how desperate do you get scrounging?

I don't like branches; Can't split 'em and they take forever to dry. I'll scrounge tree wood, but even that is a crap shoot; A lot of those yard trees have a ton of crotches, twisted grain, and are a bear to split.

The more I age..the less I am willing to bust my butt for a tough scrounge. There are plenty out there and I wait for the easy ones.

A branch in someone's yard isn't worth talking to the property owner. But if the wood is on the curb, I'm taking it.

I don't scrounge out of necessity. It is more supplemental to my wood supply. My scrounging focuses on quality and convenient.

Now that I'm more than 3 years ahead, I have the luxury of being selective. No more stuff that's downhill from the road, punky or under 4 in. diameter.

Depends on how bad I need wood. Right now I got 7.5 cords split and stacked for this winter, 1 cord of reserve wood I probably won't get into in the remaining shoulder season this spring; but I do have room to start seasoning one more cord on the north side of my house. I am watching for spruce, driving by birch.

If I was down 3-4 cords right now for next winter I would be bringing home every stick i could lay hands on.

MrWhoopee said:

Now that I'm more than 3 years ahead, I have the luxury of being selective. No more stuff that's downhill from the road, punky or under 4 in. diameter.

Click to expand...

This. When I had nothing I was scrounging anything I could get my hands on. After the end of this summer, I should be a few years ahead. Now I'm a snob...

BamaScroungr said:

A branch in someone's yard isn't worth talking to the property owner. But if the wood is on the curb, I'm taking it.

Click to expand...

This is my policy.

Branches are a pain to deal with. I guess if you have nothing to burn you might have to scrounge things like branches and brush. I think at this point in my life I'll be forced to touch the thermostat. Scrounging for me is an addiction. At one time I couldn't drive by a pile of oak or ash without trying to locate someone to ask. Once you get up three years worth human nature takes over and you get picky.

I get any and all I can get that is easy to get to. If I see a pile of wood in someone's yard and it's easily driven to, i'll gladly ask. I've done it before and I'll do it again. I scored 13 truckloads of pine in 4 foot loads (3-5 cords or so?) simply by asking.

lucky enough to be on top of things these days with quality well seasoned hard wood., but when i started out I grabbed everything I could..i had no shame...got me through a few winters..........

I don't bother with branches, but I stop all the time and ask people about down trees I see in their yards If they're not home, I leave a note. So far only one person has said no, and I've had probably a dozen or more yes's.

When I am driving around a neighborhood and find that brush hauling day is coming, I'll drive around a little and see what I can find. I am not looking for branches, but often a pile of branches will include a few larger pieces. I'll take braches is they are cut into stove length. I have scrounged tons of wood by picking up a few pieces at a time. My smallest scrounge was one piece.

I scrounge at work every day. try to get 10 to 12 arm loads of smaller stuff or 10-15 large chunks if I can. The company processes all good wood in to fire wood so the get mad if we take a-lot at one time. Ever now and then I can score an entire tree dropped in my front yard. I tend to be picky on the stuff I take though not much smaller then 8-10 inches around. Recently got some nice hickory, cherry, red maple, red oak, and sugar maple.

I will stop and ask sometimes if it is not to far out of the way. Things like branchs are a few quick cuts (cut small enough to lift easy and still fit in the truck. When I get home just cut to stove length and throw them on the pile. You do get a lot of heat out of the branches and the way I look at it, it all works towards my goal (staying warm) with little effort or time.

Note: I live out in the country and they are often laying in the ditches right along the side of the road. A quick conversation with the owner it is often no big deal. I also look at it as an opportunity to get my foot in the door. I will leave my contact information and if the rest of that tree decides to come down, they know a place that will gladly take the wood.

I can't figure out why scrounging is still so competitive with oil near $50 barrel.

The Town drops a few Oaks roadside and within minutes scroungers are lining up with trailers and chainsaws like it's the last tree on earth. I expected the competition to drop when Oil dropped.

Yesterday The Town dropped a bunch of trees. I was lucky enough to be the only one there and only cut what I could load. I drove my load 15 minutes to my house and by the time I returned to the uncut trees they were already GONE! . It could not have been the Town with grapple hooks because this was 6pm on Friday evening.

Normally when I have wood, won't scrounge much, but when I'm about out, I'll scrounge a bit more. ...though I have a BUNCH of pines and gums I am going to have to do something with, and fast.

Even still, I'm thinking about raiding a couple pines I have seen down. One has been in this guy's yard for several years.

When your 3+ years ahead you can be very picky.....

Still, it's fun to have a bon fire occasionally just 'cause.

fire_man said:

I can't figure out why scrounging is still so competitive with oil near $50 gallon.

The Town drops a few Oaks roadside and within minutes scroungers are lining up with trailers and chainsaws like it's the last tree on earth. I expected the competition to drop when Oil dropped.

Yesterday The Town dropped a bunch of trees. I was lucky enough to be the only one there and only cut what I could load. I drove my load 15 minutes to my house and by the time I returned to the uncut trees they were already GONE! . It could not have been the Town with grapple hooks because this was 6pm on Friday evening.

Click to expand...

I'm sure you have a typo there but I see your point. I really think I would burn wood even if oil were free. It's just better quality warming heat. Good exercise too.

I am several years ahead but I hate to see good wood go to waste so I take it even though I don't need it right now.

Yup I meant $50/Barrel oil. I agree, even if oil were free I would burn wood.

The Town DPW says people are chasing his trucks to find out were the next trees will be dropped.