Tom: Thanks, I'll check out those threads.
Ron: We get our water for the house from a blocked-in artesian spring. The trees were planted in old pasture upgradient of the spring's surface water watershed and (I believe) groundwater flow. The tree plantation is definitely at the head of that particular drainage. The spring's gone dry 2 out of the last 4 summers, which hasn't happened ever since we bought the place in 1965. I can't help but think that the maturing trees, at the density they're planted, are having some impact, either by intercepting and transpiring percipitation and/or groundwater from the shallow aquifer. Of course I realize we've had pretty significant doughts but I think the trees could be contributing.
The trees were planted at typical Christmas tree spacing (maybe 6'-8' apart with 10'-12' between the rows, maybe closer) and a couple hundred were harvested one year. After that they've just grown wild. Species (and I can't swear that this is a complete list) are blue spruce, Norway spruce, Scotch pine, balsam fir, (maybe) Douglas fir. The spruce are quite large and, given how dense they are, have an absolutely bare understory (nothing but spruce needles). There is some herbaceous growth in and around the pines and firs.
Their value as grouse habitat, other than winter cover, is diminishing as the understory vegetation is shaded out. They're starting to be good red squirrel habitat (not necessarily a good thing since it's a continual battle to keep the little buggers out of the house) and great bedding/escape cover for deer (too good!). Turkey broods use the edges and the few more open areas and would use it more if there was more herbaceous stuff at ground level, especially if remaining trees were left with some consideration of the viewshed from a turkey's point of view. My thinking is that probably 60-70% of the trees should come out, leaving the remainder in clumps/thickets. It'd be better wildlife habitat and I expect it might help with the water situation.
So I guess what we're looking for is a way to get trees out that doesn't cost us money or a lot of time & work. If we can make some money, great. If we can break even, that's OK too.
Can you tell me more about what you mean when you say they don't have any pulpwood value until they're ~6"? Six inches at the small end of a log? Is there a standard length that pulpwood is cut to or is it whatever length you get with a 6" minimum? I assume an 8-10' minimum length is necessary for handling? Is it possible or feasible for us to consider cutting, limbing, and stockpiling trees for pickup if the volume isn't enough for a commercial pulpwooder to consider doing it all?
Thanks. -WSJ
