That's how it works here too, the same state where the OP lives. The land is owned by the residents. The trees are owned by said residents. You have to have permission to take the wood. Asplundh will typically chip up the entire tree, and haul it away. That is unless landowner wants it cut for firewood. They'll even ask what length the landowner wants it cut to.
For sure, I agree. The only stuff I took was from power lines that were right along the road. The piles were stacked up literally on the shoulder of the road in some places. Definitely county land. And I've watched for a while there where other pieces that were cut weeks ago are still sitting there too. All clear! I promise. But that's actually a bummer...I know black locust is good stuff, but I thought for sure it was OO The big locust in my yard doesn't have deep furrows like that, but some of the smaller pieces I grabbed I did think to myself it looked a bit locust-ish.
It's all good. If it's piled right by the road, it's fair game. Osage orange around here is pretty rare. If you get closer to the illinois border, it gets more prevalent. A wood burner I work with that lives Eagle, knows of one Osage orange tree in all of the area he hunts and cuts wood in. So keep looking, you might find some, but black locust is nothing to pass up.
That was my thought too! Roadside goes! I feel bad though, I would never purposely steal somebody's wood. I hope that isn't the case. Never even thought about it. Seen it laying lonely on the roadside and took it to a good home. But, yeah that's why I was so excited! Thought I found a rare bird! haha
The same applies for road right of way along private property, even stacked on the shoulder. The owner may have arranged for it to be placed there for easier pick up. Several years ago the county widened our road and I arranged for the wood to be put in piles at set spots(over 1/4 mile of frontage) People would still try to take it even with No Trespass signs right in there face. Despite the sub zero temps I worked on getting it all picked up as soon as possible. County and state owned land you may need a fuelwood permit. I get a county permit each year, $25 for thousands of acres to "shop" for firewood on.
On the edge of the road is where they pile wood for pickup here. Even poles/logs for log loads. Utilities are now placing gates at the edge of the road under the power lines to keep people out. Including ATV riders who seem to think the maintenance trails under the lines were put there for them.
Benjamin Turner, please don't take my post the wrong way. I always thought that the power lines belonged to the power companies until I bought a piece of property that had lines running through them. In the future if you can find the land owner who owns that section of power lines it might pay off in more stove wood.
Last couple of years around my area tree companies have been clear cutting under the house hold lines. They chip all the brush and a lot of the wood. I talked to them about getting the wood chips, they were more than happy to dump at the end of my driveway. I use the wood chips on my roadways out back, fills in nicely around and over stumps and rocks. As far as the wood a lot of it you had to carry through the woods. No thanks, I have plenty to cut.
Asplundh really employs some artistic people by me. Some of the butchering, I mean trimming is quite comical.
We called Osage Orange trees Hedge Apple trees. We cut the wood for fence posts when I was a kid. We NEVER burned the stuff--it was too valuable as fence posts. How valuable you ask? Some of the hedge apple posts I banged into the ground with an 11 pound sledge hammer as a kid in 1962 are STILL in place and holding up well.
I cut up two large ash trees that Asplundh droped last week. There was ZERO hinge on either of the cuts. Just smooth cuts right into the notch.
Asplundh will likely be at my place sometime in the future. That busted maple I posted pics of is leaning a bit more towards the high tension lines than it was previously. Wife called Nat'l Grid, our elec supplier. They sent someone out and told her that the "transformer" crew would be responsible for that, but that they'd place the call. The transformer crew???? Perhaps a lot of robotic cars will come cut it down. Either way, they'll be cutting it up soon, hopefully before the valley below loses power. (meaning it doesn't fall within the next week or so, as I'm sure it's LOW on the priority list at the moment) Ironically, I don't think we'd lose power as our line comes off the mains before the valley. But then again, I'm not a line electrician. As to someone scrounging wood on my property, I'd not be happy, but it would be more of a notification of my property rights as long as the scrounger wasn't a di## about things. I'd even let them take a carload at least.
Yes, technically the side of the road is still not kosher. It really is the international sign of "take me". However, if you leave wood at the side of a road, you shouldn't be shocked if it disappears if left now than 15 minutes. I know I wouldn't be surprised.
Benjamin Turner we are not very far away from each other. Black locust is our friend and grows like weeds in these parts.
I am in Marinette County. Mostly forested and lots of county owned land. The county bids out areas for logging and it helps pay the operating cost of the county saving residents money on taxes. The cuts are usually clear cuts but some select as well. I will pick up easy stuff along the edges of cuts but it is a tangled mess to get too far into it. The wildlife really benefits from the cuttings. You can cut anywhere on county land as long as the tree is down or standing with bark coming off dead. I usually just drive an area and look for red oaks. Area has a mix of conifer,maples,red &white oak, beech with others as well. I have been somewhat of snob only cutting oaks but I think I will try out some beech this year. My only concern would be splitting, red oak splits so easy and I don't want to have to wrestle with stringy wood that don't want to split.
Oh ok, cool. You're up there a ways in the north woods. Beautiful country up there. I'll have to see if Waukesha County offers anything of the sort. My guess is not, as there is nowhere near the county or state woods like there is up that way. But you betcha that red oak splits nicely eh!
