Jacob Murray
Pendleton
Summary
Forestry and wildlife professional serving as a South Carolina Registered Forester and as an Associate Wildlife Biologist with Clemson Cooperative Extension. My work is grounded in ecological forestry and ecological silviculture, with an emphasis on wildlife habitat management, landowner outreach, and applied resource stewardship. I am committed to advancing practical, science-based approaches that improve the management of South Carolina’s natural resources.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Wildlife Damage Associate
Clemson Extension
Clemson, SC
03.2025 - Current
- Developed community outreach programs to strengthen forestry and wildlife education and expand access to management resources.
- Developed workshops, presentations, and materials on wildlife damage management strategies for non-industrial private landowners managing forests and agricultural lands.
- Collaborated with local, state, and federal partners (e.g., SCDNR, USDA APHIS, Farm Bureau) to promote Extension services and increase engagement among South Carolina stakeholders.
- Conducted wildlife damage assessments for 25+ non-industrial private landowners, including recommendations and implementation for lethal and nonlethal management of nuisance species such as feral hogs, beavers, and coyotes.
Climate-Smart Associate for Forest Commodities
Clemson Extension
Clemson, SC
08.2023 - 03.2025
- Assisted 200+ non-industrial private forest landowners across South Carolina with the development of forest management plans.
- Evaluated 100+ properties for eligibility and compatibility with Climate-Smart cost-share program requirements through site visits, timber cruises, and on-site landowner education.
- Coordinated with federal agencies, including USFWS and USDA, to complete environmental compliance evaluations such as IPaC reviews and CPA-52 documentation.
- Delivered formal and informal educational programs, field tours, and presentations on Climate-Smart forestry concepts and land management practices.
Instructor of Record for CU FOR-3410 Wood Procurement and CU FOR 4100/6100 Harvesting Processes
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
08.2024 - 12.2024
- Developed course materials for two upper-level forestry courses with associated laboratory components.
- Independently organized and delivered lectures, assignments, field tours, and outdoor laboratory instruction for more than 60 undergraduate students and 3 graduate students.
- Taught course content on forest industry trends, South Carolina logging practices, best management practice regulations, timber sale and contract development, and silvicultural systems.
Forester I
Clemson Experimental Forest
Clemson, SC
01.2022 - 07.2022
- Assisted with the management of a 17,500-acre multiple-use experimental forest by scheduling, monitoring, and overseeing forest operations, including prescribed burning, road maintenance, herbicide application, and stand boundary delineation.
- Designed and implemented an integrated pest management system for invasive species monitoring and control, including species identification, mapping, and georeferencing using ArcGIS Pro and Field Maps.
- Developed and carried out forest management plans; operated forestry equipment such as chainsaws, skidders, and front-end loaders; and supported maintenance of shop and forest facilities.
- Conducted public outreach and education related to forest operations, including communicating management objectives and operational needs within sensitive natural communities, such as floral colonies.
Land Manager Assistant
Middleton Place Equestrian Center
Charleston, SC
01.2014 - 12.2017
- Conducted woodland and plantation management activities across more than 6,000 acres, including bush-hogging, tree felling, pest species trapping, and general land stewardship.
- Assisted with prescribed burning, road maintenance, food plot development, and other habitat and property management operations.
Education
Master of Science - Forestry
Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry And Life Sciences
Clemson, South Carolina12-2021
Bachelor of Science - Forest Resource Management
Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry And Life Sciences
Clemson, South Carolina12-2019
Skills
- SAF Candidate Certified Forester #84518
- SC Registered Forester #2010
- TWS Associate Wildlife Biologist #02314
- Certified Prescribed Fire Manager (Passed)
- Certified Wildlife Control Operator (NWCTP)
- S-110 Basic Wildland Fire Orientation
- S-130 Firefighter Training
- S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
- L-180 Human Factors in The Wildland Fire Service
- Certified Tree Farm Inspector (170099)
- TOP Timber Certified
Affiliations
- Forestry Association of South Carolina (2017-Present)
- Society of American Foresters (2017-Present)
- Appalachian Society of American Foresters (2017-Present)
- ApSAF Keowee Chapter Chair (2025-Present)
- SC Membership Chair for ApSAF (2026-Present)
PUBLICATIONS
- Hales, L. P., Murray, J., Goode, J. D., & Hart, J. L. (2024). Woody Plant Recovery in a Southern Appalachian Quercus Stand 12 Years after Wind Disturbance and Salvage Logging. Castanea, 88(2), 280-296. https://doi.org/10.2179/0008-7475.88.2.280
- Murray, J., Baldwin, R., Hagan, D., & Hiesl, P. (2023). Spatial Suitability Modeling for Prioritizing Pinus palustris Mill. Restoration Sites in the South Carolina Sandhills Wiregrass Gap. Southeastern Naturalist. https://doi.org/10.1656/058.022.0312
- Murray, J., Hiesl, P., Hagan, D., & Baldwin, R. (2022). Assessing Productivity and Cost of Timber Harvesting During Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Restoration. International Journal of Forest Engineering, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2022.2157184
- Murray, J., Hagan, D., Hiesl, P., & Baldwin, R. (2022). The Influence of Slash Management Practices on Water and Nutrient Dynamics in Longleaf Pine Forests. Forests, 13(9), 1449. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091449
- Murray, J. W. (2021). Longleaf Pine Restoration in the South Carolina Sandhills Wiregrass Gap [thesis]. Clemson University.
Timeline
Wildlife Damage Associate
Clemson Extension
03.2025 - Current
Instructor of Record for CU FOR-3410 Wood Procurement and CU FOR 4100/6100 Harvesting Processes
Clemson University
08.2024 - 12.2024
Climate-Smart Associate for Forest Commodities
Clemson Extension
08.2023 - 03.2025
Forester I
Clemson Experimental Forest
01.2022 - 07.2022
Land Manager Assistant
Middleton Place Equestrian Center
01.2014 - 12.2017
Master of Science - Forestry
Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry And Life Sciences
Bachelor of Science - Forest Resource Management
Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry And Life Sciences