Finished Cutting- Results w/ Pics

[fugazi42]

Hi Everyone,

This week I finished cutting and hauling firewood from a wood lot near my house. I applied for and received a permit from the DEP to cut in a state forest. This was the first time I've actually cut in the woods- actually the first time I ever dropped a tree .. Prior to this I've only cut trees and logs that were on the ground. It was a good learning experience, and a heck of a lot harder than I ever thought.

The forester from the state I worked with was very helpful. This land hadn't been managed in quite some time. The goal was to get rid of the less healthy trees and to remove the weedy red maples to open up the canopy to allow the sugar maples to grow. The lot I was assigned was probably 2 acres or so. I cut a total of 16 trees, mostly red maple and cherry with a few white oak mixed in. Felling in a crowded forest, trying to not get trees hung up while trying to protect the smaller sugar maples and undergrowth was pretty tough. I'm proud to say that I only got two trees hung up, and I got both out pretty easy with a 2-ton strap puller. By far the most time consuming part was trimming the tops and making the brush piles- a requirement of the firewood permit. Hauling the wood out wasn't too bad- just a lot of wheelbarrow time.

In all I think I spent about 15 hours in the lot, and hauling back and forth. The lot was estimated at two cords, but i think there's a lot more wood than that. I won't know how much 'till it's split. for reference, the wood shed in the background is 6x8 and holds about 2.5 cords when full. I think it was worth while, and I'll definitely do it again, but not anytime soon!

Josh

 

[Randyb]

Congratulations! You actually hauled all of that out with a wheel barrow?

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Congratulations, great work/job. I think it looks to be more than two cords, could be over three. I'm not counting what is in the shed, that must be another cord or two.

Still a lot of splitting work, another 15 hours I'd bet if you're doing with a maul.

 

[fugazi42]

Yeah- me and my Jackson wheelbarrow- probably my most used, and most under appreciated tool. Hauling wasn't too bad- at most I had to go about 100 yards or so. Granted, it wasn't easy, but at least it was level ground. I couldn't get my truck any closer since I had to cause as little disruption as possible to the forest.


Josh

 

[Backroads]

I too have been doing the same thing with a wheel barrow. I'm doing select cut and I can't drive around the backside of the house due to septic so I know exactly how you feel. It's a great workout but the humidity has been killing me.

 

[cg711]

Nice load of wood - how difficult is it to get the approval from the DEP? Is it something you can do on line ?

 

[fugazi42]

It wasn't hard at all CG- I just called the DEP, asked for the Forestry department, and spoke to my local forester. It's not something that's widely advertised, nor is there any information on their web site.

Josh

 

[savageactor7]

Nice haul Fugazi42...back in the day I used a wheel barrow getting rounds out of the woods...so I can appreciate your effort. It's not easy cutting standing trees in the woods either...excellent job. Will this be a yearly campaign for you?

 

[gpcollen1]

Nice wood. I have used the wheel barrow for many a log scavenge when folks wont let you drive on the lawn/back yard.

 

[billb3]

Did the state forest tree felling years ago.
I preferred somewhat cooler weather, though.

They wanted the brush in piles ? To chip it ?

Here, they wanted it spread out so it disappeared.
Piles were absolutely forbidden.
Couldn't drive your truck and/or trailer off the beaten path, either.

 

[Henz]

good job! Is that a river in the background?

 

[Jay777]

That's gotta be more than 2 cords. I just had 2 cords split dumped on my driveway and the pile is noticeably smaller than that (and yours is rounds, so more dense).

 

[fugazi42]

This might be a yearly event for me though, like Billb said, next time I'll try to schedule it for the winter. Working w/ jeans, chaps, and a helmet in 90o heat w/ high humidity was murder.

The wheelbarrow actually does a pretty good job, considering. It's pretty easy to move through the forest once I pick out a trail back to the truck. The only thing that gets to me is when it tips and dumps my load. I've learned not to try to 'catch' it as it goes over with a couple of hundred pounds of wood in it. I just take a breath, count to ten, and re-stack.

About the brush piles- the state wants piles for wildlife habitat. Here is a brochure from my DEP: http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/wildlife/pdf_files/outreach/fact_sheets/brshpls.pdf

Josh

 

[Adios Pantalones]

What a way to learn this stuff- trial by fire. How much did the permit cost you? Clown@$$99 and I are looking at going in for one in MA, and maybe NH.

I was going to put in a mess of puns with phrases "styrofoam", "furniture", and of course my favorite "waiting room"- but that would have been too stupid for even I.

Trivia for everyone else- what do my avatar and Fugazi's name have in common? I'll buy you a beer if I ever meet the person that gets this one. PM me the answer so we don't hijack this worthy thread.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Good job and glad you now know how to fell a tree. Just don't forget to keep on learning!

 

[fugazi42]

Adios- Here in CT firewood permits are $20 per cord.

Josh

 

[Jerry_NJ]

$20 per cord, then I'd estimate you have only a cord or two :cheese:

Piles for wildlife, interesting.

 

[moondoggy]

What a way to learn this stuff- trial by fire. How much did the permit cost you? Clown@$$99 and I are looking at going in for one in MA, and maybe NH.

I was going to put in a mess of puns with phrases "styrofoam", "furniture", and of course my favorite "waiting room"- but that would have been too stupid for even I.

Trivia for everyone else- what do my avatar and Fugazi's name have in common? I'll buy you a beer if I ever meet the person that gets this one. PM me the answer so we don't hijack this worthy thread.

i cant PM from work, sorry man, that guy BOB is painting is supposed to be the singer from Fugazi... Iam something.....MacKay?

 

[moondoggy]

damn it so wrapped up in that i forgot the wood load... that rocks man, has to be way more then 2 cords..
you all need a bigger shed.

 

[Jay777]

Not that I'd actually do this myself anyway, but I'm curious..

Sounds like they estimate how much wood the LOT has, and then you pay the permit prior to doing anything?

Someone should do a pool on how much you actually have there I'll take 4 cords.

 

[fugazi42]

Jay-

That's correct- the forester goes out to the lot and marks out the cull trees. He estimates how much wood those trees hold and sells the permit based on his estimate. I think you are right- I guess about 4 cords based on the size of the pile, and the number of loads I took out with my truck. I did keep some wood aside that I won't be using for firewood- I have a couple of smaller diameter white oak logs that I'm going to use for projects, and a 24" white oak but that I'm planning to use for an anvil stand. Still, there's plenty of wood in that pile for burning

Josh

 

[Cluttermagnet]

Great photos! Thanks for putting them up. Hey, your woodshed is too small. Heh! :lol:
Very informative about the permitting and all.