Tree Tags

[Tillaway]

I'm a little late on this one here.  

Go ahead and use the nails and tags just put them below stump hieght to keep them out of Jeff's saw.

Fixed plots for inventory particularly for a DIY inventory are much simpler.  The plots are usually 1/20 (26.4') acre or 1/5 (52.7') acre radius in size.  The math is easier and it can eliminate any in/out tree problems you will have with variable plot cruise.  You measure to the center of the tree at ground level to do this.

[Frank_Pender]

Tillaway, you and Stephen need to get up here again at the same time.   ;D That way, since I only have 70 acres you both could show me how to plot this place to show every tree site, record and describe each species. 8)  I could then put up a big plaque with both your names on it, giving credit for the ploting project etc..   You might even have half a chnce of teaching me something about this GIS business. 8)

[Tobacco Plug]

ckate,
Those things from the cotton picker are called spindles. :P

[Tillaway]

Hi Frank,
Maybe this summer.  So would you like permanent inventory plots or would you like an inventory of the property by type?  We all can get togther sometime and discuss it. ;D ;)

[rebocardo]

re:spikes in trees

I did not know hunters used spikes in trees to get their seats up there. The ones I have seen, the guy just climbs up using rope. I can not imagine someone using 16D nails to mark trees either.

On my trees I used flagging tape, wrap it around a tall branch away from the trunk, and use 1/4 HD staples to fasten the tape to the branch. Only problem is once the branch has grown a bit, the tape breaks.

If you wanted, you could drill a hole and use a plastic screw (nylon) screw. They have black plastic ones that are pretty tough, though it would not present a problem to a chainsaw.
 
What you might consider is a GPS (WAAS enabled) and a notepad that runs bar code scanner software. First, attach all the barcode labels. Then walk through a second time, scan the label into the database, then add the GPS coor. using a pen along with a comment from a check list of options.

Once back home, download into a database where you can sort on any of the data.

BTW: With all this work, keep a copy of the database off-site, I keep mine at a bank safety deposit box.

re:rebar
Really stinks when you run over it in a forest and punch a hole in your tire. Or worse when the tree grows around it. The only thing worse is when people put barb wire into trees and you trip over that. imo

[Stephen_Wiley]

Tillaway,

Sounds like Frank wants a 100% sampling.  GIS may be out of the question due to canopy cover. (I do not have any GIS equipment).  If you have some would be fun to try if  you have a repeater.

Rebocardo,

I would not recommend plastic screws / drilling as it creates a wound to which pathogens can gain access to the trees. Often vectored by insects. However, if  a project mandates installation of metal tags than your suggestion is a good alternative.

[Tillaway]

Frank has allot of trees, it would probably be better to run a variable plot inventory by type.  The answer would be the same and much faster.  As far as GPS/GIS goes thats no problem.  The accuracy of the consumer models is plenty close enough for establishing plot locations and the inventory database can be linked to plot location by GIS.

A 100% cruise would be quite an undertaking particularly if you try to map each tree.

[Stephen_Wiley]

 8) Great, we might be taking a cruise this summer  8)  :D :D :D

Do you suppose the wife will be jealous?  ;D

[SwampDonkey]

A quick note on sample % and variable plot or prism cruising. The only way to come close to the % of the forest you sampled is to first do sampling to get density. Then use the area to estimate the % you covered. This is because plot size depends on tree diameter, not fixed linear measurements. To narrow down the actual percentage cruised you'll be making multiple entries into the woods to take samples. In point sampling your talking about degrees a freedom, confidence intervals and coefficient of variance, not % of stand area. Although, it can be estimated by estimating stand density from your samples.


With plot sampling its a fixed plot size, so only one entry into the stand is required to get an accurate percentage. But, apart from area, % of trees sampled is still an estimate.

Another note, the biggest factor on stand volume is site index (height). So if you have a poor cedar stand, don't group it together with a good cedar stand. Same with spruce, don't group a white spruce stand on an old field with one in the natural forest. There is a big different in tree heights even though diameters are the same.

On another note: I remember reviewing someones management plan that said there was a 50 acre stand of hardwood with 16 cord/acre. I search and search and searched. Once I started walking the property lines it all came into focus. The author had grouped a 10 year old clear cut with scattered residual hardwood of pulp quality (30 acres with 8 cord/acre) together with a mature hardwood stand (20 acres with 24 cords/acre). The recommendation was a clearcut of the 50 acres. Hmmm the landowner followed my advise and used a selection system taking the average or poorer quality trees out. So that ment he could take pulp, logs and some veneer, but he didn't high grade the stand. They cut firewood and pulp in the 10 yr old clearcut using spaced trails. It will later be thinned or released at age 30 yrs. Putting myself in the wood cutter's shoes here. I sure would hate having to wade through all that second growth cleaning up those residuals. But having that mature stand next to it was a trade off for him.
Typically what happens to our hardwood here is a devastation cut. Or the contractor starts cutting and the land owner gets greedy and want him to cut more and more. Most farm woodlots get clearcut for farm bill payments, so when they need some more money next time it's all over but the crying.

 ;D ;) ;D

[SwampDonkey]

We use aluminum nails and tags to number trees at breast hieght on permanent sample plots. This work is normally contracted out by Government to local Forest Products Marketing Board staff, they sometimes subcontract. On small dbh trees we use wire and attach the tag to a limb. In hardwood it does cause alot of  wounds, sometimes revealing bare wood. I think to myself when I come across these scares: how does it influence the sample over time?