|
Logging
Jul 17, 2018 21:28:24 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by benmnwi on Jul 17, 2018 21:28:24 GMT -6
On my 40 acre place in se mn I have an oak wilt issue that is taking out a lot of trees in the red oak family. I brought out a dnr forester a year ago who agreed it's an issue and thought logging it might be a good idea and could bring in a little money. I'm more interested in improving wildlife habitat, so it's important to take out the junk trees in addition to logging the good red/black/pin oaks that will likely die eventually anyway. Logging in se mn isn't too common, but I found a logger that claimed to be interested in the other (cottonwood, basswood, cherry, etc.) trees as well as the oaks. Any advice on what questions I should ask while walking through with this logger or anything I should look for or avoid?
Logging is rare here, so a decent logging operation that potentially could include a few clear cut acres could really be a massive deer draw at a time when my kids will be starting to hunt in the next few years. I just don't want to mess up what is currently a pretty good thing, so any advice would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 17, 2018 22:46:57 GMT -6
via mobile
wisco likes this
Post by Tooln on Jul 17, 2018 22:46:57 GMT -6
Ask about landings and roads. What kind of shape will your property be left in. Your forester should be able to recommend a good logger. On my 40 I clear cut about 3 acres and a real heavy select cut on another 3. The clear cut got planted in Norway Spruce. It's the best thing I ever did to the property. The clear cut is thicker than crap and is off limits to everyone unless I'm tracking to recover.
|
|
|
Post by wiscwhip on Jul 18, 2018 4:23:44 GMT -6
First thing I'd ask is if he is going to take down any trees that you specifically go out of your way to tell him to leave standing!!!
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 6:08:18 GMT -6
Post by Bwoods11 on Jul 18, 2018 6:08:18 GMT -6
From what I have read the Canadian tariffs have bumped up prices on American timber for certain species... good luck
I think the market is good now.
|
|
|
Post by nhmountains on Jul 18, 2018 9:22:49 GMT -6
If your ground is soft make sure you have them log in the winter. You don't want skidder ruts all over your land. I have some on my land from when the previous owner had it logged.
Write in start, end, and drop dead dates into the contract so you don't get stuck waiting years for him to log.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 9:28:07 GMT -6
Post by batman on Jul 18, 2018 9:28:07 GMT -6
Lots loggers are crooks. Watch out.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 9:30:39 GMT -6
Post by sd51555 on Jul 18, 2018 9:30:39 GMT -6
If your ground is soft make sure you have them log in the winter. You don't want skidder ruts all over your land. I have some on my land from when the previous owner had it logged. Write in start, end, and drop dead dates into the contract so you don't get stuck waiting years for him to log. Good lord the ruts. I've never been part of a logging, but I've got horrendous ruts from when my place was logged before me. And those aren't remedied easily.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 9:44:17 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Jul 18, 2018 9:44:17 GMT -6
If your ground is soft make sure you have them log in the winter. You don't want skidder ruts all over your land. I have some on my land from when the previous owner had it logged. Write in start, end, and drop dead dates into the contract so you don't get stuck waiting years for him to log. Good lord the ruts. I've never been part of a logging, but I've got horrendous ruts from when my place was logged before me. And those aren't remedied easily. My property was last logged in 2003-2004. Some of mine are still deep enough that they could easily be turned into water holes.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 9:46:06 GMT -6
Post by sd51555 on Jul 18, 2018 9:46:06 GMT -6
Good lord the ruts. I've never been part of a logging, but I've got horrendous ruts from when my place was logged before me. And those aren't remedied easily. My property was last logged in 2003-2004. Some of mine are still deep enough that they could easily be turned into water holes. I kick up ducks outta mine, in August!
