Taking a forestry course is a good thing and can teach even seasoned professionals proper techniques that are up to date and can enhance one's skills and overall safety when working in the woods/farm/yard, etc. These courses don't turn the average saw jockey into a pro however. Pros are once again, for those who haven't been paying close attention, those who have been trained to work as climbers, arborists, those who went to places like Paul Smiths or elsewhere to study to become trained professional arborists, and work daily in trees doing tree surgery, or are using bucket trucks to top out, lower or trim out dead wood from trees near power lines, etc.
Basically those who make a full time living climbing trees, working with crane trucks, bucket trucks, etc.
One can argue and joke forever about pro or pro grade and similar semantics; reality is top handle saws are for use by pros in trees, not for homeowners or other non-pro on the ground.
Joke all you want about government intrusion; and realize the same humorists if hurt by a tool of any kind are the first to bring suit against everyone within driving distance when they are the one who gets injured. Then it's no longer funny and somebody has to pay for their poor judgement.
BTW, I signed up for one of the forestry courses this summer but had to postpone until next time they are offered. I want to refresh my skills and see what new/updated techniques are available to those who work in the woods occasionally, as I do now. I believe they are 5 part courses IIRC.
What was the name of the course you took, Murphy?
It's for your own well being comrade.
