What’s really happening in the Ozark woods right now, and why aren’t more people talking about it?

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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...

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maverik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Adventure's first stop in the Ozarks

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00:00 Roy getting into logging 7:00 Are the Ozark woods healthy? 16:00 Fire on the landscape 25:00 Managing for how it "was" 29:00 The importance of oak trees 40:00 What will losing Oak trees do to the woods?

What is The Ozark Podcast?

In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.

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