# Ep. 210 - Roy Pilgrim - Why Forests in the Ozarks are Declining...According to a Logger

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ozark-podcast-4768900/ep-210-roy-pilgrim-why-forests-in-the-ozarks-are-declining-according-to-a-logger
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ozark-podcast-4768900/ep-210-roy-pilgrim-why-forests-in-the-ozarks-are-declining-according-to-a-logger.md
Podcast: [The Ozark Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ozark-podcast-4768900)
Published: 2026-04-01T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/TSOL7750365092.mp3?updated=1774993721
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/TSOL7750365092.mp3?updated=1774993721
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ozark-podcast-4768900/episodes/ep-210-roy-pilgrim-why-forests-in-the-ozarks-are-declining-according-to-a-logger
Duration seconds: 3278

## Resource

What’s really happening in the Ozark woods right now, and why aren’t more people talking about it? → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ In this episode, we sit down with first-generation logger Roy Pilgrim, a guy who spends more time in the forest than just about anyone. From horse logging with mules to running a modern timber operation, Roy brings a rare, ground-level perspective on the health of our woods. If you hunt, hike, or care about the future of the Ozarks, this conversation will challenge what you think a “healthy forest” actually looks like. Roy breaks down the history of Ozark forests, from fire-shaped oak savannas to today’s closed-canopy woods, and introduces the concept of “mesophication,” where shade-tolerant species like maple and elm are quietly replacing oak and hickory. The result? Darker, denser forests with less biodiversity, fewer game species, and long-term unknown consequences. It’s a thoughtful, eye-opening look at how removing fire (and stepping away from active management) has reshaped the landscape in ways most people never notice. Together with... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maverik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Adventure's first stop in the Ozarks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prism Glass Co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Luxury residential glass and mirror installation ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pack Rat Outdoor Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Everything you need to start your next adventure 00:00 Roy getting into logging 7:00 Are the Ozark woods healthy? 16:00 Fire on the landscape 25:00 Managing f…

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