How long does it take to harvest timber?
The time it takes to harvest timber depends on several factors, including the size of the area, the density and type of trees, the terrain, and weather conditions. Generally, a typical harvest can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Assessment and Planning: Initially, our certified forester conducts an on-site evaluation to assess the timber stand and plan the harvest with you. This phase includes marking the trees to be harvested and determining the best access routes the loggers will use to get to it.
Cutting and Skidding: The actual cutting of trees and skidding (dragging) logs to a landing area is the most time-intensive part of the process. Its duration depends on the number of trees and the ease of access.
Loading and Transport: Once the trees are cut and skidded to the landing area, they are loaded onto trucks for transport to the mill. This phase also depends on the volume of timber and the distance to the mill.
Throughout the process, our loggers strive to work efficiently while minimizing disruption to your property. Our forester will provide you with a more specific timeline after the initial assessment and planning phase, and he’ll make sure that you know what to expect and can plan accordingly.
These two recent case studies on our Timber Talk blog will give you a thorough understanding of the timber harvest process: