SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
I was approached out of the blue yesterday to drop some trees for a helicopter operation. These are low value, beetle killed lodgepole pines mostly at a higher end ski resort. What do I charge for this type of work?
Hand Felling or Helicopter
- Thread starter SliverPicker
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hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
depends if you know what you're doing or not. Do you?
What are fallers getting for a day-wage in your area? If the ground is cowface or brushy charge a little more.
Hey, you went to Humboldt State...and got a degree in Forestry...we shouldn't have to be explaining this to you.
One piece of advice. Don't undercut the local fallers wages just 'cause you need the experience.
Rakoprtr
ArboristSite Operative
cant help with the price but would luv to run my saws just moved back here from arkansas sent u a pm
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
I worked in Colorado a bit falling beetle kill.
I doubt you can expect much more than $150 a day, if that, and I doubt you'll work less than 8 hours for that day wage. Better prepare for 10. Sometimes 12.
There's better money elsewhere.
And follow Gologit's advice.
SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
Lately I've been getting $250 per day for felling work for a 10 hour day. With the helicopter being involved here I figured this job might be worth a bit more due to limbing/bucking concerns. I've never done any work for a helicopter sale before. That's why I'm asking advice.
My forestry education never covered on-the-ground felling nor did I have any related business classes. I could cruise the timber and write a timber harvest plan and a silvicultural prescription, but never once touched a chainsaw during any of my class work at HSU.
BTW the title of this thread was supposed to be Hand Felling for Helicopter not "or helicopter".
My forestry education never covered on-the-ground felling nor did I have any related business classes. I could cruise the timber and write a timber harvest plan and a silvicultural prescription, but never once touched a chainsaw during any of my class work at HSU.
BTW the title of this thread was supposed to be Hand Felling for Helicopter not "or helicopter".
Same in Germany.
250 for a 10 hour day? That's not much. Are you using your own saws and providing your own transportation?Are you running your own numbers or is it a payroll deal?
My little jibe at you and HSU should have had a smiley face behind it...I know what they teach. And don't teach.
Is the helicopter being used because the ground is steep? Or is it an access problem? Can you walk in or will the helicopter have to ferry you?
What kind of helicopter? What company? How much timber? Most helicopter outfits that log a lot have a cadre of fallers that they use or call if need be. Your bucking will have to concern max allowable weight on the turns and still get a good scale if the trees are going for saw logs. If they're just going to be chipped it's not such a big deal.
The helicopter can only carry so much but they want to haul as much as they can every time...that's how they make their money.
Give us a little more information about the job and maybe we can come up with some kind of rate that makes sense. Just don't slave-wage it...that makes it hard on everybody else.
Is this another Vail thing?
The town of Vail, CO paid all the expenses to have an Oregon Coast skyline yarder logger move his yarder over, set up, and log a demonstration area. Then they paid his way home with equipment.
The next year they had a seminar on cable logging held at Steamboat. I went along with a friend to share the motel room. I skied. I did ski an afternoon with the logging specialists. They were trying to figure out what to do with the beetle killed and soon to be beetle killed trees. Fire danger was the concern.
The Lodgepole was pretty scraggly and not as good of quality as our NE Warshington lodgepole.
A reminder: Beetle killed lodgepole is so lightweight, a log truck will often max out on height before weight.
Just some background, I think.
The town of Vail, CO paid all the expenses to have an Oregon Coast skyline yarder logger move his yarder over, set up, and log a demonstration area. Then they paid his way home with equipment.
The next year they had a seminar on cable logging held at Steamboat. I went along with a friend to share the motel room. I skied. I did ski an afternoon with the logging specialists. They were trying to figure out what to do with the beetle killed and soon to be beetle killed trees. Fire danger was the concern.
The Lodgepole was pretty scraggly and not as good of quality as our NE Warshington lodgepole.
A reminder: Beetle killed lodgepole is so lightweight, a log truck will often max out on height before weight.
Just some background, I think.
SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
Gologit, I could read the humor in your post about my education (but thanks for the confirmation). Believe me I laugh about it often myself!
I don't know the details of this job at all. I was just hoping to be at least a little prepared when the negotiation stage of this whole thing comes around since I haven't done any work for an aircraft crew before. I've got a call in to hopefully learn more, but I haven't heard back yet. Cell service in rural Colorado is pretty iffy.
I also run a log loader from time to time and its true. To get a max. load with this dried out lodgepole the stakes on the trucks are well buried.
Yes, the $250 per day is my own transportation, fuel (vehicle and saws), oil etc. etc. I sleep in my truck during the week. That's on a payroll not as a contractor. Its tough to make it on that pay, but in this economy its the best I've found since 2008.
I don't know the details of this job at all. I was just hoping to be at least a little prepared when the negotiation stage of this whole thing comes around since I haven't done any work for an aircraft crew before. I've got a call in to hopefully learn more, but I haven't heard back yet. Cell service in rural Colorado is pretty iffy.
I also run a log loader from time to time and its true. To get a max. load with this dried out lodgepole the stakes on the trucks are well buried.
Yes, the $250 per day is my own transportation, fuel (vehicle and saws), oil etc. etc. I sleep in my truck during the week. That's on a payroll not as a contractor. Its tough to make it on that pay, but in this economy its the best I've found since 2008.
Okay, let us know what you find out and what happens. Hang in there.
SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
I just got the word. The helicopter guy is bringing his entire cutting crew with him due to lack of local interest. There are very very few local fellers here. The cutting is in Winterpark and Steamboat. Unless they run in to a snag I won't be cutting for these guys after all.
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
I cut near Winter Park and on to the north. High country there. And way too many damn trees too. Typical lodgepole.
SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
Thanks for the feedback you guys.
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
10 hours is for rigging rats.
Spotted Owl
ArboristSite Guru
Saw snob!!:msp_tongue: Just cause you're a faller, jeepers man don't bust on the rats
.Serious, some times we squeak into 6 1/2 and whisper at 7 in a day and man depending on the ground and the wood it can be a damned long day. I don't even want to think about pulling 10, that gives me the shivers. NO THANKS.
Owl
SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
The phone just rang. I start cutting Thursday. Hazard tree removal along several miles of ATV trail for the Forest Service. Seven 10 hour shifts in a row at over 10,000 feet of elevation to start and four 10s after that until I'm snowed out (late November). I'll be a tired pup by this time next week, but I need the paycheck.
Rakoprtr
ArboristSite Operative
The phone just rang. I start cutting Thursday. Hazard tree removal along several miles of ATV trail for the Forest Service. Seven 10 hour shifts in a row at over 10,000 feet of elevation to start and four 10s after that until I'm snowed out (late November). I'll be a tired pup by this time next week, but I need the paycheck.
Need some help I gotta get out the house cover the expenses I'm down to come help for a bit Don't need a check just expens coverd
MyTreeServices
ArboristSite Member
The phone just rang. I start cutting Thursday. Hazard tree removal along several miles of ATV trail for the Forest Service. Seven 10 hour shifts in a row at over 10,000 feet of elevation to start and four 10s after that until I'm snowed out (late November). I'll be a tired pup by this time next week, but I need the paycheck.
Hey what the pay on this, one of my guy is moving to CO and is looking for work, do you know if they have any opening and what is the wage?
Thanks
