how desperate do you get scrounging?

[warno]

I was driving around town today and saw a bunch of branches in peoples yards that had fallen in the winter. I was wondering how desperate you guys get while scrounging? Does anyone stop to ask if they can pick up yards for fire wood?

 

[Woody Stover]

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.

 

[legrandice]

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.

 

[BamaScroungr]

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.

 

[tsquini]

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

 

[MrWhoopee]

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.

 

[Poindexter]

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.

 

[Knots]

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.

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...

 

[7acres]

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.

This is my policy.

 

[Paulywalnut]

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.

 

[j7art2]

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.

 

[Hills Hoard]

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..........

 

[jeffesonm]

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.

 

[Wood Duck]

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.

 

[kversch]

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.

 

[Ericl1982]

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.

 

[fire_man]

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.

 

[lectraplayer]

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.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

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

 

[lectraplayer]

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

 

[Paulywalnut]

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.

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.

 

[Bspring]

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.

 

[fire_man]

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.