finding woodlots

[Jwinter]

Besides word of mouth, how do you guys line up tracts of timber?  Do you go to town halls and find out who the bigger land owners are and knock on their door? Or do you keep your eyes open while driving through places?
Thanks

[Ron Wenrich]

I've worked as both a consultant and procurement forester.  I'm not doing much on the timber end anymore.  I'm not that good of a salesman.  But, if I had to wait for word of mouth, I would have starved to death.

The large landowners have had their doors knocked on by every forester that covers the area.  If they are going to do any management work, it would be done by now.  Chances are, you're not the first to contact them.

Advertising is a way of getting some leads, but still the starvation route.  We used to send out newsletters to every forest landowner with 25 acres or more.  It took a long time to compile those names from the courthouse.  We got about .1% response rate.  Its OK for when you can't get into the woods.

Newspaper and telephone ads usually give next to no response.  But, it gets your name out there.  

One good source is to be a Tree Farm inspector.  That gives a few woodlots you wouldn't normally see, and it gives you something you can offer landowners.

Make a booth and get to any type of logging or farming expo.  You'll have more traffic from people who actually own land than from other venues.  The downside is that those that are generally interested either don't have any money for management work, or don't have any timber ready for harvest.

The best method is to learn how to cruise timber at 55.  I did that for years.  I could drive past a stand and tell if it had saleable timber, and if it could use some work.  The ridge and valley system helps to see more of the land.

I always had some sort of map.  Soil maps are worthwhile, when available.  I would mark areas that had possibilities and then went to the courthouse and look up landowners.  I would draw some sort of map to figure who owned what and how much.

I also used to do a lot of hiking.  Nothing like walking through a woodlot to tell if there is anything there.  I only ever found one landowner that was upset with this.  Most are glad to talk about their land.  Those that aren't leads to short conversations.

I've also found that personal visits have more of a positive response than either phone calls or letters.  I did have one sale that I never met or talked to the landowner.  Everything was done through the mail.  It was an absentee landowner.  Rare case.

[Rob]

   The best thing I have found over the past few years is to get in with a forester , or a few foresters . They usually always have woodlots and timber sales to be harvested.About 60% of this past years harvests I've done were for a forester.
  
 
     I also have business cards posted all around my surrounding area at stores , gas stations ,equipment dealers etc.. I get quite a bit of work generated from that as well.I have had ads in a few local papers but like Ron said it really does'nt work all that good I get roughly 15 calls a year from that.
    

     Another idea I decided to do a few years ago was to have my truck lettered with my biz name and a few services I provide like selective harvesting and whole tree chipping etc.

  
      Other than that it's really word of mouth , as long as you do a good , clean job for people you make them happy they will tell others about you. One more thing you might be able to do which I have done also is get in contact with a larger logging company alot of the times they have smaller lots that they get too busy to do and sub them out , I have  done a few 15-20 acre woodlots for other loggers..

                       Just some ideas you could look into

                       Sincerly , Rob

[Jwinter]

Thanks alot I appreciate the advice.  Thanks to the people who originated, run and support the forum.  If I asked any of the people I know in the business they might think I was trying to hone in on their work.

Thank you

[Ron Scott]

Get to know your known local consulting foresters.  ;) They often have a "back Log" of  timber sources available since they are often contacted by the landowners with timber ready to be harvested, especially if they have had satisfied clients.

The word of mouth referrals through doctors and dentists alone can keep me busy.
 

[SwampDonkey]

I belong to a woodlot owner association through which I get most all my woodlot management plan work. I just keep checking in the office for work ahead, gotta be persistant. This includes cruising for volume, mapping, descriptions, projections and manangement prescriptions. And the association reveiws all the plans. Also, I attended my first trade show this April. I had alot of folks stop bye my booth, but most were not woodlot owners. Just curious folk,or have a member of the family with woodland. If you get a boot on a woodlot demo or agricultural expo you'll get more folks interested in woods and thus more contacts. I also watch the papers for folks looking to have silviculture or woodlot management work done. Recently, I answered an add for pre-commercial thinning layout and I got access to crown lots untill the snow flies. Around here there are a number of folks laid off from big forest companies, whom contract work for them such as silvicuture or GPS work. These folks are good to keep in touch with too. I also get calls from locals that are refered to me from satisfied customers or the woodlot association on cruising or appraissal jobs.  And to top that off I do pre-commercial thinning or planting jobs to take up the slack. But, so far this year I've had too much work. :D :D

best of luck Jwinter

[Oldtimer]

Hi. This is my first post here.

I live in the NH lakes region. I have found my own woodlots by doing the car-cruise thing mostly. I find the wood, find the owner, and knock or call, as the case may be. I ask 10 landowners, and 1 will say lets do it, 3 will say call me in a month, and the rest say no. But, it is just me and my skidder, so a 40 acre woodlot can keep me going for a while. Plenty of time to line up more. Actually, most of my landowners are wealthy and want to see a local guy do a good job. Most ask if i am sure I am making enough. I just signed with a local forester for 2 lots, one of which I scared up, and they called him to oversee my work. I am fine with it, so long as he marks some good wood with the crap. Also, lately...I have had more "clearing" than logging to do. But sitting in a new excavator (rented) is fine with me too.

[rebocardo]

I know for the offers I keep getting on my property in ME, people must go by the county records.

That being said, I think that is probably the way to go to decide on probable properties. Then I would go with a satellite view of the potential lot, and then send letters and visit the best sites. The satellite can tell you a lot before you even get started as to tree density, roads, water, and footpaths.

[Oldtimer]

Take it from me, nothing beats a 2 hour walk in the woods. The Sat. photos may show the terrain and such, but only your eye will tell you what volume, what grades, what hidden problems lie within a tract of land. Then you know what to offer the landowner. It may need pulp removed, maybe logs. Armed with this info, and written notes of recommendation, you knock or call them.

Actually, it takes a bit more thought and confidence than you would first think to knock on a door and come away with a nice 130 acre tract of pine. You have to mold your conversational style to match the owners. You have to make fast educated guesstimates on what the owners basic feelings are concerning logging. You need to "connect". Thats why some guys get way more acreage under contract than others. Personality and quick wit counts. You sell yourself, then you sell the idea of harvesting. Then, you follow through and see the job closed out. Then you get the written note of recommendation from the satisfied landowner. Those help.