Like Mick said, get a forest management plan. The best move I ever made was to ask the State Area Forester to visit (free) our property. He was busy so he sent a technician. I learned 95% of what I needed to know in an hour. Forestry isn't intuitive, it's much more difficult. I didn't realize all big diameter trees aren't valuable due to the limbs, or a quality oak seldom grows on a dry ridge - but 40 yards down the North-facing ridge they will. After the visit I planted ridge tops and south facing slopes to pine and am now doing timber stand improvement in the hardwoods - getting rid of the junk trees left from previous "select" or "diameter limit" harvests. Also, the trees we like such as the oaks and poplar are sun-loving but the junk trees are shade-tolerant so over time if we keep taking out the oak/poplar, all that is left are the shade-tolerant trees because we don't allow enough sun to come in to allow the sun-loving trees to flourish. This spring the ag. extension service is having a couple free field days at State Forests and the talks center on "diameter limit" cuts and why they are harmful to your forest - I attend them because I always learn something. Consider joining the Tree Farm program offered through the Tennessee Forestry Association (free) and it includes a free visit from a forester. If you sell timber use a Consulting Forester (paid) so you have someone on your side giving impartial advice and overseeing the sale, contract and harvest. If you have several hundred acres you can operate the forest as a business and your travel and expenses are tax-deductible. There's a lot more to forestry than meets the eye if you take the time to learn, but the benefits can last for generations. The best part is the satisfaction you get from a high quality forest.