With all the logging going on, I would like to know what the best approach is, to gain access to the treetops. Any input.
Find out who's doing logging in your area and politely ask the logger and/or landowner for access. You may have to draw up and have notarized an agreement to free the owner of land from liability, though. Either way, it doesn't hurt to ask! If you do gain access and get some wood, a case of their favorite beer and/or gift certificate to their favorite restaurant will be in order!
I have found that all you have to do is ask. Most folks that have their land timbered are glad to have the tops cleaned up. In one case, the landowner just wanted a little stack of wood to burn in his outdoor fire ring...no problem
There is a liability waiver under the resources section of this site, in case you need one. Happy hunting.
All you can do is ask. This year my house is heated almost entirely by wood from the town dump. I'm not sure every town has one but check out and ask around. Also all around me there are power line guys clearing trees check that out as well. If you have tree trimmers in your area try calling a few of those and they likely will have a plethora of wood if they don't already cut it up abd sell it
Ask, and you shall receive. But ALWAYS ask!!! Even when it's the power company doing the work. In my area, I can call the power company to deal with any of my trees that within 35' from the center of the roadway. But they're still MINE, and if you took it without my permission, you'd receive something, and it wouldn't be pleasant.
Check your local Craigslist. I've seen landowners and logging co. trying to get rid of tree tops and cut offs on CL. As mentioned, any land owner should be glad to get rid of some of the mess left behind.
Let me speak on the power company situation also. I have just signed agreements to allow them to come onto my farm and erect a power pole. (One that will carry electric current, not a Ron Jeremy type thing) This is a 3 wire deal that is 200 ft across. They, the company only or their contractors have access to the property. If they would allow anyone access other than their workers PERIOD, I have full rights to prosecution to not only the power company but the trespasser. I say this to protect you in hopes that you do as previously mentioned by Shawn Curry.
The tops on our land are left to protect regeneration from moose and deer browse. However effective or ineffective that might , if they save one sapling from the moose I'll be ahead. So they have more value to me where they rot than in someone else's woodpile. (And I get my wood from tree guys free so a forest of tree tops 170 miles away is also of no value to me.) However, some of my wood roads/skid paths go back to when the land was farmed in the early 1800's and several spots could use some erosion prevention and water bars. So if someone came to me asking and the fact that he had a tractor with bucket/backhoe came up in the discussion and he was willing to do some remediation we could easily work something out. So that's how I would look at it. Not all land owners will see it the same.
drive around the neighborhood looking for blue tarps, which seem to be floating about 4 feet above the ground. there is wood under them there tarps, back in, load up, drive away peeling out really fast. Cover of darkness helps to keep from spooking the wood piles.
In our state, when the contract is signed with a logger, that logger has bought the trees. Unless something is stated in the contract forbidding it, that logger could also cut the tops and legally take what he wanted. I know of one who had a nice contract and then sub-contracted with another fellow who sold firewood. When they finished, you could see lots of stumps and very small brush piles. So the logger made dollars by cutting and selling the logs and also by selling the tops as firewood. It never hurts to ask; both the logger and the land owner. It is funny that I've found that most folks that ask about cutting firewood are perceived as poor and that many times that fact will get you permission fairly easy.
I believe in Minnesota the logger owns the tree once he has an agreement with the landowner. It continues even when the tree is cut. I would ask the logger and drop off a 12 pack in the bosses pickup cab and you'll get all you'll need.
Log contracts here specify what happens to everything including the tops, slash trees, brush etc. With the price of firewood what it is the loggers usually want the tops for firewood. I was reading the local paper today and noticed an ad for tops for sale about 7 miles down the road from me. I know the owner and could likely make a deal but for now I have all the wood I want for free ( well you know what I mean) so I'll pass. Tops usually go for about $5 each and yield maybe a face cord at 16". Good and dry access might cost you more.
There are other places besides logging companies to hit up. Here's a partial list of the top of my head: Craigslist free section Town or organic dumpsites Tree services (not loggers) Landscapers Golf courses People that have stacks or piles of unsplit wood that looks like its been there for years (knock on door or leave note on door. Dress nicely-not in your logging gear lol) Post an ad on CL stating you will clean up downed wood, tops, etc. Have your liability waiver handy and mention in the ad you will sign one. Put a pic of yourself on there as well as a pic of the liability waiver If you see a tree service working on a job, stop and ask if they would dump the wood on your property if you tip them or buy them beer or lunch. More than likely, you would be saving them dump fees and possibly time. Excavation companies clearing land for building sites That ought to keep you busy for a while
Yes that is the situation in Minnesota from my understanding. In discussion with foresters it also appears that once the equipment has left the landing and the sale closes, what ever is left is fair game.
I get a lot of my free wood from people in town who will pay to drop the tree but want nothing to do with it. A couple dropped 2 big maples on their property a month ago. I asked if the wood was spoken for or if they were taking it to the city dump. They said it was spoken for, I thanked them for their time. A week later they call and say I can take a load of logs. Day after that they call and say bring your saws and take what you want. Ended up with 4 truckloads after an initial no. MJ and I ended up with 2 cords of hackberry after a heck of a wind storm went through town this last summer.
