Target rich environment!!!

Like the thread title says, this score is a target rich, super sweet score, for me. It’s 18 miles from my house, which around here is basically nothing. (Probably would be a deal breaker for you easterners). No gates to deal with. No real cleanup to deal with.( sweep it up with the grapple on the skid steer) standing dead elm that is basically bark free. And they were planted and grew close together enough to be quite tall and straight, compared to the sprawling wind twisted behemoths that I often get.
I was on site one time earlier this spring and I think I counted right in the neighborhood of 50 standing dead elms. I’m pretty fortunate to have access to it because the property owners have offered at least two other people the chance to come cut wood here. So when I arrived the first time and saw what a sweet score it will be, I admitted that I was greedy and that I wanted and will take it all.

this will definitely be a continuing thread.
My plan, whenever my skid steer gets back from the shop, is to push them over one or two at a time. Cut the trunks and larger limbs to 12 feet length and then pack them out of the lane and pile them, then load them into my dump trailer for the ride to my house. The tops from 3” to 8” will get bucked into 24” lengths to fill a 2 cord order for my Native American friend for use at his ceremony. ( He was very satisfied with the order he got this year, and reordered for next year about a week after his event)

 

Very nice!
I do love me some dead elm and that's a pile of it!

 

Standing dead Elm is FANTASTIC! Great score!

 

That should help with filling up your side gig stacks as well.

Doesn’t your Native American friend use cedar in the ceremonies as well ?

I would be be really tempted to do all the work there & make less mess at home but I understand the logging & hauling it home as well. Less equipment sitting around a distance from home, lack of time & help often make these these decisions for us.

 

Agree!

 

I totally agree. In my opinion this is as good as it gets around here. I can’t believe that the others didn’t jump on it. I’m sure they didn’t even drive out to look or surely some of it would be gone. But I see zero evidence of any cutting ever

 

That’s the plan. As much of this as possible is destined for bundles.

 

When he placed his first order of 2 cords for the sun dance, he said no Cottonwood and no pine. I took that to mean everything else was fair game and he got quite a variety including some cedar

 

Excellent firewooding opportunity Even though I have access to other options out here, if I had the chance to cut a couple dead elms like that I’d have at it too. Presently I have almost none in my stacks aside from one barkless limb from last winter, enough for 2 stove loads. 18 miles for you is practically in your backyard! (I went 17 one way 2 weeks ago for red oak) I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the progress as you work this one

 

I love what was standing dead barkless elm for really cold weather. The "bowling pins" produce a lot of heat without filling the stove with coals.

 

Mustve been your reaction. That is a boatload of wood and I'm sure you're about it and the fact they are nice and straight plus they look Goldilocks sized.

I can relate on the wanting it all part. Guess its the hoarder in us.

Looking forward to the updates. Now get out there and cut some wood!

 

Looks like ideal bundle wood. Some nice straight splits and being weathered clean is perfect in my book considering what limited wood you have access to.

Do you ever check the MC in standing dead elm? I imagine its RTB or close to it.

 

Never had any elm but that looks like a great score. Get at it!

 

Yeah l check the moisture often. The upper 2/3 or so is usually good to go but it’s surprising how wet the lower trunk can be. I’ve seen water squeeze out around the splitter wedge but even then it seems to dry out pretty quick. The rounds I cut in the 3rd picture surprised me with how dry they were. I didn’t put a meter on it but it’s pretty much ready for bundles when I get it split. It’s gonna have to be

 

My experience with dead standing barkless Elm is the branches can go ~15% MC when it hits the ground, especially if taken this time of the year when its been hot/dry for quite some time.
And if you cut those limbs to length and throw the rounds into a pile...they ring/sound exactly like a pile of bowling pins!

 

Grab it all with equipment!!

 

Ill bring you a few green rounds of elm and we'll see how your box wedge splitter handles it. Chances are good you'll take maple after the fact.

 

There is a world of difference between green and dead elm.