The Forestry Forum

We are working on state land logging the land is under the control of the dept. of fish and game our contract says we must stop cutting for deer season that runs from oct.- feb . We just got started cutting again and now were told we have to stop again for birthing season May 15- July 15 for birds nesting. This isn`t in the contract now were told if we wish to keep cutting someone will have to inspect the trees for nests and if they find anything we must leave that section of woods stand or we can stop in may start in july and they will give us an extention into the first of 2003 to finish. This is a big job 130,000 bd ft doyl scale. It does`nt seem to matter what we do you just can`t win!  >:(

Keep accurate documentation as to the delays and costs and charge them for it.  Sounds like they have not had a issued a contract like this before.  You are incurring some very real costs, the only way for the agency to learn is to charge them for your down time.  All of these windows that you can operate have to be in the contract.  Since they are not you can charge them for it and you will be successful.  The USFS gets dinged like this all the time, it is very common here.

Yes, it needs to be in the contract unless you agree to a contract modification. At any rate there should be a cost ajustment and extension of time to you.

With all the contrants on harvest periods these days, its hard to find any time to do the logging.

What out for any Goshawk nests.

Red Shouldered hawk nests cause problems in state sales up here.  I believe it requires a 4 chain area the nest and minimal disturbance even farther out.

What really gets me is that were clear cutting for grouse habitat and we have to stop for nesting birds of prey. Talk about defeating the purpose ???