E&R_firewood
ArboristSite Operative
i live in an area where the majority of the timber is encompassed by public lands (BLM, Nat. Forest) an individual can buy permits to harvest dead, diseased, down and invasive live trees (spec. Quaking Aspen) in years past a lot of folks got away from burning wood, pellet stoves and propane became king, the past couple of years everyone and their dog it seems have turned to wood heating, therefore the amount of cutters in the forest is obscene and their cutting habits are terrible. i won't even get into the 5 foot tall stumps with angled back cuts. a lot of them leave their trash strewn about the cutting site, beer cans snack wrappers, etc. they take only the clear wood and leave half a tree laying there rather than bump off some limbs, they drag the trees out onto and across access roads with winches and ATV's leaving limbs, debri and ruts everywhere. they leave slash strewn everywhere. they forge new roads, rather than manning up and walking a little bit. they get trees hung up with bad felling practices and leave them hanging, often right near the access roads and jeep trails. they cut in restricted areas (campgrounds) etc, etc. maybe i am a prude but the pamphlet stapled to every booklet of permits clearly forbids these things. It has gotten so bad the Ranger District is now debating on even allowing personal firewood harvesting in these areas. i rely on the public lands for the bulk of my yearly firewood and i try to be steward like when i cut, i follow the rules, i carry a shovel and fire extinguisher, i pile my small amounts of slash neatly as outlined . . .isn't it great how a few morons can ruin it for everyone.