Deadfalls/Dead Trees

From this

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to this.

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Anyone who thinks that they are safer in a tree stand or in the woods in general under a canopy dead trees as opposed to safely (safe as possible) bringing the dead wood to the ground, is mistaken.

G
 
I think it’s a tree by tree basis. Clear one that are clearly a threat around stand sites.
I jumped out of my stand and I ran out of the woods this year when the wind kicked up. I have a ton of Ash. No stands in them anymore. Some of these trees are snapping 12’ up and some are just blowing over in a strong wind. What is happening to the crown, is happening to the root ball too.
 
I know the dead ones are dangerous. I hate cutting them, but they are more dangerous blowing in the wind above my head. There are three that will be very tricky. The others have dead tops (most branches have fallen out) with mostly live trunks.

Safety will be the top priority. I’m looking at different block and tackle setups. I’d like to get a safe distance away and just pull them over.
 
I know of a skilled woodman who was killed cutting a live tree that had a grapevine connected to a dead tree. As the live tree fell, it pulled the dead tree down on him from behind. Dead trees have a serious grudge against humans.

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meyerske said:
I know of a skilled woodman who was killed cutting a live tree that had a grapevine connected to a dead tree. As the live tree fell, it pulled the dead tree down on him from behind. Dead trees have a serious grudge against humans.

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Click to expand...
It’s why they’re called widow makers...
 
This is the closest I have ever come to dying by tree. A large dead ash tree was leaning a little toward our camp road about 3 miles in. I decided to just nudge it to see if it wanted to fall so I just barely touched it with my raised loader bucket and the entire top broke off and I could see it falling like in slow motion. It broke a live mulberry tree off on its way down and the only things that saved me were 1. God, 2. My ROP mounted aluminum top, 3. The loader arms. I was all alone and luckily I had a chainsaw at camp. I walked all the way back and got it to cut my tractor fee...

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meyerske said:
I know of a skilled woodman who was killed cutting a live tree that had a grapevine connected to a dead tree. As the live tree fell, it pulled the dead tree down on him from behind. Dead trees have a serious grudge against humans.

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Click to expand...

You could not have supported my argument any better for removing the dead trees first.

G
 
Not at all. The point is to stay away from dead trees altogether. Let them fall in a storm by themselves when people aren't around. You are going to get someone killed by encouraging people to remove dead trees.

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George said:
You could not have supported my argument any better for removing the dead trees first.

G
Click to expand...
Not at all. The point is to stay away from dead trees altogether. Let them fall in a storm by themselves when people aren't around. You are going to get someone killed by encouraging people to remove dead trees.

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Boy that sure was worth posting twice. You can not work in your woods without working in your woods.

G
 
I cut dead trees all the time. They are the best firewood. All trees are potentially deadly if the operator is not safe and/or experienced.
 
The only fatality I have worked on someone cutting wood was he cut a 6 inch diameter limb and it flew back and hit him in the chest and this was on a tree laying on the ground.This isn't including all the injuries.Wear eye protection and chaps
 
It's called Natural Selection,

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I may not live long enough to pass along my genes but that doesn't mean that I'm encouraging anyone to kill themselves. I did start the year with a New Years Resolution not drop anymore trees on my head alive or dead and so far I'm sticking to it.

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G
 
Sounds like a hinge cut wouldn't help, but if you can get the shooters that are sprouting to grow...my goats favorite browse is ash. I like to think they behave like deer
 
Since I'm not as experienced as the rest of you then this might be a bad idea, so please chime in and say so if it is, but for stands of dead trees could you simply put a small notch in the front of them, make a small back cut (to not entirely fell the trees) and then let nature do the rest for the entire stand? Or maybe just skip the front notch step and make a small back cut only and then walk away for a while? I know I've done that on large single trees that I didn't feel comfortable felling in the moment. Notch in the direction I want it to fall, back cut part way, and leave. I'd come back and check it after a storm and it was down in the direction I wanted it to go.

I know dead trees are unpredictable and I wouldn't want to get anyone hurt by making this suggestion so definitely speak up if you disagree with me.

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I’m not an expert, but I wouldn’t notch them and leave them.

If I could do the face cut and start the back cut without a branch coming out I’d go ahead and drop it.
 
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