Logging should it be done or not yet

[TrapperJ]

Alright folks so I have a question the 10 ish acres i hunt on has really nice oak trees and really nice walnut but I dont wanna cut all my oak but the walnut im okay with but I wanna know should we have it done before season? Or after season? I wanna hunt the oct doe season and the nov buck season but im not sure if the logging would scare the deer away or bring them in and I can only think of a few pros and cons.

Cons
Humans
Noise
Trees falling tearing habitat
Taking food away

Pros
Money
Tops for deer to eat
Tops for deer to hide
Less trees and brush so I can put a stand up
Access road will be cleaned

I truly aint sure what to do on it either way I think the market is up right now for the walnut and im not sure how it will be after season. Now I know deer like logging they will kinda hang around it but I dont wanna scare my deer off so any thoughts or if anyone has logged there land before or after season what was it like

 

[jpc01101]

I had a forestry mulcher in the last two days absolutely leveling an area that had previously been thicket that you couldn't walk through. I had deer on camera last night... :-/ I couldn't believe it. I say that to say, do whatever works for your budget and schedule and don't assume that logging will run the deer off.

 

[TrapperJ]

I had a forestry mulcher in the last two days absolutely leveling an area that had previously been thicket that you couldn't walk through. I had deer on camera last night... :-/ I couldn't believe it. I say that to say, do whatever works for your budget and schedule and don't assume that logging will run the deer off.

Basically they would come in and cut 2 walnut trees in the actual woods the rest isn't in them and then 4 or 5 oaks and it would clear a bit but budget wise it dont matter all to much like the money would be nice right now but I can wait 2 ish months and schedule isn't gonna be to horrible

 

[Salmonchaser]

My first adult job was logging. I killed quite a few deer; Mule deer, Columbian Blacktail and one Sitka Blacktail in the unit we were logging, most of them while we were working.
Whitetail seem more skittish but reads as if they like new food on the ground as well.

 

[TrapperJ]

My first adult job was logging. I killed quite a few deer; Mule deer, Columbian Blacktail and one Sitka Blacktail in the unit we were logging, most of them while we were working.
Whitetail seem more skittish but reads as if they like new food on the ground as well.

So would you recommend doing it before season? If so whats some things I should tell the loggers? Like dont do this or that?

 

[Darkside]

Timber is Not bring in much money right now.
Do not cut the Oaks unless it needs to be removed. Plus the acorns, deer love them.
10 Acre? If you don't have a Minimum Of 50 Valuable Mature trees. Good luck finding someone to cut it. And they will want to Clear Cut the whole 10 acre.

NO DO NOT CUT.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Can't imagine there is much money in the few trees you're talking about. I've you just want to thin it some regardless of deer coming in to feed on new food on the ground, I would wait until after season.

 

[TrapperJ]

Can't imagine there is much money in the few trees you're talking about. I've you just want to thin it some regardless of deer coming in to feed on new food on the ground, I would wait until after season.

I would have to count the trees exactly but it hasn't been logged in 60 years and its got some great white oaks and red oaks and black oaks and walnut and with walnut being 4 to 8 bucks per BF and them being pretty damn straight trees I think theres more money there then most think

 

[Darkside]

Lumber is a commodity.
The price of wood is way down.
Very little if any being shipped out of the USA.
TARIFFS.
Wait a couple years.
And get educated on lumber and yes you can make a lot of money on the Very Little you have.

 

[Salmonchaser]

4 to 8 is pretty damn good, I might have to get back into logging!

 

[TrapperJ]

4 to 8 is pretty damn good, I might have to get back into logging!

Yeah man I wouldnt call myself a logger or any of that but I can run a chainsaw and fell trees and I was chatting with some guys who do logging and they said they was bringing in 4 to 8 per BF for walnut now im not sure oak right now I think its a bit similar but for southwest Missouri its doing good plus there close and are on 3 different properties cuttin mountains of wood so

 

[TrapperJ]

Lumber is a commodity.
The price of wood is way down.
Very little if any being shipped out of the USA.
TARIFFS.
Wait a couple years.
And get educated on lumber and yes you can make a lot of money on the Very Little you have.

Oh yeah uh back i wanna say 10 years ago we had a guy say that give it 10 years and it would be great to harvest and I just notice how the trees are pretty big and some are dying and it aint been cut for 60 years so theres definitely money here. I was told totally different on the price of the wood right now it might just be a region deal but here its strong

 

[schmalts]

Timber is Not bring in much money right now.
Do not cut the Oaks unless it needs to be removed. Plus the acorns, deer love them.
10 Acre? If you don't have a Minimum Of 50 Valuable Mature trees. Good luck finding someone to cut it. And they will want to Clear Cut the whole 10 acre.

