Steep ground harvest of large cherry, poplar, beech

[Ron Scott]

If you are going to hire a forester, you need to have faith and trust in the person you select. Certified foresters must follow a code of ethics among their peers just like most professions or they don't stay in business very long. If they are practicing good forestry in an ethical manner, it shouldn't matter as to what the payment method is.

I've also seen the trenches caused by horse logging when the butt of the log is left to drag and tear into the soil while being skidded. The trenches can become excessive and remain for some time and be cause for eroision of fragile soils if not handled properly. I recall one landowner having to go back with his farm tractor behind the horse logger and level out the horse skidding trenches. In this case a rubber tired forwarder would have been much less impact.  ;)

[Horselog]

It is precisely because of situations like the log butts digging in that I refer to what I do as "Modern, low-impact horse logging".  I use an arch or other means to lift the butt up and it negates anything like a "channel".  The word "modern" refers to, among other things, the fact that I use an front end suspension.  "Low-impact" refers to the fact that post-harvest site condition is more important than production and other considerations.  The idea that using horses doesn't guarantee you a quality harvest.

[Ron Scott]

 Well said, and that's the way to do it for low impact.