Forestry Services for Private Landowners in Baxter, Brainerd & Northern MN
I do free walkthroughs, timber sales, management plans, and SFIA and 2c sign-ups. One call and we start with a walk through your woods.
Questions? Call Erik directly: (218) 232-3055 — free consultations, no obligation.
Timber Harvesting & Appraisals
Serving Baxter, Brainerd & Northern Minnesota
I mark the trees, you get the check, and the woods end up healthier. No clearcuts - I pick the trees to cut by species, age, and health, and we agree on them before a single one falls.
- I'll tell you what your timber's worth before a single tree falls
- Selective harvests that promote forest regeneration
- Work with MLEP-certified logging contractors only
- No slash left behind — clean, well-managed harvest sites
- Trail creation for access, recreation, and future management
- Food plot clearing integrated with harvest plans
Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
Serving Baxter, Brainerd & Northern Minnesota
Good forestry is good hunting. Cut the right trees and the deer and grouse show up. That's not a sales line - it's how the woods work.
- Deer habitat: openings and edges that grow good browse
- Grouse and woodcock habitat through young forest management
- Food plots put where the animals will actually use them
- Snag and den tree retention for cavity-nesting species
- Native browse enhancement through targeted harvesting
- Coordination with DNR habitat programs when available
Forest Stewardship Plans
Serving Baxter, Brainerd & Northern Minnesota
A stewardship plan is good for 10 years and the DNR approves it. You need one for SFIA. I write 50+ of them a year. It covers what your woods have and what you want from them.
- DNR-approved Forest Stewardship Plans
- A 10-year plan built around what you want from your land
- Required for SFIA enrollment — we handle the process
- Written for your involvement level (hands-on or hands-off)
- Timber inventory and stand descriptions included
- Maps, aerial photos, and management recommendations
Aerial Photos & GPS Mapping
Serving Baxter, Brainerd & Northern Minnesota
A good aerial photo tells you a lot. I fly them myself and map your boundaries so there's no guessing where your land ends.
- Aerial photos and maps of your land
- GPS boundary mapping, so we both know exactly what's yours
- Stand mapping for management planning
- Integration with stewardship plans and harvest planning
- Before-and-after documentation of management activities
- Planting recommendations based on site analysis
SFIA & 2c Forest Programs
Annual payments and property tax reductions through Minnesota's forest programs
Minnesota has two programs here. The Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) pays you every fall for keeping your woods forested. Or with 2c Managed Forest Land, your property taxes drop. I write the plan and do the paperwork.
SFIA — Annual Incentive Payment
- Annual payment from the state: $12.13–$26.12/acre depending on covenant length
- Paid for keeping your land forested & undeveloped
- Requires DNR-approved Stewardship Plan
- Minimal public access requirements
- Covenant lengths: 8, 20, or 50 years (longer = higher payment)
2c Classification
- Significant ongoing tax reduction
- Requires annual property tax payment
- No public access requirement
- Long-term classification
Ready to Get Started? Call (218) 232-3055
Schedule a free property walkthrough with Erik Eggen — certified forester in Baxter, MN. Serving Crow Wing, Pine, Cass, Kanabec & surrounding counties. No pressure, no obligation.