Cypress in the swamp

[Randy]

I have about 20 good size cypress in my swamp that I would like to saw but they are not accessable with a tractor. There are app. 5 that I can throw the top onto or close to dry land, the rest--------------I don't know what to do to get them to dry land other than a Helicopter . My question's are---------Have any of you ever cut some cypress and floated them to dry dirt? I was wondering if they would float and if so how low do they float in the water? I can cut several that I can get into the deeper water(2 to 5ft). I was Thinking ??? if I fell the tree and cut them into 8ft sections it would be easier. Is there a better time of the year to fell/cut cypress? The water lever is down right now(12-16 inches) so I was thinking Again-- :D--if I cut them while the water is low, then wait till it comes back up to float them out. Any suggestions?? Thanks Randy
Here is a view--if you look hard you can see a few cypress in the picture.

[Corley5]

Cut them in the winter after your pond freezes over ;) ;) ;D ;D  Well that's what we'd do here in Mi  ;D ;D

[Fla._Deadheader]

  The old timers would "Girdle" the trees, to kill them and the water would drain out. They would cut them a year later, and MOST would float.

[ellmoe]

Randy,
       Harold's right, you'd need to girdle and wait a year before cutting them down, but, unless they are small, I doubt they would float in that shallow of water. What's the bottom of the swamp like? Is it deep muck or can you find sand within a couple of feet from the top. If you have a decent bottom a logger with a small skidder could pull them out for you. If that's not possible, a long cable to the hill, pulled by your tractor may work. Just be careful.
Mark

[Wudman]

Randy,

Historically, a lot of cypress in your area was cut into bolts and floated to the hill.  I purchased a big tract just outside of Hamer, SC.  I had an old timer logging for me, that said it was the 4th time he had cut on the property.  The first time, he was 14 years old, cutting cypress into 4 foot bolts and floating them to the hill.  Sounds like fun, huh?

Wudman