It’s possible. My tree identification skills are seriously lacking. Red oak and black birch make up most of my forest property. There’s a couple hickory’s around but not enough to be cutting them. Some did look different but I was just trying to get them onboard quick. I could tell I was in prime snake territory and I hate snakes.
No no no no. These damm timber rattlers around here aren’t like other rattlers that slither away from ya. These things want to take you back to their den and make a rug out of ya LOL I never knew Black Birch had a higher BTU rating than oak until I saw it on a BTU chart. Chopped down a bunch of the bigger ones 2 or 3 years ago which had some sort of blight/cancer on the trunks. All burnt up last winter. Drys good as long as it’s split. Smaller sticks not worth splitting take much longer to season.
Yep we have timber rattler down here too. I don't mind the Rattlers so much, because they will usually let you know they are there, I don't like the cottonmouth moccasins, they be like, just come a little closer so I can get ya, nasty snakes. Just be careful, man. I go in some thick places too, my wife says that's when she will drive the tractor...
All this snake talk. Believe I'd have a single shot Snake Charmer on board. Then you could smem! If need be. On another note. Do you have current video of your loading routine? I'd like to see it work.
Oddly enough back in 92 when I built my house I needed fieldstone for the fireplace. Being second generation masons the stone walls around our houses had been picked clean. But way back at the edge of our property was an OLD homestead with walls built by some long ago craftsman. I left those skiffully built walls intact but the other walls around that section I picked through. Every day after work I chugged out there on the JD with a 12 gauge coach gun in one hand and steering wheel in the other. About as John Wayne as you can get in Ct I live near what the real old maps call Rattlesnake Hill. When my grandparents were farmers they were prolific around here. Wild blueberries everywhere and a snake under every bush. My grandmother had absolutely no fear of them but I must have missed that gene. Much less now but rattlesnake Hill is one of the last big den areas in Ct albeit the state try’s it’s best to keep that a secret. Reports from a landscaper friend is they are running rampant this year at the bottom of the hill. I try my best not to find them. I can attempt a video. We’ll see how that goes.
Around these parts a portable mill you take to those who want lumber cut is the best way. They cut the logs and then also help with the labor involved in the milling. We've had a guy come in by us several times and usually about six different people get lumber cut and we all pitch in to help with all the work. Good times.
