Decided to clean up most of the black locust that are standing dead or blow over/vine pull over. Started with a dead blow over that was pulled down by heavy vines, it was hung up in a cherry. Walked it down the other night and bucked this morning. Some bonus down BL in the thorns, I was able to also get. (BL, vines and thorn bushes seem to go hand and hand around my house) Than I went to a freaking mess. There was a blow down BL that just missed my tree stand. Then there was another BL close by that fell into a standing dead BL, that then fell into a cherry. All these were being pulled over by vines. Walked the green BL down as far as I could, then cut the standing dead. Vines actually were suspending the tree. (No pics. Didnt like the situation). Started to buck those. Took forever because there were tripping hazards everywhere! Vines and branches grabbing my ankles and saw. I was acutely aware of putting the brake on after every cut. Some idea of the mess. Still a bunch to get to, but a decent start. Over a cord counting the rounds I pulled yesterday and split.
I'm not sure what the technical term is. I cut from the base of the tree at the stump and it slides forward, than move up and cut a section causing the tree to drop more, continue to do that until comes off the tree it's leaning on. Not sure if the method is legit in the world of tree felling, but I saw an old timer do it one time. It's worked for me so far. I don't have access to a tractor to help pull. I did use my quad one time but couldn't get it in there this time.
Lotta good wood laying around. You need a little top handle or similar to go in there and clear pathways to get to it!
Never a pleasant experience cutting in it and wise to be mind full of all the hazards. Seems like most of the BL i harvest is in messes like that. Any other wood i'd probably leave it. Some primo BL there Biddleman Makes me wanna go cut some!
Great work going after that black gold Some of those thorns may be black locust saplings. The babies are nasty. Brad this is where the winch trailer shines. Toss a tong on em and yank em out clean LOL
Lot of nice wood there, doesn't look fun to get at though! On the plus side it probably opened up your area by the deer stand!
Going to tell the wife that I need a more specialized saw. It's been highly suggested on FHC. Yeah, I would be hard pressed to go after most any other wood that was in this mess. But when I got to those big rounds, it was like Good news is I think this is the worse area with vines and thorns that I want to cut in. There is a broken cherry that I'm taking out too. Its part of my plan to open up the area. This area of the woods is opened up pretty good now. Plan is to plant a bunch of Apple, crab apple, etc... trees and make a permanent food plot. Also add a couple of oaks on the edge that someone can enjoy well after I'm long gone.
X2. A top handle is very handy in cutting through tangles as ive learned. Love my little 194T What top handle do you own Jason?
Nice stacks of Locust... Lots of it too... I hate vines/sticker bushes of any sort and have been steadily cutting and spraying them in my woods for 10 years now. Have most of them taken care of and the trees are thriving without them... I attack them in the spring...
I have big plans to cut around mine and my dad's hunting stand this winter to get it cleared up and improve it so I can get some shooting lanes and food plots in, so far I haven't gotten out there once. It's very over grown with buckthorn and lots of it
Those vines are a nightmare! Make the work twice as hard in my opinion. Bet it feels good to have it done.
I occasionally utilize this technique when a fell doesn’t go as planned or I’m working on one that’s hung up from the wind. A bit un-nerving at times but works fairly well.
This was last Winter when my love affair with BL was just beginning. I would hack some cut some load some and return the next day. Looking back was it worth the effort...dont know, but i had fun and would do it all over again. That area still has several blowdowns that ill gradually get out.
