Hunting Land In Alabama?- Consider Timber Sales
Harvesting the timber on your can be a considerable source of investment earnings. This essay provides insight from my years of speculation in protecting your investment and sales of future timber harvests. The first thing I do is find a forestry specialist accredited in Alabama. I'll require him to furnish a timber summary, also referred to as a "cruise." This cruise evaluation expresses the sale value of the timber based on variety, maturity and volume estimates. I will also ask him to make note of any fungi and maladies and to furnish recommendations, such as burning, fertilizing, insecticides... and in his opinion, where would he put animal attracting green fields for hunting.
When contemplating timber management, it is essential to be aware that at some period between sapling and maturity the timber will have outgrown their area. At that threshold they will start clashing with one another for sunlight and rainwater. As a result, the stand (area of same age trees) will start to deteriorate and basically cease growing in both diameter and mass. You absolutely need to avoid this situation since it will sway your sales and bottom line. What can be done to avoid it? The most fitting choice is to select cut a planned number of the rows to harvest about one quarter of the timber and any tainted trees detected by the forester. I will rerun this routine as often as the trees continue to prosper and outgrow the usable resources. After each thinning course, the trees that are left have the opportunity to grow abundantly and perpetuate the sale value of every timber harvest that ensues.
Choosing a timber cutting contractor is an important task that should be undertaken with conscientiousness and scrutiny. Sure, price is a factor but use due diligence and forethought when dealing with proposals that seem too good to be true. Ask a reliable colleague for recommendations. Once located, research them and ask them to look at your land and submit their bids. Don't forget to reference the forester's remarks, to show the layout of green fields. They'll then furnish a census of the different variety of trees to be cut and the price they're going to pay per ton.
As you "short list" the higher proposals, ask for references and samples of some of their latest projects. Call the previous customers and obtain some observations on the companies in question. Additionally, if practical, drive out and scout those work sites to gain some knowledge of how your land might could look when finished.
This is the moment to ask for little favors. If you want some ditching, road work, a drain replaced (you furnish culvert) a crude road pushed up or some dozer work, this is the time to speak up!
When a contractor is named and everything is settled, a contract with everything communicated, from the sale amount quoted, portion to be cut, (location and which rows) favors and the time in which they have to be complete, is written and signed by both sides. If you're ever uneasy, never think twice to run any questions by a real estate attorney before starting. If you encounter a timber contractor that is pushing you to start immediately, don't be scared to leave the table and walk away from the negotiations. The dangers just outweigh the implied gains.
Next, employ a kid! Yep, hire a kid or anyone to keep a journal of the timber as it is removed from the hunting land. All they have to do is take a digital photo of every truckload of timber that is taken from the property. Provide him with a camera that diplays a date stamp as a record of the haul. Most do not go to this measure but it's a good way to be sure that all is accounted for. While we're talking about that, payments for the sale of your timber should typically arrive within 2 weeks from the date of the haul. As long as there are no weather delays, you should be recieving regular payments throught the project.
What should you expect during the timber cutting process? First, expect the property to look awful! The logging process and all the heavy equipment can seem a bit harsh on the property at first. It's loud and disruptive and the trucks can leave ruts in the south Alabama clay roads. Understand that harvesting timber effeciently requires that some disorder will take place. Unfortunately, others, such as hunters do not, or will not want to accept this. Therefore, sometimes, war has been known to break out between the two. So, if hunters are part of the equation, make sure to let them know exactly when and on which part of the hunting land the logging will take place. Remind them that YOU are the owner of the property and that you will not tolerate any disrespect between the hunters and contractor and that you reserve the right to terminate any agreements you have made if it becomes an issue. Be prepared to stand by your words and never lose control of either party. Periodically, drop in and check things out. The logging is quite interesting to watch and it's a good idea to make sure things are going "as planned" because once cut, there's no putting them back!
So now the selective thinning harvest is finished. Now's a great opportunity to take care of the other things that will keep your healthy for future timber sales. Look back at the professional opinions provided by your forester and implement any pest control items he suggested. Even if it wasn't brought up in his notes, you may want to tink about ridding the underbrush through herbicides or a controlled burn. If needed, fertilizing should complete the process for some time. Your timber will benefit greatly without all the underbrush competing for water and nutrients as well. You'll also have the benefit of better deer and turkey habitat as the wildlife begins to utilize the area for its tender new green sprouts on your madeover. Not to mention, if a wildfire threatens your property, the risk of damage is far less than before because the fuel (underbrush) has been removed! And year after year, with each new harvest and sale, your property will have a more aesthetically appealing look.
