Logging

[just lucky]

I have about 30 acres , around 20 is woods.  I am thinking of getting logged in chemung county. We have had this piece of property since 1997, and never had any logging done.  Not sure when it was previously done. 

I am more interested in improving habitat for deer, with a proper clean up, then profit. It is a mix of woods, with a section of mature pines in a valley. 

I am looking for recommendations of a forester, or a quality logger who takes pride in their work around my area.

 

[Ncountry]

I'm no help with any logger/ forester recomendations in your area.

An ugly logging job , the ones with tree tops scattered around make better deer habitat. A nice clean eye pleasing logging job usually results in poor deer habitat. You will have to be real specific  with your goals. 

I'm thinking a couple strategically placed clearing for food plots. Come close to clear cutting the pine so it will grow into a nice brushy bedding area?

[ZAG]

You can try Future Forrest Consulting (corey) in Naples. He goes all over the southern tier. 
He did ours yrs ago. He walks it with ya, determines your goals, marks and bids it out. He’s done 2 food plots for us and another small project with the dozer. 
 

If you’re ever thinking about adding a food plot, nows the time to do it. We had him take anything worthy in a soot then had him doze rest into a plot.

[just lucky]

19 minutes ago, ZAG said:

You can try Future Forrest Consulting (corey) in Naples. He goes all over the southern tier. 
He did ours yrs ago. He walks it with ya, determines your goals, marks and bids it out. He’s done 2 food plots for us and another small project with the dozer. 
 

If you’re ever thinking about adding a food plot, nows the time to do it. We had him take anything worthy in a soot then had him doze rest into a plot.

About 10 acres is currently brush/ golden rod field with a farm pond, and some food plots mixed in. 

I planted 40 white pines, and 6 fruit trees this spring on the edge of field. I also transplanted 6 small oaks this fall on other side.There are also about 20 crab apple trees producing as well.

The mature woods are open.There are a few oak trees as well mixed in. The patch of pines looks good, but seldom see sign in there, very open.

My thought is making it better for the next generation 20 years from now.

Thanks for the recommendation. 

[G-man]

2nd future forest  tell him what you have in mind and they can develop a plan for you. 

[cervidchasers]

Corey is the guy..best all around

https://www.futureforestinc.com/

[escpen]

One thing to consider is that you may have a hard time getting any bids because of the size of your property.  I have 28 acres in Steuben County that I consulted with several foresters on - none of them thought there was enough value there to draw in any of the timber outfits to bid on the job.  I ended up asking around for reputable loggers who might be interested in the job and was able to find one locally.  My goal was better habitat for deer and other wildlife and he listened to my goals, helped me develop a plan on what to cut and what to leave, was receptive to my ideas on where skidder trails should be placed, etc.  It all worked out well in the end but I never would have achieved my goals if I hadn't gone directly to a logger in this particular instance.  

That said, my family has also used Corey with Future Forest - great guy, knows his stuff, and did an excellent job on a logging project for a 65+ acre property.  Highly recommended.

[Belo]

My dad has done this twice over the last 40 years. I'd recommend you contacting neighbors as you can get better pricing with larger tracks. Be prepared for it to generally mess up one season. 3 to 5 years it'll be great with all the new growth and you can also maybe benefit from some of the logging roads they make. 

He's about 7 years post last logging and it's an absolute jungle now and they made a good chunk of money to boot. 

[LET EM GROW]

Corey will definitely help you. But if youre really going to call someone and have them come, dont start any work yet. These guys will show you things youd never have considered or thought of before. 

Having woods and fallow fields and a pond sounds like your off to a decent start. You certainly have enough room to make it better for you and the wildlife 

As always keep us posted. Pics and stories! 

[The Back 40]

I would advise consulting with a forester also. I have had two terrible experiences with logger on my property.

There was already a logger working here when we purchased the property. Per his contract he was supposedly only there for the Ash trees because he owned a firewood business. Realistically he was taking Ash and scale logs. He made a mess with his logging trails. he laid down branches to drive over in some of the muddy areas and they were all left there. Other areas were rutted up so bad you can't even drive an ATV through it. The logging trails also screwed up the drainage of the property and now there are areas and trails that get flooded for 6 months out of the year. And when winter came, he had huge piles of logs in our field that he was going to come back for "when it dried up some". Well, he never came back, and the wood was worthless and the mess was left for us to clean up.

The second logger was one that was working on the neighbor's property and like some others have said, it can be easier to get some out there if neighbors come together with more property. We had him sign a contract to only take specific trees, stay out of certain areas, remove or knock down the large tops, and grade the trails when he was done. In the end we ran into the same problem. He made a mess out there, left trees in the trails, leaners that got hung up and left and we have even found trees that they had notch cut, realized that they were rotted in the middle and just left the tree standing with a huge face cut. Once winter came and it got wet, he pulled out and said he would be back when it was dry. He never came back, and we were left with piles of scale logs that were worthless in the spring that we ended up having to get cleaned up. And good luck "enforcing" the contract. Unless you want to pay for a lawyer to fight it in court, and even if you win the logger can claim that he's broke and you ain't gettin shit!

So do your homework, check references, and don't think you're going to make a bunch of $ off the trees, unless you have some really large, high value hardwoods. 

Edited December 11, 2024 by The Back 40

[NYRuthunter]

My buddy had the Amish log his ,they used horses and pulled all the wood out ,no ruts at all .They did leave tops but I cut it all up for firewood .

[escpen]

20 minutes ago, NYRuthunter said:

My buddy had the Amish log his ,they used horses and pulled all the wood out ,no ruts at all .They did leave tops but I cut it all up for firewood .

Tops are good for wildlife cover and to protect new saplings / other growth, allowing it to get established before being browsed too hard.  I view tops as a good thing - doesn't look the best, aesthetically, though.

[Trial153]

finding a reputable logger is a chore. They fall somewhere between drug dealers and Politicians when it comes to honesty  

[IM Hooked]

We have used Baillie Lumber in Smyrna, Chenago county 

[Bucksnbows]

35 minutes ago, Trial153 said:

finding a reputable logger is a chore. They fall somewhere between drug dealers and Politicians when it comes to honesty  

Our problem here in NJ is a complete lack of a forest products industry for many decades now. Our loggers all have second and third incomes from doing other work to survive, so they can take a year or two or more to show up to do work. I am on my second ten year Forestry Stewardship Management Plan on a buddy’s 107 acre property.