Alright, So I have a fresh 35ish acre cutover. It was cut not quite 2 months ago. Before it was clear cut, I went in and flagged out my larger oak trees that I wanted to keep. So the loggers left them. Well, now I would like to replant in pines. Since I selected several mast trees to leave, the forester said the tract would have to be hand sprayed. I guess as opposed to helicopter sprayed. I assume they spray Arsenal before they replant with pines. Anyone have any idea what the hand spray cost per acre might be? Also what is the usual cost per acre for helicopter spray?

Do you intend to plant it this winter?

Helicopter cost between $12 and $20 an acre depending on LZ proximity.

It all depends on the herbicide prescription specific to your tract.
For comparison, arsenal release treatments are in the $75 range sprayed by ground versus $50 per acre by helicopter. Again, it depends on prescription and rate per acre sprayed.
You need to leave a buffer around those big oaks if spraying Arsenal. You can treat close to oaks without Arsenal added.
You are waiting until next year to plant, right?

Interested in this as well.

For a site prep treatment, more than likely they'll use Chopper instead of Arsenal (same active ingredient). For a release treatment, Arsenal would be used. What does your tract look like now? Has it grown up much, with pines or coppice sprouting? If it's clean, you maybe able to do a release treatment next Spring. The application cost is not much different between aerial vs ground. The cost savings comes from the amount of chemical used.

We never use chopper since it is virtually no savings and way more jugs to the site. The application with the helicopter is a few bucks cheaper but a hand crew does as good a job, maybe better. With varying edges and oaks in the clearcut, hand crew is the only way to go. Cost will depend on what is sprayed and the gallons per acre applied. Our high dollar site preps run $95-100 per acre with Arsenal, Glysophate, metsulfuron methyl and sulfumeturon for good herbaceous weed control both in the spray year and the following spring. Cheaper site prep can run as low as $80 per acre applied. Release, the following spring on loblolly and slash typically will run a little cheaper.

If I remember correctly, my forrester said it would be sprayed next fall then planted next winter. The problem I have, is in the two months since it has been cut, Privet hedge is coming up everywhere. It's creek bottom land and very thick in privet. I would just let it naturally regenerate, that way it gives me a large cut over to hunt for years. But, I'm afraid privet will take over, if I don't spray and plant. What are your thoughts? Spray and let replant, or let it grow up in privet?

I would try to kill all the privet I could.

If the topography allows it I would site prep spray with a skidder. We do all our tracts with a skidder unless it is steep as all get out or really wet ground. Normal site prep (imazapyr, glyphosate, oust) usually costs us $85/acre. Heavy site prep for pine control (accord xrt, escort, imazapyr) usually runs $110/acre. We leave mast trees and may push some plots on tracts we plan to hunt and the skidder driver can maneuver around them easily. Also, planting (loblolly bare root)should be around $80-$100/acre depending on spacing. Container seedlings are a little more

Also, aerial site prep usually only sprays 15 gallons per acre of solution vs. 25 gallons per acre from a skidder. (More gallons/acre = better coverage because drift isn't an issue)

Who sprays yours? Anyone have any contact information or should I call someone like county extension agent? Is there any federal or state money/cost share available for doing this?

Probably no assistance, but call your local NRCS and ask.

Red River Specialties out of Alabaster is spraying some for me next week if weather permits.