Oak logs

[Oleozz]

It is amazing how different the logging process is, state-to-state. I
had some logging done about 10 y ago here in the Santa Cruz Mtns.
It has become so difficult to do legal logging here that the forest has become
quite overgrown and unmanaged. I needed a state CDF permit and a type of
Timber Harvest Plan (THP), prepared by a licensed forester. Mills can not
legally buy and mill lumber that is not properly associated with a THP.
Then you have to find a logger who will do it. I found one who would do
the work in exchange for all proceeds ($30K) he got from the mill. I got the mess (and the timber harvest tax). Logged were 18 large douglas firs of more
than 100' height. The only trees sellable to mills were redwood and douglas
fir. I have to cut a and burn all my hardwoods (oak, maple, alder, laurel).
I needed to do this logging for my new house site primarily to remove
hazardous trees.

Dealing with the state made working with my county almost look easy.

That's about the craziest thing I've ever heard of. You had to pay someone to harvest your trees, he gets all the profit and you end up with the mess

 

[dfkrug]

That's about the craziest thing I've ever heard of. You had to pay someone to harvest your trees, he gets all the profit and you end up with the mess

Crazy, isn't it? I could not even find an established logging outfit who
would do it AT ALL. I ended up hiring a guy who used rented equipment.
My first permit application was denied (a "hazard tree exemption") without
a clear reason, so I had to hire a forester for the THP. I appealed the
first denial, but the state forester who looked into appeals was also
a CDF employee was not about to do anything.

Funny thing is it would have been legal for me to cut the trees and
leave them to rot. Just can not sell them to a mill without permit.

 

[johnk]

Good timber is worth a LOT of money. I was going to get 88 Oaks logged 3 years ago and was offered $16,800. They are or were graded as veneer as they stand but I elected not to have them harvested at that time. Now Oak has gone done quite a bit as the demand isn't as great. Red Cherry and Maple are the hot sellers right now. When I see those bundle of warmths selling at the Wilson farms and other convienient stores for $5.99, which consisits of about TWO logs split into small stuff and kiln dried I figure I'm worth a couple million bucks...Don't be in a hurry to get rid of your trees. While you're sleeping they are still growing and worth more every day..Also don't go with the first offer get a few and see who's in the ballpark.

 

[Asymtave]

Off topic but I have some really nice Ash trees - 20" to 30" and straight as an arrow branch free for 30' to 40'. The shame is that 3 surrounding counties are infested with th Emerald Ash Borer. So it's only a matter of time.

If they were Walnut, Cherry or even Oak I'd be retiring. As they're Ash they worth a little but not much. It's a shame.

So I'm either going to hire or buy a portable sawmill. But it will be more lumber than I'll ever use in my lifetime.

Moral of the story is if you're in Ohio, Penn, WV, Indiana, Kentucky start thinking about good uses for your Ash trees before the bugs get them. Michigan and Ontario are largely already lost causes.

 

[Oleozz]

Off topic but I have some really nice Ash trees - 20" to 30" and straight as an arrow branch free for 30' to 40'. The shame is that 3 surrounding counties are infested with th Emerald Ash Borer. So it's only a matter of time.

If they were Walnut, Cherry or even Oak I'd be retiring. As they're Ash they worth a little but not much. It's a shame.

So I'm either going to hire or buy a portable sawmill. But it will be more lumber than I'll ever use in my lifetime.

Moral of the story is if you're in Ohio, Penn, WV, Indiana, Kentucky start thinking about good uses for your Ash trees before the bugs get them. Michigan and Ontario are largely already lost causes.

Never heard of the Emerald Ash Borer. I am a fan of ash trees, I like the straight grain and the color. The gypsey moth did a lot of damage to the oaks in this area for awhile. It seems like trees are constantly being bombarded by some type of pest or insect that kills or damages them.

 

[scott_vt]

I am a fan of ash trees, I like the straight grain and the color.

Afternoon Oleozz,
They throw pretty darn good heat out of the woodstove also !

 

[Asymtave]

Who would know more about wood heat than a New Englander

I have burned a significant amount of Ash since I bought the property, but already dead/downed stuff. It does burn nice as long as it's not too rotted. The information I've looked at shows it contains about 2/3 the BTUs/cord as my Shagbark Hickory, of which I have tons.

So - in short I'd rather burn ugly Hickory trees and keep the beautiful Ash, but that's not gonna happen.

Oleozz - If you have Ash trees or simply like Ash trees, then Google "Emerald Ash Borer". This isn't something that simply hurts trees - it kills 100% of them in an infested area. Ohio alone is expected to lose 3.8 BILLION Ash trees. Southeast Michigan is a mess with dead trees - there are just too many to cut down.

What are they going to build baseball bats out of in 20 years?