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 11:10:20 GMT -6
Post by benmnwi on Jul 18, 2018 11:10:20 GMT -6
First thing I'd ask is if he is going to take down any trees that you specifically go out of your way to tell him to leave standing!!! No kidding. After the bulldozer operation last week I'm pretty concerned about the worst case options right now.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 11:14:20 GMT -6
Post by benmnwi on Jul 18, 2018 11:14:20 GMT -6
Ask about landings and roads. What kind of shape will your property be left in. Your forester should be able to recommend a good logger. On my 40 I clear cut about 3 acres and a real heavy select cut on another 3. The clear cut got planted in Norway Spruce. It's the best thing I ever did to the property. The clear cut is thicker than crap and is off limits to everyone unless I'm tracking to recover. I'm tentatively thinking about something similar - clear cut a few acres, heavily cut a few more acres and then lightly log other areas. Did you spray your clear cut prior to planting the spruce? I heavily cut 1/2 acre of junk trees and planted a pile of spruce in there, but they are struggling to compete with the massive amounts of blackcaps, shrubs, seedlings, etc.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 11:17:00 GMT -6
Post by benmnwi on Jul 18, 2018 11:17:00 GMT -6
If your ground is soft make sure you have them log in the winter. You don't want skidder ruts all over your land. I have some on my land from when the previous owner had it logged. Write in start, end, and drop dead dates into the contract so you don't get stuck waiting years for him to log. I would only allow it to be logged in winter because of the reasons mentioned and also because I don't want anything going on during hunting season. I like the idea of having drop dead dates, I want them in and out as soon as possible.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 11:19:24 GMT -6
Post by benmnwi on Jul 18, 2018 11:19:24 GMT -6
Lots loggers are crooks. Watch out. I've heard several people say that.
|
|
|
Logging
Jul 18, 2018 11:43:06 GMT -6
Post by Tooln on Jul 18, 2018 11:43:06 GMT -6
Ask about landings and roads. What kind of shape will your property be left in. Your forester should be able to recommend a good logger. On my 40 I clear cut about 3 acres and a real heavy select cut on another 3. The clear cut got planted in Norway Spruce. It's the best thing I ever did to the property. The clear cut is thicker than crap and is off limits to everyone unless I'm tracking to recover. I'm tentatively thinking about something similar - clear cut a few acres, heavily cut a few more acres and then lightly log other areas. Did you spray your clear cut prior to planting the spruce? I heavily cut 1/2 acre of junk trees and planted a pile of spruce in there, but they are struggling to compete with the massive amounts of blackcaps, shrubs, seedlings, etc. I did not spray. I planted in staggered rows and used root gell. I do not have any current pictures and what I did have is locked up in photobucket. I logged in 2013 and planted 3 year old seedlings. They are now in the 5-8 foot tall range. It is so thick and nasty the last time I went in it was a pita walking. Bedding up the butt.
|
|
wisco
New Member
Posts: 16
Likes: 10
|
Post by wisco on Jul 19, 2018 8:08:39 GMT -6
Loggers can be a sneaky manipulative bunch of people. I knew a guy here that cold called land owners and told them he was a state "un-certified" logger, but said it fast and with a cough so it just sounded like certified. I would ask the forester for recommendations first, they tend to have high standards. Next walk the land with the logger and get a feel if you can trust them, they will be all smiles now, so it can be tough to gauge that. As the owner, you should be more concerned with what is left than what is taken. The land should be left in good shape, no ruts, no gouges in standing trees etc. You will get some income from the logging, but its nothing that will make you rich, so protecting the land is your first priority. I'd suggest having a contract like others have stated and make it clear what you want cut, what you want left, and the condition the log landings/roads should be in upon completion. Your county forester should have example contracts for you to look at. If you are involved and around when the logging operation is occurring, there is much less chance that the logger will try to rip you off.
All that being said, it has been tough to find loggers to get on some of my clients land, so its hard to be too picky if you really want it done. I actually had one client donate about $8000.00 worth of trees to the logger just to get the logging done right away instead of being added to the back of the wait list. Keep in mind that logging is usually a great thing for deer habitat and if you get a little money and some access trails/food plots cleared it might be worth some of the headache. The alternative is that you let nature take its course and lose the value of your oaks. Just weigh the pros and cons for your land and your uses of it. If you can get access roads and food plots set up in the right locations that make your property great habitat and easy to hunt, you could be set up for great hunting for many years. That alone is pretty valuable. Best of luck.
|
|