Hi all, Im new here. Basically im considering starting a side gig as a professional timber faller and was wondering if there was a need for such a service among heavy equip businesses, most likely excavating companies. Now Im not Joe Schmoe with a chainsaw. Im an experienced faller with pro-grade saws, insurance, and ability to directionally fall timber. Im not a tree company, im much less expensive ($40/hr, 3hr min, clock starts when i start sawing, no travel or hidden fees). The reason im asking here is that this would be a side hustle and im trying to do some market research. Im a career wildland firefighter and want to make money of my skillset during my off season and free time. Im not a tree climber or trying to start my own forestry business. I want to cut trees for what I think Im worth (based on my govt saw qualifications and hourly rates in the logging industry). Does this sound like a service youd be interested it?
Always room fer a smart feller... Gotta be better than james... Seriously, welcome to HEF!
Thanks, I appreciate the reply! Ive seen that james video before, ridiculous! Anyhow, I teach sawing and cut very large, dangerous trees at my day job. The contractor Ive been working for on the side for years has been getting me for cheap. Now I want to go out on my own, but as a pure faller not part of a forestry business. Like I said, I think advertising to HE businesses might be a possible in? I don't want to do this full time, but I can def put a lot of trees down in a hurry and my understanding is that good handfallers are harder to come by as logging shrinks as an industry.
As an owner of a Certified Tree Farm, I would say most operations are using feller buncher's for cutting these days, EXCEPT on steep ground where a yarder is needed. Old growth would be another reason for hand logging but hopefully that isn't happening anymore. Should always leave the biggest healthiest trees for propagation. I would recommend getting with a yarder operation and see if they have any openings. Or maybe even a helicopter logging operation.
We work in Nahville TN. We have to have a tree cut at least once a week. Howeve these are on small urban lots and many times the trees are taller than the lots are long or wide. So they clip them in sections.
Even on steep ground hand fallers are becoming extinct with tethering and size of timber anymore.