I know HorseLogger is one but JeffB says he is busy. I am really looking for horse loggers that work in eastern Michigan for contracting for future logging jobs. I think they would be a good fit in the small wood lots and low impact in the more residental areas. So my questions are;
I am wondering how many horse loggers there are on the Forum?
Any in Michigan?
What rates are you guys charging?
What size jobs do you look for?
Farmerdoug
I'm excited to see where this goes! If you some how wind up with team without a driver. I could be a horse logger in Michigan. I have a good friend that has taught me alot the last few years. Mostly just pulling wagons but mostly green stock. Sure beat buying tickets at the county fair. He has Perchron and Belgians and few pairs of mules. Thanks for bringing this up. There is a great article in MotherEarth News last month or the month before. I bet that guy would be a great contact for you. PM if I should look it up for you.
Jayson,
Anyone who loggs with horses or mules in Michigan would be of interest to me. I am trying to setup a list of dependable loggers, both horse and machine, for my area that can operate without trashing a woods. We have loggers around that do that and get a bad rep on it. I want options both ways. IM the info please but there maybe others that are interested so you could post it here in this thread too.
Farmerdoug
Sorta off topic.........
Dirty Jobs will air a segment on Mule Logging next week. ;)
That is right on target, Furby. Mule logging is close to horse logging. I hope I can see it.
Farmerdoug
Here ya go Doug:
http://www.ruralheritage.com/apps/directories/directory_list.cgi?directory=1&sortby=company
bout a half dozen Michigan loggers on the list ;)
Horselogger,
Thanks for the info. Been wondering about you. You have not posted much lately. Jeff said you were busy. Care to fill us in?
Farmerdoug
I know a guy that horese logs by us. I can't remember his name but I have his card at home. I'll pm you his number tomorrow.
Oakiemac,
Thanks. I will be looking for hisnumber from ya.
Are you sawing RR ties for Stella Jones,AKA webster, or did you find another buyer?
Farmerdoug
I agree. Good to hear from Horselogger again. :)
farmerdoug, give Denny Willsie a call in Freeland Michigan at Willsie Sawmill. I know he works with horseloggers to do low impact work for his mill, Tell him Jeff sent ya. Here is his page from the TBN website.
http://www.timberbuyer.net/members/willsie/
Ok, it looks like you already have some of the resources they talk about in the Mother Earth News. Here are the others,Healing Harvest Forest Foundation and Cedar River Horse Logging and Wood Products. I believe the guy at Cedar River is also the president of the North American Horse and Mule Loggers Association. His name is Tim Carrol. The article also mentioned some cost-share programs, it is called the USDA Forestland Enhancement Program. Another is geared towards farmers who protect erodible cropland. If you can get a copy of that article I think it has quite a bit of info you may find useful. It is the Dec/Jan 2007 and starts on page 92. Good luck.
Here is a link that you guys might find interesting. He is in the Souther Tier of Western NY and has all kinds of tools for work horses. I have seen some of his skidding carts in action and they worked pretty slick.
http://www.farmerbrownsplowshop.bigstep.com/generic53.html
He will even teach you how to log with horses if you don't know how and his wife makes some great baked goods.
anyone know of a horse logger in Central NY or CT?
Stan, pm me and I'll give you a # for a guy in Worthington,Ma.
Baileys sells a DVD on Tim Carrol...Very neat and interesting.
There's been a few people that tried to make a go of horse logging in my area over the years but never succeeded. I think it was because they were not loggers to begin with. They liked working with horses, but they were not loggers.
The only difference I see in horse logging is just in the way you get the logs out of the woods. You still have know how to set up a logging job, put in landings, load the trucks, get them to the mill, negotiate a price for the trees from the landowner and then with a mill for the logs, be able to cut down big trees safely, know how to buck them for the highest grade, etc., etc., etc.
I think the most successful horse logger would be somebody already successful in the logging business that had an interest in horses.
I agree. One needs to know a bit more about logging than just handling the horses.
I'm a horse logger in NH. It's good to see some interest in the mid-west.
Re Doug's questions -
To get paid, I negotiate stumpage with the land owner. I usually pay at least ten percent less than skidder guys because I can guarantee absolutely minimal damage to the residual stand, and I lop all slash to knee height.
Most of the lots I've cut have been between five and fifty acres. I do have one 400 acre site where I do small cuts on a yearly basis.
My production rate is usually one Tri-axle truckload a week.
Re Phorester's comments -
I agree.
Rick,
I am looking for horse loggers to cut stumpage that I have already bought. Horse logging will be an option for conditions and a possibe selling point for the stumpage purchase.
What would you charge me to cut timber and skid it to the landing, buck, and stack? That is what I am interested in for comparsion.
Farmerdoug
Oh, I forgot my Manners. ::)
Rick, Welcome to the Forestry Forum.
I am very interested in Horse logging so I will be watching for your posts.
Farmerdoug
thanks Ed.
I will PM you. . I am considering horses for one particular stand because it is so steep and I dont want to tear up the ground and open it up for further erosion. Is there a limit to how steep horses can drag a log. I dont know the exact slope, but it's certainly a hill that gets your heart rate up after you climb it. I had a logger tell me he could very easily get a skidder up it. .
Stan
Welcome to the forum, Rick. We always get excited when another horselogger shows up. You guys make for some interesting pictures and some good small woodlot education as well.
Tom, Thanks for the welcome.
Doug, assuming your lot was in Coos County, NH with an easy chance and an excellent stand of White Pine, I would cut, skid and bunch for $120 per mbf. If your lot was mediocre Spruce/Fir I would ask for $180.