Buying Advice Bought 100 Acres. Upgrade my tractor or hire some work done?

[ovrszd]

Clearing land can be a lot of work (it certainly sounds like it in your case) but cutting trails are relatively easy. We have some large trees and rocks but I went between or around them for the most part. Even the ones that do need cut are no big deal you just fell them to the side, perhaps lop off the bigger branches sticking up, and leave it, so it's much quicker than cutting firewood. My wife used loppers to cut limbs back, I followed along with the hand held brush cutter and saw. Naturally what grows between large trees are small stuff, saplings, and brush, and the brush cutter (basically a straight shaft weed eater with a blade) makes quick work of that and you don't have to bend over. When we first started cutting trails I was pleasantly surprised how far we got that first day.

I agree. I've cut miles of trails by hand.

 

[aczlan]

Clearing land can be a lot of work (it certainly sounds like it in your case) but cutting trails are relatively easy. We have some large trees and rocks but I went between or around them for the most part. Even the ones that do need cut are no big deal you just fell them to the side, perhaps lop off the bigger branches sticking up, and leave it, so it's much quicker than cutting firewood. My wife used loppers to cut limbs back, I followed along with the hand held brush cutter and saw. Naturally what grows between large trees are small stuff, saplings, and brush, and the brush cutter (basically a straight shaft weed eater with a blade) makes quick work of that and you don't have to bend over. When we first started cutting trails I was pleasantly surprised how far we got that first day.

Yep, I have cut more than a few trails with the tractor and the brush hog. Just walk it first, mark the trees you want to stay between, back in and let the brush hog take out the brush between the big trees. Trails are more fun when they meander anyway.

Aaron Z

 

[Bigeclipse]

How dense are your woods? I find I can practically find a path through any woods with a good atv without the need to cut trees down...mostly just smaller saplings.