your local Division of Forestry office or the Kentucky State Police.
32. How can I report someone setting a fire?
***To report someone setting a fire (arson), you may call your local law enforcement agency, the Kentucky Division of Forestry or the Kentucky State Police. You may also call Target Arson at 1-(800)-27-ARSON. Information that leads to an arrest and indictment makes the caller eligible for an award of up to $1,000.
33. How many wildfires burn in Kentucky each year? How many acres of forestland are burned each year? What are the major causes of these forest fires?
***The Division of Forestry fights over 1,800 wildland fires annually. These fires burn more than 50,000 acres per year. On average, more than 60 percent of the wildland fires in Kentucky are caused by arson. The second leading cause of wildland fires is debris burning.
