Need help with timber co.

[Pkripper]

Can anyone give some advice on what to be aware of with timber companies coming in to clear private land. What to put in contracts what to watch out for. We definitely want to keep certain species around, as well as keeping sanctuary areas u disturbed.

If we were to do some selective cutting would this ruin our season.

We are low fence in east Texas and have been waiting a long time to get this work done. They can do the work soon and we are being told by state ag guy that there is not much to worry about. From a long term perspective I thinks it's great. Worried about immediate ramifications.

Any help or advice appreciated.

[JHarrell89]

Might be worth sticking around for the clear cut action after they plow

[TejasNW]

Consider hiring a professional forester. Like hiring a contractor who knows the business, pricing, and the good sub contractors, they can save you more money than they cost. If you don't know the business, it is easy to get taken advantage of. If you can find one with good references and is trust worthy, pay him what he's worth to make sure it is done right.

[Drycreek3189]

I've had timber cut three times. It's gonna disturb your deer in the short term, but not for long after they are through. That said, INDIVIDUAL deer may leave permanently if it's small acreage. Thetimber company will cut what you let them cut, but you may have to watch them carefully, depending on who it is. I almost had a real screwup the last time I had timber cut. You tell them, but they forget, or weren't really listening. Fortunately, I caught them just as they started cutting an area that I did not want disturbed. If it was my place, worried might not be the word, but concerned certainly would be.

Check on them every day if possible. Put a game camera up where they leave your property, in plain view. It will confirm the load count and you won't have to wonder. Timber is usually sold by the ton, but the correct number of loads will match the load tickets from the mill. Timber folks are just like other folks, most may be honest, others not so much.

[Pkripper]

Need help with timber co.

I've had timber cut three times. It's gonna disturb your deer in the short term, but not for long after they are through. That said, INDIVIDUAL deer may leave permanently if it's small acreage. Thetimber company will cut what you let them cut, but you may have to watch them carefully, depending on who it is. I almost had a real screwup the last time I had timber cut. You tell them, but they forget, or weren't really listening. Fortunately, I caught them just as they started cutting an area that I did not want disturbed. If it was my place, worried might not be the word, but concerned certainly would be.

Check on them every day if possible. Put a game camera up where they leave your property, in plain view. It will confirm the load count and you won't have to wonder. Timber is usually sold by the ton, but the correct number of loads will match the load tickets from the mill. Timber folks are just like other folks, most may be honest, others not so much.

We have a lot of white oaks on the property. Would you keep them all or try and thin them out? The deer hit them pretty heavy. The guy we have hired is a from what I understand a pretty respected state forester. The sub contracted workers have worked with him for 5+ years. We have areas that are severely overgrown and so thick you cannot walk through. This is on about 600 acres. We have a section in the rear that is very thick that we will leave as is. My worry is they will try and take out all the good hardwood along the creeks.

[Pkripper]

Drycreek, what would your definition of short term be?

[Pkripper]

Anyone else?

[mavrick]

Have your forester go in and mark all the trees you want to leave. Listen to the foresters advise but use caution, it is your land. Remove the oaks that make sense if it allows better growth. The load count is the real deal, you may get an honest cutter but you may not!

[texasdeerhunter]

If I owned property, an oak tree would never, ever get cut, especially a white oak. I would have them thin the pine trees, but leave all hardwoods. If they want to take out the sweet gum for pulp wood too, I would have them do that. Also, make sure you request they repair roads once they are done, and ask them to clean off the logging deck they clear to use for their equipment, it will make a really good spot for a good plot in a year or two.

[GatorBait]

Are they cutting pine? Or just the white oak?

[eagles405]

Forester here, pm being sent,

[Ag 96]

Make sure they cut only trees that you have marked with paint. Do not rely on verbal instructions. Make sure you or the contractor is there on at least a daily basis. Try to force them to cut as low as possible. Try to get them to clean up tops and limbs as much as possible.

Also, I'll warn you, if you've never been around a cut before, it'll look like a bomb went off. However, in the end it'll all be worth it...

From this...


To this...


To this...

[hardtner]

Hire a forester

[backwoods]

After all these years of commercial timbering there doesn't seem to be a consensus on if you should paint the trees that you want to cut or paint the trees that you want to keep.

I've heard that you should only paint trees to keep. This is typically best because property lines and corner trees "witness trees" are usually painted and not to be removed.

I'd make sure with your foreman that he is crystal clear on what the paint means and I'd probably put a sign up to remind them.

[huntingforum]

I'd request they redo your roads after they're done. Require the minimum number of landings/loading areas. Minimum number of pivot trees if they're not clear cutting. Place a time line on them getting the timber out after the contract is signed 6-12 months of its not gone buy then you can resell it and keep what they've already paid for it. I'd require if they rut up your property with any equipment the ruts must be fixed. There's probably a lot more you need to consider but that's a start.