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Line of Sight

Season 6 | Episode 3

Line of Sight

March 1, 2025

It’s hard to turn around these days without seeing or reading something about UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Drones are becoming an increasingly important tool in many fields, including within the practice of silviculture. On this episode of SilviCast we explore the soaring use of drones for site preparation and release treatments. Join us for a conversation with Rick Hill, Regional Silviculturist and Reforestation Specialist with Michigan DNR and Kyle Schempp, Project Manager and Drone Pilot at Wildlife and Wetland Solutions.

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GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE

RICK HILL

Timber Management Specialist, Western Upper Peninsula, Michigan DNR

Rick Hill is a regional silviculturist and reforestation specialist for the Michigan DNR in the Western Upper Peninsula since 2023. A field forester for the Michigan DNR 17 years mainly in the UP.  Heavily involved in the reforestation program for the last 15 years. He has been responsible for the reforestation herbicide program in the West UP for the last 2 years. Rick is a graduate of UW-Stevens Point. Away from work Rick enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Kristina and daughter Diane. 

KYLE SCHEMPP

Project Manager and Lead Pilot, Wildlife & Wetlands Solutions / Drone Tech Environmental

Kyle Schempp is the lead pilot for Drone Tech Environmental, which is a sector of their parent company, Wildlife and Wetlands Solutions. Here he focuses on projects regarding all aspects of vegetation management. Since 2023, he has taken on the responsibility of integrating drones into their arsenal to diversify treatment capabilities. Kyle is a graduate from Ferris State University in 2021 with an Environmental Biology degree. 


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