Starting to learn how to scrounge logs

[Downstream]

I found this log at one of my local scrounging areas.  It was probably 12' long but was rotten on the end that faced the road so I think everyone passed it by.  I drove around and it was solid on the other end so I started cutting back until I hit solid wood.  Ended up being a little over 5 ft long and it was 28" dia.  Turned out to be beautiful red oak so I cut it into 2" slabs for tables/benches/etc.  Already had a couple of people want to buy a slab or two, but I don't have enough yet for my own projects so hesitating selling any for now.  Need to get it stickered and stacked in drying location.  One of the best things I like about milling is that first cut into what appeared to be an ugly bark tree and look what pops out.  I have the bug!!!

  

 

[Kauff44]

That looks like some Beautiful Material!!!!!

[drobertson]

Dandy! good score, and nice job on the slice and dice,,

[WV Sawmiller]

   I hate cutting the short stuff but this one was obviously worth the effort. Well done and congratulations. Keep up the good work.

[Downstream]

i dont mind the shorter ones as long as at least 5' for two reasons.  benches and coffee/end tables are perfect for shorter lengths.  Secondly i'm milling by myself without tractor or loader so shorter slabs are easier to handle.   my wife and oldest daughter have quickly grown tired of me coming into the house asking for a little help with a slab.  Most of what I make is live edge so Im cutting full width slabs.

[YellowHammer]

Very nice.
You have a local "scrounging area" for logs?  What is that?

[Robert Owens]

I have been able to get quite a few good logs by just talking to the county road crews as they are always cutting trees from the country road right of ways.These are free to whoever wants them since it is on their right of way and not the property of the land owner where they cut it. I even picked up a truck load of smaller walnut and oak firewood they had cut to length. If the land owner's house is close by I do talk to them first, but so far not any issue with taking the logs or firewood.

[Kbeitz]

In Pa the right of ways is just that... The timber belongs to the land owner.

[Chuck White]

In Pa the right of ways is just that... The timber belongs to the land owner.

Same here in NY!

[pine]

Same in Washington

[outpost22]

Beautiful stuff!
Kinda fells like finding an Easter egg when you're a kid?

[Sixacresand]

Folks sometimes call to see if I want logs, mostly from having them cut down in their yards.  I picked up some pine today because I told the guy I would take them, so he had the tree service leave them.  Three where OK, but the rest were junk.  But that is three I didn't have yesterday!   Win, win!   

[Downstream]

The scrounge area I have found is one of my local town yard waste dumps.  I'm amazed how many logs show up from people just doing work around yards or clearing for building sites/farm land.  Local tree service guys also appear to dump if they have no place go with them.  Sometimes the logs are buried in a brush pile but not too hard to roll out.  I talked to the local city guys that managed the dump and they said I can have anything I want because once they get a big pile they just light the whole thing and burn it all.  I just have to get there before local firewood guys find them.  One time I was trying to parbuckle a big log up onto my trailer when the city guy showed up with loader grapple and I was loaded and off in 5 minutes.  I have also noticed that since they know im looking for logs they actually pull the nice ones out and lay them on the side to get at easier.  I will probably build them a bench or two eventually for their shop just to say thanks.  I see these yard waste dumps around more towns so you should check your area, but stay away from mine :D 

[Don_Papenburg]

What towns do you live by so I don't infringe on your picking grounds?