thinning dense woods

[brad siegmund]

I need advice on what machine I could rent to thin heavy brush and saplings and trees up to , say, 4in. diam.( hard and softwood)to thin my woods. I seem to tear up my bush hog and the tractorwith bucket and bush hog attached is just too long to wind around the trees etc.I've heard about a skid steer with a bush hog mounted up front or some such? It doesn't seem to be enough to get the interest of commercial harvesters and I'm kind of particular about what to save etc.

 

[chuck t]

There is a hydraulic sheer made for use on a Bobcat/skidsteer that can cut 8" trees. A Bobcat dealer could give you the name of it.

 

[Colin Brown]

Here's a website that has a picture of a tree shear on its home page. It's also listed on their Front End Loader Equipment page. I'm sure it's way more machine than what you're looking for, but at least you can see what it looks like and know what to ask for.

http://www.onlineagtools.com/

BTW - this isn't a recommendation about the website or anything - I've never done business with them - just bookmarked them one day because their stuff looked interesting. - CB

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks , Chuck

 

[Anonymous-0]

Colin, thanks,. I'm looking into renting one

 

[Colin Brown]

b.t.s. -

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I wasn't recommending that you buy something - only trying to point out what might be available at your rental store. - CB

 

[Anonymous-0]

Colin, no apologies necessary. Understood you and am thankful for your comments. Just meant that I'm proceeding to investigate rental possibilities first since I won't need this forever and don't want the extra maintenance and cost if I can avoid it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Deer hunters in N.C. use these skid steer cutters to make shooting lanes and trails through woods. I have seen some of the land that has been cleared, they just leave a mulch on the ground. There ar a few companies in eastern NC that rent them or will come out and do the work.

http://www.brownbearcorp.com/Brush%20Cutting.htm

http://www.ammbusher.com/brushcutter.htm

http://www.skidsteersolutions.com/Skid_Steer_Forestry_Mulcher_s/120.htm

http://www.skidsteersolutions.com/Skid_Steer_QA_60_BRUSH_CUTTER_p/qa-60.htm

 

[John (MO)]

Here is what you need.
Brush razor

 

[BobinKY]

What does that little jewel cost???

 

[Leland]

could just hire or rent a small dozer this way you could pile the brush and ensure that the stumps come out so you could keep it mowed with out destroying anything .A small dozer could not cost much more that a bobcat with attachments to rent .

 

[Anonymous-0]

Rent a spacing saw.I've used them plenty for spacing and you can cut 4" dia. or better with good sharp blade.I spaced out near 2 acres last fall.Works great......
Naz

 

[kyhayman]

A small LGP dozer, say D4 size would run about 1400 a week here. That way you get stumps, roots, and all. I love my skid loader, and can root out 4" trees no problem with it. Dozer with a 6 way sure makes fast work of it though. In areas you describe (4 inch brush and smaller) I get better than 2 acres per hour. Bigger stuff takes longer with a little dozer but it can be done.

 

[garymac]

I had the same issue with 8 acres of mixed pine/harwoods with a lot of shrubs too. I worked on it for two years and made little progress. This spring, I contacted a logger I knew for advice. He offered to do an "operator select" cut for me. Less than a week later my woods look better than I could have hoped for, and I had $3000 in my pocket. This may not be the way to go for you, but see if you have a county forester. It won't cost you anything for him to look at it, and if you tell him what you want he'll be able to make suggestions. The logger that did mine picked up about 300 acres of work locally because of the way he took care of me, so it was worth it for him. I'm in the southeast (MS) so it may be very different where you are, but still worth investigating. Hard to believe, but there are enviromentaly conscious loggers out there. I have no ruts,no damage anywhere, and all tops were piled in 1 spot for me to burn.