Quite possibly, the most crooked logger ever

[Jeff]

When I am settling a logging contract, I ALWAYS make it very clear that it will look like a BOMB went off when we are done(at least in the short term).....Why?
Well, because I would rather have that as hier expextation and be pleasantly suprised than the opposite

I have seen too many good jobs to ever allow that in a woodlot I owned.  I see these guys using forwarders and processors do surgery and never know they were in a northern hardwoods the week after,other then a few branches. THe trees are processed where they stand leaving limbs at each tree location that flatten quickly. No Brush piles! The branches quickly return to the soil.

THis day and age, no way no how am I going to let a bomb go off.

[Frickman]

I'm with Jeff. In this day and age there is no reason a timber harvest should look like a bomb went off. Even a regenerative clearcut can look good if done properly.

While I don't tell people that their property will look like a bomb went off, I do let them know that a timber harvest will change the appearance of their woodlot. It is impossible to harvest timber but leave all the trees. If nothing else, they will notice more light getting to the forest floor everywhere a tree was removed.

The best sales tool I have to convince a landowner to partner with me on their timber harvest is the passenger side seat in my pickup. If we drive around for awhile and they see what kind of work we do they usually go with us. I don't make a habit of taking them past bad logging jobs. It would seem that I am running down my competition and most landowners are already familiar with appearance of a poor quality logging job.

[Buzz-sawyer]

Jeff
I have Never seen such a logging job, that you could not tell loggers had been there

, using diresctional felling, running skidders, cutting out tops, and dragging out logs makes a an imprint , that IS substantial and lasts a while ....
I feel it would be dishonest and un clear to set a persons expectations any other way, and frankly I have talked several small wood lot owners OUT OF logging, because when you remove the trees that are the value and change the woods , the place may not be the same magical woodlot you enjoy squirrel hunting, The value is greater (to me ) but not to all people.

I have never Seen a forwarder in our locality or in travels across the lower mid west...that dont mean they do not exist , but, definitely not common, and Every logger I know in this area, that is working and willing to do smaller logging operations, needs to keep a reasonable pace to get in and out and provide service.
I work with my local State forester on wood lot improvements, and am known as a GENTLE logger ( a will take the long way and hours to not damage trees ), but if the people have not seen a before and after of a lot that is cut , it is remarkably different. The trees are GONE. That alone is a huge difference, the first year the underbrush is disturbed, the whole place definitely has noticable, and scary changes for some people, tops can scare folks if they arent prepared in advance for what is comming.......some people just see dollar sign s and I try to wake them up to the fact that they are changing thier wood lot....I try to do that for them , because I would want to be told myself....
I want some other loggers to chime in on this, I do not do massive projects, I cut locally , for neighbors and have to live with , them and maintain a reputation, I enjoy what I do and take great care on them.....because I care about the woods.

[Jeff]

Buzz, A post like you just made is much more reassuring the the one where you say "it's goona look like a bomb went off"

[tnlogger]

 well i think that any one thats read some of my posts know where i stand on this one. and although i dont log anymore my son still does and he still follows the gude lines i have put inplace over the yrs.
 all ways leave a tract looking  as close as you can the way you started the job.
cut you slash low so it will regenerate back into the eco system as soon as possible. by all means make shore that you clean up your trash not only at the landing but in the woods as well.
 Now as far as telling a land owner not to cut his wood lot. I have done that a few times. When there was not enough timber to make it worth the damage done. My self and now my son cut for a lot of older folks that still have timber or small lot and the only way they can make their taxes is to cut enough timber to pay to pay them or lose their land. in that case i try to cut as much of the culls and pallet and short bodied trees that will not be of any value down the road. like i said before we have built up enough trust in the land owners around here that my son is now covered up and he enough work to last him for several years to come. This comes from truth,honesty,and doing the best job you can.
         Now buzz see what ya done ya got me started again.      gene

[farmerdoug]

We had a sawmill in our town once that started as a circle mill for years but switchd to a band mill with a 6 inch blade about 15 years before he closed 15 years ago.
He logged and bought logs from other loggers.  He was a clear cutter/smasher.  He cut pallet stock and also made pallets so he would timber a property and cut anything down to 5 inches.  My uncle and my neighbor both worked at the mill at different times and they said that alot of sawyers came and went because they had to cut hollow logs and twigs(5").  He left for the south when he had everyone streched out.  He owed money to his workers, loggers and even the pallet companies.  He sold his place to his boy ten years earlier so when they came to collect all thet found was a bunch of unmaintained equipment that was not even worth hauling for scrap steel as it was down at the time.  His boy just cleaned up all of the equipment as scrap last year and his dad even talked his boy out of that money.  Needless to say that loggers have had a hard time in this area buying timber for years.