Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Cutting timber

I have no experience with timber cutting. I have less than 40 acres of my own and no knowledge of the potential timber value. I have heard some horror stories of damaged roads and not getting paid properly for the timber. Any advice before I start trying to dive into this? I do have 2 companies interested but no commitment or estimated value.

With the cost of fuel and price of wood, you might find it challenging to find a crew to show up for less than 40 acres.
You might consider tag teaming with a neighbor to increase the acreage amount so it’s more attractive to the loggers.

Hardwood or pine?

The cost for a group to load up skidders, loaders, etc. --- get in there build a road or widen one enough ---- someone to cruise it ---- mark property boundaries/SMZ ---- that's a lot of money, your return may not be what you think, unless you have a neighbor that lives very close and they can do multiple tracts at once.

You also need to know the type companies ----- The way the new skidders operate with cutting everything down, or even when thinning messing things up and leaving it where you can't even walk and hunt your woods. It is ridiculous what I have seen lately when different crews have operated on our hunting lease. I wouldn't let any of the three companies/groups on my land!!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget a good pulp crew for a little of cleanup.

I would talk to the local forestry agent in your area, first.

I doubt it is worth cutting one for pulpwood for 40 acres of you could even find someone to do it

It is a mix. I do have some large hickory, walnut and white oaks. I don't know if pulp or lumber would be an option for my place.

If they're good the Walnut and White Oak could bring REAL $ , if you can get the right log buyer that buys by grade and scale. Problem in LA is most hardwood saw logs are sold by the ton, AKA give away price . Then they pick out the high grade stuff and send it North and make big $.

Hire a consultant

This. Most of our wood markets in AL are at an all time low right now so I understand it might be a tough pill to swallow giving up any amount of revenue to a consultant however if this is property you plan to keep long term and want to manage a good consultant is worth the investment if you are not experienced with the timber business.

PS - I am not a consultant but have been in the timber industry for 35 years now and I am a licensed Forester.

We got prices turned in yesterday on a sale that we haven’t seen in 4 years and 1 price set a new record high for us. Times are crazy right now

Wet summer will do that, if you have a tract that can be cut now. Been quoted some decent prices on blended logs/chipnsaw.

I’ve never seen a property thats been cut, whether thinned or cleared, that there weren’t numerous empty 5 gallon hydraulic fluid buckets, and blown out tires left behind, after the workers were gone. I’ve also never seen a crew that fulfilled their promise to repair the roads.

That is promising. A lot of the south AL paper mills had spring outages which tends to suppress the pulpwood markets. Sawmills have been slowed back as well. When the paper mills crank back up and you mix in the current wet weather pattern it will definitely start to result in higher stumpage rates. Will be interesting to see if this bump in prices is short lived or has some longevity. My guess it will be very dependent on how long the current weather pattern hangs around.

I need some grade hardwood prices. Gonna thin some big hardwoods.
Just starting to get serious about it.

Unfortunate that is your experience. And I don’t doubt what you are saying at all. I have seen a lot of really good timber harvests though, but it often takes having some leverage (like a performance bond) or some other kind off relational value to the logging crew to get this done. One of the reasons I recommend to the OP using a good consultant because they should not only be well versed at structuring a timber contract they also have value to the logger in providing future business.

All about good timing

It's a EPA violation for them to leave any trash behind, take pics and remind them of that! The crew I used fixed my roads back as good or better than before! Only problem I had was the trees they left on the ground!

Get deposit and contract stating roads must be returned to usable condition.

I would state previous condition. Usable is relative and too vague i would think

I know a feller buying high grade hardwood logs that gets down your way. If you have the right stuff , he'll pay more than the locals buying by the ton. I'll PM you a #.