Thanks everyone. Yeah. I'm still not sure. You have to understand that up here logging is huge and most companies have reps and are known for what they do. Trying to break out in the market I would have to do something different. A reason why they'd pick my business over someone else. I need to stand out. Can just be another guy with a Skidder and chainsaw. I'm sure there lots that would do it cheaper and faster with more help than I could offer. But that's why thinking about having my own niche of the industry up here would be a must.
So, 7 years ago maybe a little longer I took the plunge and started logging, this was in 2008 timber prices where in the toilet, Hel they where in an overfull septic tank waiting on a well fare check to get pumped out...
Anyway everybody told me that there was no money in logging, I'd be a fool, etc. Granted at the time it was more of hobby that happened to make some ok cash to buy more crap I still don't need.
Like yerself I considered going with horses, still think about it at times, also thought I could build a short dog skidder for cheap in reality I had lots of dreams and little time or money to pull any of them off, so I nearly stole an old tractor from a friend for $300 and a bottle of whisky, spent a few weeks making it go and work properly (and mostly safely... mostly...) built up a simple arch and away I went.
But it was ******* slow, took 5-6 weekends of brutal ass kicking work to make up one load of logs, something had to change.
So I mortgaged the house and bought myself a skidder about 3 years ago, its not big, just under 12k, not much bigger foot print then your average pickup truck, but it moves the wood. Now I can reliably bring in 1-2 loads a weekend vs 5-6 weeks for one load, and with a small amount of luck and lack of anything important breaking I'll be full time logging within a year or so.
Today I like to think I've built a reputation for the guy that can do a small job and still make money at it, without being a jerk in the process, its a slow climb but its a constant and rewarding climb.
Also I do my damndest to leave good looking sites, plan my trails to avoid soft spots, play nice with the neighbors, use existing trails when available, (if they aren't already ******), never leave a tree hung up if I can avoid it, avoid barking leave trees when possible.
One last thing that a horsey can't do is push brush, leaving the brush laying around is fine in some places, but others they want a pile so they can burn it at first chance, pony's will not push...
Anyway what I'm gettin at in my long winded rendition is that get what you think your going to be comfortable with, and make it work, do a good job and your work will speak for you, the Hel with what the competition has to say about it, make money at it and leave happy landowners the rest is just details.
