Timber Harvest Elements of Forestry Kenneth Williams Fisheries Extension Specialist Langston University Aquaculture Extension Program

Functions of Timber Harvest Raw material to forest industry Financial return to landowners Siliviculture functions: – Control species composition – Stocking levels – Regenerating timber stands Salvage usable wood fiber from trees killed by fire, disease or insects

Harvesting in the eastern U.S. Independent logging contractors – cut trees and transport to a delivery point or sawmill.

Harvesting in the eastern U.S. Timber buyers – purchase standing timber from many small private forest landowners. Negotiate “cut and haul” contracts with independent logging contractors.

Harvesting in the western U.S. Public timber ownership most common. Combination of independent contractors and company-owned crews harvest forests.

Harvest Systems 4 phases Processing the tree Moving tree to concentration point Loading tree for final transport Hauling tree to delivery point

Logging Contractors Profit oriented Must comply with state and federal regulations Adhere to “Best Management Practices” to reduce erosion and site degradation.

Harvesting Systems Depends on product to be delivered Shortwood – 5-8 feet long Longwood – random length pulpwood feet Tree length – entire tree Whole-tree chips -

Preparing the Tree Felling Limbing Bucking Debarking Chipping

Feller /Buncher

Preparing the Tree Felling – chainsaws for trees over 2 ft. in diameter. Hydraulic shears for smaller trees.

Felling Trees

Felling a Douglas Fir

Preparing the Tree Delimbing – chainsaws – dangerous, machines often used with pine trees now.

Mechanical delimber

Preparing the Tree Bucking – cutting log into section. Done with chainsaws or specialized machines

Bucking a tree

Preparing the Tree Debarking – helps prevent fungal rots and stains

Debarking Machine

Women debarking a tree

Preparing the Tree In-woods chipping – may be used to process slash into usable product.

Chipping Slash

Moving Tree to Concentration Point Piling Bunching Skidding Prehauling Yarding Sorting Unload at landing

Skidding, Forwarding and Yarding Skidding – dragging tree to concentration point. Main method of in-woods transport.

Skidding Tongs

Skidder

Skidding with horse

Skidding, Forwarding and Yarding Prehaulers or forwarders – All the timber carried clear of the ground Helicopters, balloons or cable systems used for high value timber.

Prehauler

Forewarder

Helicopter Skidding

Cable Yarding High lead system

Portable High Lead System

Steam donkey

Cable Yarding Skyline system

Skyline System

Loading Tree For Hauling Most loading is done mechanically, not by hand. Sorting In-woods loading Unload at landing

Hauling Trees To Market Load for haul Hauling Unloading Scaling

Hauling Trees To Market Trucking – 50% or more of delivered cost of raw material. Proper truck critical to successful hauling

Old Growth Logging

Log Wagon

Scaling in the Yard

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