Texas hickory

[maxelectric]

I will be dozing my property (18 acres) that is predominantly hickory.
The large trees that are 24"-36" across, 90'-100' tall, they
keep everything else below them skinny and short.
I don't see that there is a market for the hickory where I am
and I don't want to waste them, but their in the way.
The soil is good for more commercial species and so I want
the hickorys gone, or at least the more dense smaller ones.
I am patiently waiting on a forester to travel to my area,
but now that I (think I) know what trees I have, In the near term I
just need a solution of what to do with a hickory.
Maybe I knock down the little ones, leave big ones up so they
can fall on my commercial trees?

[Texas Ranger]

Where are  you waiting for a forester (I suspect the Cross Timbers) and about the only thing the hickories are good for out their is for bar-b-que wood.  There may be a small tie market in the area, depends a lot on where you are located.

[maxelectric]

20 miles northwest of Huntsville, away from the pines, the
mills, and the foresters.

[Texas Ranger]

I think there is a hardwood mill just west of Buffalo, but cannot be sure on it.  Hickory has some problems as boards, tend to crawl, and slow to dry.

[rebocardo]

Is there are bigger state market for hickory then TX? 

If you want to get good firewood prices per cord and you have enough, try this guy
www.firewoodguy.com. I know he buys truck/train loads of firewood.

[Texas Ranger]

that shoud put you around Crabbs Prairie, there are foresters in Huntsville and Madisonville, as well as loggers and mill folks.  The problem with consultants is that their cost can be prohibitive on smaller tracts, I suspect that you may run into a cost/results problem. 

[Ron Wenrich]

Before I start, I'll put in this disclaimer.  I know nothing of Texas hickory.  But, I do know something about hickory here in the northeast.

We have a veneer market for the better quality.  It also is being bought on the wholesale market.  The better quality is going into cabinets and furniture.   The lower quality is going into ties and pallet stock.  There is also a market for handle stock, if you have a mill in the area.  I doubt that you do, unless there is a good deal of volume in the area.

Firewood sent to New England?  Cost prohibitive.  But, you might be able to sell some local.  We used to sell to guys who smoked meat.  Local butchers with smoke houses are good markets. 

[getoverit]

I dont know about the texas hickory, but I would love to have a load of it here to make hickory flooring with. Too bad you are so far away.

[maxelectric]

Thanks for replies,
will give some to guy at church that is disabled and loves to bbq,
meanwhile..........
as it is cut if I can't sell it I'll donate somewhere,
or it can sit in a pile.

[Texas Ranger]

Don't mean to meddle in your business, but there is a Black Baptist Church in Hunstville that does bar-b-que once a month as a fund raiser, might trade some of that wood for some really good bar-b-que.