What can a BUSH HOG do?

Hollow · Jan 16, 2012

Boeing said:
Guys, you are giving me GREAT input, thanks.
Couple of questions....my "hog" is a light duty (I guess) old, bought used, FORD built BIG BEE brand?) IT has no "clutch" just a shear pin.

If I were you I'd buy a clutch, a single plate is only $100. I wouldn't cut anything over 1 1/2" if its light duty, anything bigger you can cut down with a saw then hold the mower up and shred the limbs, pick the trunk up and throw it out of the way or chip it. Just go slow and be careful, you don't want a hole through your radiator.

SPYDERLK · Jan 16, 2012

Boeing said:
Fellas, while reviewing an aerial photo of my land just prior to deer season I discovered what looked like a logging road that I didn't know was there. It's about 50 yards below my field and runs down the hill about 300 yards to the old unusable gravel road. (used to be the only access to my land) This logging road is hidden by about 10 yards of 8' pines and the logging road itself is totally grown up with 1" to 1 1/4" saplings, (poplar, maple, a few locust). There is a MAJOR deer trail winding thru those saplings. I'd like to "hog" a 5' strip thru the saplings to make this old road usable and to get a tree stand up there, (rather than drag the heavy kit thru the woods) I could load the stand kit and tools in the tractor). Also it would make it much easier to create shooting lanes for the newly mounted tree stand.
I've never taken my bush hog into "rough" country. Will it cut these saplings or do I need to take a chain saw and whack 'em about an inch off the ground. Then do I hog over them or just leave them laying there? I could toss them aside I guess...but there are hundreds of them. This logging rd is about 1/2 mile long and just fades out at the top of the ridge into hardwoods.
With some saw/bushhog work my field could have a new access road for ATV or tractor (or hunter)
Needing some "hog" help, thanks

From your description this sounds like an easy job for any bushog style mower. Just drive ahead slowly with the hog at full PTO rpm. Keep your direction forward because the tractor will fold down the saplings and they could cause a problem by straightening and jamming up under the tractor if you then backed. A bushog style mower should breeze right thru a job like that. I have done similar at 4MPH with a 5ft medium duty bushog driven by 45HP. If the trees arent thickly spaced that small size presents very little load on the hog.
larry

ddb123 · Jan 16, 2012

SPYDERLK said:
From your description this sounds like an easy job for any bushog style mower. Just drive ahead slowly with the hog at full PTO rpm. Keep your direction forward because the tractor will fold down the saplings and they could cause a problem by straightening and jamming up under the tractor if you then backed. A bushog style mower should breeze right thru a job like that. I have done similar at 4MPH with a 5ft medium duty bushog driven by 45HP. If the trees arent thickly spaced that small size presents very little load on the hog.
larry

I agree. The first tractoring I ever did was just the kind of work you described. Did it with an old Massey 245 and 5' Ford hog. Kept the engine about half PTO/540 speed and didn't even bog it down. (next time I'll rev it a little higher to get cleaner cuts, though)

Taylortractornut · Jan 21, 2012

I have bushhogged the stuff up to 1 and a 1/ but some things are a little tough. Dad and I used to make trails and reclaim ground for a fellow we used to fiish mow his fields for. He had some grown up trails and did didnt want to tear up the tractors of hogs. We started at the back of the trees with a pole saw and brush saw. We started felling fro mthe back to the front to letthe trees fall flat. Then go over them wit hthe brush hog. The long stems would just lay on the ground and rot.

crbr · Jan 21, 2012

good info............

Gil A · Jan 21, 2012

Do you mean Bush Hog or "Bush Hog" the brand? I own a model 286 "Bush Hog" with "stump jumper". Use it behind a John Deere 2030 and it will cut anything the tractor can push over. Two, three inch diameter saplings. Just take it slow and wear ear protectors (lot of noise). If bigger saplings, use chain saw and cut as close to ground level as possible. I cut a trail through woods where no road had been. Aimed the tractor through the small stuff. That was 5 years ago and now the trail looks as if been there forever. Have to use "Bush Hog" to cut out the grass and weeds a couple times a year.
Regards, Gil

Boeing · Jan 22, 2012

Thanks guys,
I'm going up there in mid March after the snows are over:confused2: and before the leaves come in. I want to preplan and hang a tree stand along this trail. Right now it is so thick with the saplings that bow shots are impossible AND I can't carry the heavy double stand into the large trees....too many saplings. Will let you know how it went. Getting the hog blades sharpened right now...:laughing:

SSdoxie · Jan 22, 2012

I have gone through dense sapling like this with no problem using a 4' Tractor Supply branded cutter.
A few things I learned the hard way:
Sharpen the blades (not lawnmower sharp, about 1/6" edge on them)
Run with loader bucket low enough to catch a stump or rock you wouldn't to try going over.
Set tail low so rear of cutter is higher than front - throws the wood chunks under the tractor instead at the back of your head.
Carry a saw to cut any big stuff, or cut saplings out from under the tractor in case you have to back up.
As stated several times here - travel very slow.