I Bought 42 wooded acres and its a mess.

[buckeyefarmer]

looks like a nice place.

 

[kenmac]

If you have the time, it should turn out nice. Loggers really know how to destroy a place. If they would clean up behind themselves it wouldn't be so bad. I've yet to see a logger clean up

 

[Bdavis]

Is there local fire wood supplier that might be interested cutting wood work out % between you both?,than go from there on clean up.

That is the way I would go too , less work and headache. My sister and Brother in law just had a real bad experience with using lumber from blow down and left over logging logs for their house.

The pine worked out okay (except for the boring bees) but the oak for the floor had some sort of beetle in it and they had to replace the entire floor. (what a mess)
When in doubt BURN IT !

 

[rmorey]

I'd say, spend some time looking around the lot. Figure out where all the buildings will be and where all the roads and trails you will use should go.

The wood thats not going to be in your way is less important to work on right away. Then begin too pick away at it, like others have said, it wont take too long. You eat an elephant one bite at a time!

In 2001, we bought 200 acres that was freshly logged, I understand your problem. Not including cleaning up the logged wood, I get 5 full cord every year, just from the downfalls. We bought a bandmill and milled all the siding, decking and trim from the property. Saved a ton...and its fun! Enjoy. :thumbsup:

 

[City Farmer]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas but unfortunately, I've hit a major road block. I finally closed the house I flipped yesterday so I'm 1 for 2. While closing, I received a voice mail from the listing agent. The title company has found a long lost heir to the property. They own a 5% stake in the property and don't want to sell it. I'm told the person lives somewhere out west, never knew they owned property in Michigan, never been to Mi., never paid their portion of the taxes and doesn't know/knew any of the relatives. I guess the sellers have lawyered up to force the sale though. I talked to an attorney and she said there isn't much of anything I can do but wait and see what the out come is. They still have my deposit and the property has been taken off the market. I'll wait for a while but will keep my eye out for something else that comes along.

 

[oosik]

Clear title can be a real dog. Fortunately, my property ownership was traced back to the couple who homesteaded and was clear prior to purchase. I had my property logged about ten years ago. Being where I'm at there is no required management plans, permits, government oversight etc. I marked the trees I wanted cut, the logging company cut those trees, pushed all the brush, limbs into piles, I got my money, they got theirs and it was completed. I was going to "tidy up" the piles by burning them until I saw that the quail use them extensively. I just left all the piles alone and let Mother Nature handle that situation.

 

[ArmyPair2]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas but unfortunately, I've hit a major road block. I finally closed the house I flipped yesterday so I'm 1 for 2. While closing, I received a voice mail from the listing agent. The title company has found a long lost heir to the property. They own a 5% stake in the property and don't want to sell it. I'm told the person lives somewhere out west, never knew they owned property in Michigan, never been to Mi., never paid their portion of the taxes and doesn't know/knew any of the relatives. I guess the sellers have lawyered up to force the sale though. I talked to an attorney and she said there isn't much of anything I can do but wait and see what the out come is. They still have my deposit and the property has been taken off the market. I'll wait for a while but will keep my eye out for something else that comes along.

Feel you pain in both ways. When we wanted to use part of the land to purchase a tractor in 2013 we found out that all the land was tied up in the deed for the new house. Only 10 acres was slotted for the house loan and that was a nightmare getting that fixed and took us only 4 months. In the long run I had to do a personal loan to get my tractor.

Now going back to the end of 2009 we had the same thing happen to us when we had loggers come in and make a big mess and take what they wanted. Seeing I was retired I thought I had lots of time to do things but learned real fast that I would have to work with the weather and wind. Your pic's brought us a big time flash back of when we started and the wife said it looks just us.

What I did was buy a beat up old pickup, a new chainsaw and a good chain to drag logs to where I made burn piles. The good wood I took them off the ground after cutting to fit the fireplace and let them season for heat for 2010. Back then we were in a bad drought and could only burn on some clear days but I had to watch which way the winds came from and how fast they were blowing.

We did the come and cut some wood for 35 bucks a pickup load flyers but make up some kind of release statement you have them sign if they are on your land if they get hurt. It's going to take time so hang in there and we wish you the best of luck. PS stumps come up easy now when you have a new backhoe and not a pick and shovel.

 

[Thomas]

Kinda kick in pants City Farmer,good side you didn't purchase equipment nor sweat yet.

Hope it all turns out well for you.

 

[Ken45101]

Be extremely careful around those dead ash trees. An 8" limb suddenly breaking off and falling from 30-50' up is deadly.

Probably your first order of work should be to make a safe work environment. I'm not sure how to do that with what you have.

Best to have FOPS protection on your equipment (FOPS, not ROPS. Falling Object Protection System).

As for chain saws, I tend to prefer something lightweight even if it takes longer to do the job. I only drag out the bigger gear when I have something that really needs it.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon City Farmer,
Wow, just read through your whole thread, and then got to the bad part about the long lost relative, that stinks !

I pray that the other relatives can convince this person to let go of that 5% stake, and allow you to move on with your plan ! Your plan to clear the property and maybe sell some wood sounds like a good one.

As one of the other posters mentioned, Dave1949 maybe, a wood processor is an expensive item, I would be inclined to sell in log length loads. They do alot of that in Vt, the buyer does all the cutting and splitting. A lot less work on your part, and you clean that mess you have up quicker...

As another fellow mentioned, cut a bunch for yourself in log length, keep it off the ground and cover just the top and it will last along time.

Good Luck with the deal !