Oak logs

[L3650]

I have some oak trees that need to come down. They are large, mature oak trees with diameters ranging from about 14 inches to almost 40 inches. Many are straight, knot free for 10 - 30 feet in length. There is limited access to the location of the trees. I would cut the logs to whatever length and load them on a trailer to deliver to a buyer (sawmill?). Because of terrain, there is no way to get a logging truck back in there. Also, I want to cut down a few at a time so it will not hurt my deer hunting. Besides firewood, what would be the best way to sell the logs?

Any tips on potential buyers and how to sell the wood is appreciated.

 

[thcri]

Put an add in the paper. You could also talk to your local DNR people and they may know of someone who would take them. Also is there any lumber mills in your area that you could ask. .


murph

 

[Birdhunter1]

Call a timber company.. believe me thy can find a way to get the logs out.
You could never make as much selling those as firewood as you ever could by selling them as timber.

 

[inveresk]

Try posting a thread on Forestry Forum. They also have a 'for sale' section.

 

[pappy19]

As a retired forester, your best bet is to talk with your local county extension agent and get the state forestry to assist you in getting a reputable logger with a fair price. Just like anything else, there are good loggers and bad ones. Make sure they cut only the trees you want to cut. Gennerally, if you are cutting for wildlife, then cut the best and leave the worst. The sorry trees are the best wildlife trees. The best formed, straight, little or no low branches, are the best saw timber and are worth the most. Also make sure they take care of the "slash" or the branches and "high stumps", as you don't want them left in the woods.

 

[Slamfire]

That slash makes good firewood, though.

 

[450EXC]

Red Oak, 40" dia, clear-no knots, 30' is probably worth big money, possibly veneer log. I would get some professional help and a few bids.

Could be early retierment

Larry

 

[Oleozz]

In this area there are foresters that will come in and mark your trees, decide how many board feet you have, get bids from loggers and basically do all the work, but for a price. Most will go with 10% of the higest bidder or $50 an hour.
I have had timber cut twice since we've owned our farm. Both times I got bids myself and went with the highest, we are getting ready to have about 25 acres of rock and red oak cut and I am going to go the forester route. It's in his best interest to get you the best price for your lumber and you have a professional evaluate your trees. You have to let them know what your intentions are: maxamize income, preserve the appearance of the forest, optimize wildlife habitat, etc., etc.

 

[dmccarty]

Go to your state's extension office either physically or online. They should have information for land owners regarding logging. For instance in NC, there is a Best Practice manual that you can refer to in your timber sale the tells the logger what is expected. You can also place your own limits as well. In NC you sell the trees as a timber deed. The usual aggreement is that the logger has up to two years to come get the trees which is kinda scary. After two years the trees are mine again. And I get to keep the money. They got mine fast though, within a month or so.

The timber market is just that, a market. The price today is going to change tomorrow. May be more. May be less. I sold timber in 2000 via forester and a closed bid auction. At the time the price for hardwood vs pine was pretty much the same per board foot. You made more on pine though since more pine grew per acre than hardwood.

But this is my local market and may not apply to your area. The extension office should be able to help. The NC website has information of selling your timber. As well as the market price average for different regions in the state. See if you state does the same. That at least gives you a ball park number.

There is also the tax implication of selling your timber. A forester working for you should sell the trees, manage the logging and get you started with the taxes. I paid 10% to the forester. Best money I ever spent.

On the other hand maybe you don't have enough trees to sell. You might be able to take the logs to a mill and sell them yourself. But that can be tricky. They might not want the trees unless they know you. And do you know what the log is worth? I know that the some contractors in my area will take small loads to the mill and they get paid.

Another option is to have a portable mill come in and saw up the trees for he and thee.

Be careful with loggers. Mine where pretty good. They left some trash that the forester made them clean up. But they also buried some in the slash piles. But they did not destroy the forest either. Some will offer you a pittance for your wood so you really need to be careful.

Later,
Dan

 

[dfkrug]

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.

 

[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?