[Baystatetom]

My wife just said “good now you can help me clean up”, and my best friend who logs with a JD 648 grapple said “nice job, you worked all afternoon and pulled out $25 worth of timber”. But I knew you guys would share my excitement, Thanks.
Here is a pic off my phone. Tim they are 1150 each off the tape. I wouldn’t expect them to pull that much all day but for a couple hours they will do fine. I have to rig up a go devil before I do much more to keep the log from digging in so much.

[Baystatetom]

Thumbs up Kevin, I like your attitude. I agree with both Tim and Carl on this one. I think its okay for them to make a decision about where to put their feet, however they have to listen to your commands. I was dragging in a big crooked chunk of wood the other day and my team went straight on the same path they always walk instead of crowding the edge when I said haw, the result was the log caught my fence and ripped the wire off 4 poles. Which then of course made a hole for the goat and horse to run out of before I fully accessed the situation, but that’s another story. In the woods that could have jammed a scoot or broke a runner, spilled a sap tank, broke a plow point on a rock etc.

[Baystatetom]

Guess I don’t know my left from right. They go gee and I go haw. I walked mine right into a brook and then up the brook for about 100′ in knee deep water one time just to see if they would do it. No problem just like they did it everyday. I go around puddles too. Who wants to get wet if they don’t have to.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Mine go around them too. That is the mud pits where I got my tractor halfway stuck. They go left I go right. As long as you stay in control and meet up again on the other side whats the big deal? If the puddle stretches across your road fence to fence I bet they will see there is no other option and walk right through like its a everyday thing.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

My wife, the school principal, would tear you apart but I think its hilarious.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I had tried tying his nose down by hooking the halter to his bow but it didn’t have much effect, he just held his nose lower while he charged ahead. Maybe hooking it to the load chain is the way to go. He does calm down after he gets tired. Of course I am pretty tired by then too. I have been trying to wait him out, this yoke has a fixed staple but my next one I can move. I figure I’ll just dump some more weight on him. I think I got good advice in the just work them more idea. Just a matter of finding the time.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

@Rod 30670 wrote:

Today was much better. I have been training them to drive from the front so they would learn my pace which is a lot slower than their previous owner. I put a couple of real rough nylon rope halters on them today and tried the stone boat which they ran away with yesterday. By walking along a fence and building in front I was able to keep them down somewhat and then from the side the halters worked good to check their pace.The halters had a good effect and by the end of our session they were wrapped around the bows and I did not need them any longer.

I have been fighting with my off steer for two years now trying to slow him down. At least my near steer moves at a reasonable pace and kind of acts like an anchor.

[Baystatetom]

Its partly their age. 2 year olds are fast. Like folks have said in other threads here recently body language counts more then voice commands. You have to stop moving when you say whoa, or they will continue on their way. You may have to put a halter on the near steer and give him a tug when you say whoa. I hate to sound abusive but just like Yosemite Sam said “When I say whoa I mean whoa”, be firm with the goad stick. Don’t break their nose or nothing but get there attention because at that moment its not on your commands. You could also stop them more frequently before they get a full head of steam or turn a figure 8 so they have to pay more attention to your commands. Stay after them the more yoke time the better.
Good Luck
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Thanks Gordon, it does look about the same, less the rust of course. I think I would use a pole no matter what even if I did use a truck (I think that’s what you call the little wheels). Not worried about in the field work but definitely have hills in between. I guess the thing to do is park the team in front and try and figure out the line of draft.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Thanks Gordon, it does look about the same, less the rust of course. I think I would use a pole no matter what even if I did use a truck (I think that’s what you call the little wheels). Not worried about in the field work but definitely have hills in between. I guess the thing to do is park the team in front and try and figure out the line of draft.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I am to lazy to look for the link this minute but a lot of states extension service post the average stumpages prices quarterly. I know for sure Mass. does it and am pretty sure I have seen them from other states as well. Try googleing stumpage prices, you’ll find it.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

The log scales are all a little different. I forget what is what but doyle and scribner are better for big or small logs respectively. Here in New England we almost always use international 1/4″. I think those Mainiacs have there own version. When I tally standing timber I figure it based on 16 footers.

[Baystatetom]

Nice looking team. Mine are the same shorthorn Holstein cross but look like Holstein. Will be 2 in Feb. 1100 lbs each in a 8 inch yoke although a 7 1/2 might be better if I had one.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Denis, I sell timber on the stump to skidder loggers so we may be comparing apples to oranges. Straight through on the stump $ up front based on my tally is how I do it. Red Oak $300-$400/mbf, eastern white pine $75-$150, hemlock $50/mbf, Sugar Maple and cherry $400, red maple, Black and Yellow Birch $100ish, white ash $150, beech, white birch, other pallet grade stuff $40-$50/mbf.
They haul logs from western Mass. all the way to Canada, I should think if you could load trailers you could find a mill to take your grade logs for more money then they are worth for RR ties. But it does take time and effort finding those connections. Good luck and stay safe.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I did something like that once. Of course it wasn’t on purpose!
Tom

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