Logger ripped off my neighbors

[hslogger]

I had to look where Deer Park Washington is, and it says Spokane County.
The loggers aren't going to come back. Got it. A visual needs to be made on the contract. Anything not understood in it should be taken to an attorney and spelled out in a language your friends and you can understand.

That will make the picture a whole lot clearer. It appears that the wood was mixed small diameter pine and douglas fir. Can't tell for sure. Depending on the arrangement, it sounds lie the logger said

We will remove what we consider danger trees and leave the clean up to you, adios. It does sound like a rip to me but that is just on first view of your post. Pine wood in the PNW is not high value, and the fir might have been a more valuable commodity. But judging from the photos, it doesn't look like much of a stand. Still......
Common reasonable logging for them "might " have been on shares with brush piled for client to burn. If they were truly taken by unscrupulous loggers they probably have no recourse. If they had been working on shares, i.e. 50-50 or 60-40,etc they would be privy to scale or weight sheets.

People who have timberland and want to hire a logger should do a heck of a lot of homework before engaging anyone. Personal references, visits to previous clients, checking with the local forestry department, loggers association, BBB, Soils and water conservation district, etc. Some people, want to think they can just go it on their own, like hiring a plumber from the yellow pages or something. Not a good idea, don't be afraid or too proud to research a logger before you cut them loose on your place

 

[Aquamoose]

Good suggestions, thanks. Are there any sites to help educate us? Previously, the lot has already been thinned out of everything but the hardiest and mature trees, which the last picture would show from the foreground. All of the pictures were taken after the trees were taken.

The neighbor told me that she did call one of the two mills that took the trees and a guy stopped by to take a look and he told her that it was unacceptable and that they are holding payment for the time being so there's a possible resolution.

I'll be talking with the couple again early this week to learn more.

 

[roadhunter]

Most of the logging done in this area costs the landowner so this is not super rare especially if this was about fuel reduction around the home and road more than a true logging project. Nothing in that pile looked very valuable to me.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Logging in WA is the purview of the State Dept of Natural Resources. Their web site explains the rules. A permit requested and signed by the landowner is required. I am not sure what the minimum acres are to require state permitting. There is a 5% excise tax levied on the logs when sold. the mills pay the tax and deduct from the payment. I contracted with a reliable well known logging firm and hired a consultant to oversee the contract. Split was 50-50 on mill stock and 60-40 (60 to the landowner) for export logs. that was 4 years ago and prices are higher now. I understand the mills want a copy of the permit before setting up the account as payment is not in cash per load and gives them the authority to collect the tax. It was not a simple process to log 20 AC.

In Kitsap county where I am the county controls small plots and trees considered dangerous and a permit is required to take down any tree not considered dangerous or dead. Permits can and are denied, especially when neighbors get in the act. Dangerous trees are well defined in the regulations.

LOL to your neighbor, nhe may have contacted the mill just in time.

Word to the wise: I also learned (via my pocket book) that timber is not part of the land value or an improvement; it is considered personal property,hence the excise tax. Proceeds of logging are a Federal Taxation item as Income. Have fun determining the value of the Capital Gain. Unless you plantedand raised the trees as a business there probably are no records of deductabile expenses.

Ron

 

[Aquamoose]

Most of the logging done in this area costs the landowner so this is not super rare especially if this was about fuel reduction around the home and road more than a true logging project. Nothing in that pile looked very valuable to me.

That pile was what was LEFT of the trees. The logger already took 4 loads when I found out.

 

[roadhunter]

That pile was what was LEFT of the trees. The logger already took 4 loads when I found out.

I have read your posts and was aware the pile was what was LEFT.

 

[Aquamoose]

Oh ok, if you're referring to what was left of the pile in the image, I didn't mean as millable wood, but as firewood.

 

[dickfoster]

My overall impression of loggers is that they are much like lawyers and politicians, overall an unsavory and unscrupulous lot.

 

[Lockport]

I believe that's what's called a Logger Shark

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My overall impression of loggers is that they are much like lawyers and politicians, overall an unsavory and unscrupulous lot.

The logger who did my project had 30 years experience, excellent equipment, treated the steep slopes with great respect, and left a clean job. He was an expert at manufacturing logs. The mill graded the loads at only 3% to 4% defect. He made money, I made money, and I did not begrudge him his percentage. That faller-buncher was not a cheap piece of equipment. He even managed to sell a couple of truckloads of tops for hog fuel, and left about 10 years of firewood decked for me. I asked other timber owners who they recommended for a small job, and he was the unanimous pick. I was happy to pass along that recommendation the next year.