[Dave Camire]

Carl and all,
Its been a while since I chimed in on any discussions but this one “fits the bill” for me. I am a true believer in directional felling as the Goal of Low Impact Forestry. Animal extraction is one component of low impact but if you can’t fell trees without needless residual stand damage your client/landowner will not get the full benefit of low impact using animal extraction. Directional felling is my #1 goal and practicing techniques and criticizing every stump is part of my learning. As for wedging smaller diameter trees I typically use mor of a Tounge and groove cut where I make the notch then bore in through the center of the notch to create a place on the back side to insert my wedge, The back cut involves cutting either side above the wedge leaving fibers above wedge attached, providing a way to drive the wedge without bottoming the wedge out on the hinge. The Game of Logging is a beneficial course that any person holding a saw should attend, many techniques and principles are discussed and practiced.

[Dave Camire]

Depending on skid distance I will wrap the chain over my shoulder or leave it attached to the swivel hook. I typically use 6ft chokers 5/16 chain for small wood, have not broke one yet. I do carry 8ft chokers on 3/8 chain for the cart or use with Farmi winch.

[Dave Camire]

Thought I would chime in on this. Just finishing up a job cleaning up blowdowns, mainly Pine and Hemlock, landowner keeping all the wood and having it milled for personal use. Over the past year have cut and twitched @ 170mbf with single Haflinger (tractor with farmi winch where needed). When I origanally looked at the work to be performed I told the landowner the only way to figure cost is price epr day. I was able to charge $325/day regardless of skidding with horse, tractor or cutting a mess created by Mother Nature. Given the current state of fuel costs and prices being paid for low quality wood logging with animal power is looking more and more promising every day. I have usd a base day figure of $325 for cutting, twitching and skid road/landing development. This price is for 8 hours on site, I am trying to limit my travel to 60 miles or less and am concentrating on lots under 20 acres. Given my geographical area I tend to have more lots for recreational use and management for forest health than large tracts for future multiple harvests. For me finding a niche of providing low impact, environmentally friendly harvesting is the facet people are willing to “spend” money on.

[Dave Camire]

Not for certain if it is an old tale or if giving Hemlock boughs in the pasture may be used for deworming/prevention. I have heard of old timers giving tobacco leaves for worms, have also heard of hemlock, is this accurate? Has anyone else heard either positive or negative to either method?

[Dave Camire]

Jason, I do believe James means a driving job as a truck driver, not as a teamster horse driver. Either way, James good luck.

[Dave Camire]

I lost a partner of mine nearly 8 years ago due to kickback. Back then I was doing more arborist tree work with Mike and we climb many trees around residential areas. Mike was as good a climber as anyone has ever seen, we were not just weekend warriors playing by chance both of us had logged, climbed and both graduated from Thompson School. All it takes is one split second of complacency and you are dead. I truly believe we have to constantly remind ourselves of the dangers inherent with logging or tree work and sometimes slow the pace down to stay alive. Don’t ever become too comfortable with the tools you work with to forget that they will kill you. My father once told me when you think you are better than the saw you had better hang it up. Moral is make a concious effort to think safety at all times because the second you forget it you may regret it. Stay sfe and every time you carry your saw to the woods remember your friend.

[Dave Camire]

Rick, Make sure you really check into the workers comp requirements pertaini n to LLC or LLP. Worker’s Comp laws were recently ammended so as partners are not exempt from the requirements. A quick phone call to your insurance carrier may prevent future headaches or findin out a hard lesson down the road.

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