NO DO NOT CUT.

White oak isn't too bad in WI but red oak is in the crapper for price at this time.

 

[johnp]

I'm surprised the loggers want to buy anything except walnut. A high quality walnut tree is worth about 10 good white oak trees.
I buy standing walnut and have been suggesting to land owners to hang on to the oaks until the price increases. Maybe the logger wants to lay out enough wood to get a full load or two.
Deer are very curious and will track up the new skid trails every night.
One tip would be to check out where your tree stands are in relation to the marked trees and skid trails. Tree stands that the logger has to move are a pita.
I would lean towards waiting until after deer season because it may take a while to settle things down and get the logs out of there.

 

[Jwill]

Hire a good forester to give you some options and an estimate.

 

[Bonasababy]

I would have to count the trees exactly but it hasn't been logged in 60 years and its got some great white oaks and red oaks and black oaks and walnut and with walnut being 4 to 8 bucks per BF and them being pretty damn straight trees I think theres more money there then most think

But it costs big money for a logger to move in in the first place...takes enough trees to make it worth their while and doesn't sound like you have that....unless they are already working nearby.

I've shot deer very close to an active operation and have seen them around them often....but time of year matters. Winter after the mast is cleaned out will attract them more readily during daytime than this time of year.

 

[TrapperJ]

But it costs big money for a logger to move in in the first place...takes enough trees to make it worth their while and doesn't sound like you have that....unless they are already working nearby.

I've shot deer very close to an active operation and have seen them around them often....but time of year matters. Winter after the mast is cleaned out will attract them more readily during daytime than this time of year.

There like a mile down the road right now... so maybe a mile in gas is what it will cost. Ive been thinking after season would be better but just not sure what month or time since doing it in the mud and snow wont be that good

 

[TrapperJ]

I'm surprised the loggers want to buy anything except walnut. A high quality walnut tree is worth about 10 good white oak trees.
I buy standing walnut and have been suggesting to land owners to hang on to the oaks until the price increases. Maybe the logger wants to lay out enough wood to get a full load or two.
Deer are very curious and will track up the new skid trails every night.
One tip would be to check out where your tree stands are in relation to the marked trees and skid trails. Tree stands that the logger has to move are a pita.
I would lean towards waiting until after deer season because it may take a while to settle things down and get the logs out of there.

There buying basically anything. The load would be pretty good maybe 2 good loads of thick and big trees. I dont have tree stands placed yet I was gonna wait till after the logging so they dont get damaged but I was gonna put them up like a day before the loggers leave so the deer think that nothing is happening. Im thinking wait after season to but im inpatient and I like to get things done but I can probably wait on this

 

[Dave N]

If the crew is already right there, go ahead and get it done now. The deer will use the open area right away.

 

[Slam]

First, I will 2nd Jwill's advice to hire a good forester. Your state probably has a forester assigned to your region. I have used state foresters' for over 40 years to create management plans and mark and manage timber sales. I have also used private foresters to do the same (for a fee). In all cases my end result is better than going it alone, unless you have the knowledge. Your state forester most likely provides their services free, private foresters will probably charge ~10% of the sale. Either way, you will come out ahead. Here are some things a forester will provide:

• They will walk your woods with you and ask you what your goals are (the beginning of a plan)
• You will get educated on what you currently have
• You will get educated on market conditions
• You will get educated on the advantages of using a professional to handle a timber sale
• They can advise or handle a timber sale

Timber sale components:

• Trees to be sold are marked and measured and used to create an inventory list (list specifying species and est BF)
• logging trails and log landing laid out
• language in the contract specifying how non sale tree damage is to be handled. Some damage will occur through trees damaging non sale inventory in the felling process to non sale trees being banged or girded in the skidding process, etc.
• The beauty in the marketed inventory list is that only the trees you want to sell get taken. Marked trees will have paint on the stump. Stumps with out paint need explained. Additionally, the sale list is distributed to a list of buyers the forester knows about and have good reputations. More prospective buyers bidding on a specific list of trees = good.
• Payment made in full before cutting begins.
• Logger insurance provided

Contract language that covers the sellers ass.

Its been my experience that sellers who signed a contract for X$ without a specific list of trees to be taken often get high graded (best inventory is taken) and often all marketable timbers is taken leaving the seller with a mess and a future woodlot devoid of quality species.

Its business, treat it as such.