Thanks TreeTX. I guess my rationale for doing it myself is two-fold.
One reason, I admit, is financial. I currently pay our local tree service $400 every 3 years to "clean up" the property. I figure, with the proper education, I can invest in climbing gear and have it payed for in the near future.
The second reason is that I have a wood-burner that eats up a loot of wood each winter. With only 3.5 acres of mature trees (hickory, oak, walnut, elm, maple, ash), I really don't want to cut down too many live trees, but supplement with hanging "dead-wood".
P.S.: I like your icon logo!