lpo1981
Well-Known Member
Anybody know any reputable loggers in the mid tn area? I'm wanting to get started on my property.. Not a huge job, prob going to be a 6 acre cut and 2 sections about 2-3 acres in size..
Need a Logger
- Thread starter lpo1981
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BSK
Well-Known Member
When you find one, let me know! Of all the needs for managing properties, finding a good logger has proven to be the most difficult.
Jarred525
Well-Known Member
I had a good one, but he got out of it last year. A good one is so tough to find. You might call the forestry department or your local ag extension office and see if they know of anyone.
As Bsk stated they are hard to find. I get a lot of phone calls from people who have talked with landowners I have worked for. It might be worth the trouble to cruise the roads in your area and see if you can find where a few logging operations have been, speak with the landowners. They will let you know in a hurry if they had a good logger or not! In this buissness a good refrence is everything!
BSK
Well-Known Member
I agree with you completely timberjack86. Look at loggers' work, find a logged area you like, and then find out who did the logging.
Unfortunately, when I try this, too often all I see is land that has been raped, loggers that didn't follow a single BMP, trash left everywhere, etc.
I'm sure loggers get tired of hearing the horror stories, but my neighbor just had his land "thinned" (or so he thought it was to be just thinned--he told me it would be a cut down to 18" DBH). He was under the impression just the best trees would be high-graded out. A local logger designated as a "Master Logger" did the work. Honestly, the work was terrible. Not only did they leave few trees (I watched truckload after truckload of 8" diameter chipwood go out), they logged and ran skidders up and down very steep hills in winter, left massive skidder ruts, not a single water-bar in any of the hill-side skidder trails, and they never cleaned up their loading decks. The decks are so rough with ruts and piles of trashwood that I can't even get an ATV let alone a truck across them. Master Logger? Really? I would hate to try and count the BMP violations.
Unfortunately, when I try this, too often all I see is land that has been raped, loggers that didn't follow a single BMP, trash left everywhere, etc.
I'm sure loggers get tired of hearing the horror stories, but my neighbor just had his land "thinned" (or so he thought it was to be just thinned--he told me it would be a cut down to 18" DBH). He was under the impression just the best trees would be high-graded out. A local logger designated as a "Master Logger" did the work. Honestly, the work was terrible. Not only did they leave few trees (I watched truckload after truckload of 8" diameter chipwood go out), they logged and ran skidders up and down very steep hills in winter, left massive skidder ruts, not a single water-bar in any of the hill-side skidder trails, and they never cleaned up their loading decks. The decks are so rough with ruts and piles of trashwood that I can't even get an ATV let alone a truck across them. Master Logger? Really? I would hate to try and count the BMP violations.
BSK, The master logger program is a load of crap. Any fly by night outfit can recieve a certificate if they pay the $$$ and have the time. The major reason to recive the certifcate is to sell pulp wood. Then he finds out there is the added bonus of mentioning he is master logger certified to the landowners. My dad took the course and it didnt meet his expectations. Sadly the scene you described happens almost anywhere logging takes place. Most landowners will not do there homework when looking for a "professional" logger.
lpo1981
Well-Known Member
See that's what I don't want to happen.. I want most everything removed except for mainly my oaks.. I want them left cause they produce acorns and there no high grade logs either.. I really just want the junk removed so I can start from scratch with my mangement and timber stand.. Just don't want my land raped or have a logger that I feel like I have to baby sit...
Good luck! I wish I knew someone to recomend but dickson is a pretty good drive from here. The best advice I can give is listen to bsk he's been there and done that. Once again good luck!lpo1981 said:
lpo1981
Well-Known Member
Thanks, guess I'll do some asking around tomorrow and see what I can find out.. I know a few people but not sure if they will do what I want to do.. I'm gonna call the forestry station here and see if they can recommend anybody..
Where at in Dickson County are you? We have a farm on 49w in Vanleer. There us a sawmill 1/2 mile from me (not the sawmill in Vanleer) and the owner evidently cuts whatever you tell him. His clean up work is not the best but he did cut my neighbors property and took out black gum and hickory. However, with this messy weather I would wait.
lpo1981
Well-Known Member
I'm on the south end of the county on hwy 46.. I know who your talking about, I'm going to give them a call tomorrow and several others I know to see what they will do..AT Hiker said:
Just for the record...I dont reccomend him personally, but our neighbors had him to some work and they seemed to like him. Pkus he is less than 1/2 mile from us, so it was prob wirth his while. If he ends up doing work for you please let me know how he does, we are going to need someone in a couple years.
Sorry for all the iphone mistakes!
Sorry for all the iphone mistakes!
treefarmer
Well-Known Member
I sold my timber in October and am waiting on the logger to start. I suggest you use a Consulting Forester to estimate your timber, sell your timber, create a contract, oversee the cutting, and oversee the repairs after the cut. They charge 8-10% and you usually receive that much more because they know who the buyers are and competitively bid it. They also try to work only with reputable loggers because they don't want the problems either. If you sell timber by yourself the logger knows you probably won't sell again in your lifetime, but if a Consulting Forester sells it the logger knows he won't be on the bidder's list for the forester's next sale if he doesn't do a good job on yours. I used Jonathan Boggs of Arbor Springs Forestry in Burns. Jonathan is a former Area Forester with the TDOF. arborspringsforestry.com . If you sell the timber by yourself use a Master Logger if for no other reason that by law you can't be held liable by the TN Dept. of Envir. and Conservation for environmental problems such as soil erosion caused by rutting or entering a creek without creek protection. Jonathan is also a deer and turkey hunter that gives good forestry advice so you make the right decision for your goals.
I had some cut a few years ago, and couldnt be more pleased. I had up two trail cams, on a field road, one way in and out, just to count the loads, and I got paid for a load my cams somehow missed. He cleaned all rds, and the main loading area was as good as before he arrived, plus cleaned out all ditches and creeks. Hes in Jackson though.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Again, I can't stress enough looking at a logger's past work before you decide to contract with them. A few are great. Most aren't.
lpo1981
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys, excellent advise.. I will give Michael Huddleston a call today and speak with him and see if the forestry dept can recommend somebody...
Hollar Hunter
Well-Known Member
My forester surveyed all the timber and marked off each section we decided to log. He than sent out exactly what we want logged and its location to several loggers. The loggers than come out to look at the timber that's up for cutting and put in a bid of what their willing to pay. He only sends the info to loggers he has had good work done by. His fee is 8% for this. He also comes every day or two to check on them and make sure their doing what their suppose to.
pressfit
Well-Known Member
The biggest problem you will probably have is that you only have 6 acres,, unless the farm next to you is going to get logged it may not be worth the loggers expense to move all of his machinery to do a days worth of work.. unless you have some really nice clear lumber.. that always changes everything..
lpo1981
Well-Known Member
I called the guy from Arbor Forestry that was mentioned earlier, spoke with about the property I have and what's on it and he said probably wouldn't be worth it for me to hire him as a consult due to the low market timber I have.. Would t be beneficial since the majority of it is low grade timber. He did however suggest a logger that he uses. Called him and he will be out Saturday to look at what I want to do and wether he will do it or not.. Have a few other people I can call to come look if it doesn't work out.. Keep my fingers crossed.
