Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[dancan]

Thanks for the welcome. In previous years, we've purchased firewood, but finding it this year at a reasonable price has been difficult. Burning wood saves about a third on our winter utility bills and with downed trees on my property and nearby, it just makes sense to salvage the burnable stuff. Now after buying a new MS-291 I just have to convince myself I'm actually saving money. Daughter tells me I'm just practicing good forestry management.

Any of these in Michigan ?

 

[Lionsfan]

Thanks for the welcome. In previous years, we've purchased firewood, but finding it this year at a reasonable price has been difficult. Burning wood saves about a third on our winter utility bills and with downed trees on my property and nearby, it just makes sense to salvage the burnable stuff. Now after buying a new MS-291 I just have to convince myself I'm actually saving money. Daughter tells me I'm just practicing good forestry management.

Welcome aboard brother! I'm at the Tip-O-The Mit, and you'll find quite a few other site members scattered around our great state. Quite honestly, you couldn't pick a better state for scrounging wood, there's free wood available year around here if you have the time and ambition to go get it.

 

[Lionsfan]

Any of these in Michigan ?

View attachment 1031540

Dodge Caravans? Oh yeah, I pass them all the time on the expressway, usually doing about 10 under the speed limit in rush hour traffic.

 

[svk]

Welcome chilidawg!

 

[svk]

Morning guys.

Another overnight and day of high winds. I’m going to scout for a while this AM and then take my daughter hunting for the afternoon. FWIW I follow the “realtree fish and game forecaster” and although it’s not always accurate during the rut, it’s a very good predictor of regular game movement. This afternoon is supposed to be the peak. I try to plan my lunch break during the trough of the pattern and always be in the woods during the peaks.

Two groups of 11 total wolves have moved through here in the past 72 hours so the few deer left are pretty much holed up.

 

[MustangMike]

No wolves around here, but our deer are disappearing just the same.

I believe it is a combination of EHD wiping out large pockets of them, and the coyotes and bears coming in for the remaining ones.

There are a lot more bear sightings locally.

EHD has been a real problem here for 3 years in a row now. Before it came, lots of folks were complaining about the deer eating all their bushes.

 

[djg james]

Well shoot! No snow was forecasted overnight, but we got a couple of inches. I got caught with my pants down. Have the two cords of hedge and Mulberry now covered in snow. And I was suppose to meet a guy who wants two loads of firewood. My wood stack is down the hill and with only a 2WD truck, I can't get it out.
Not to mention, with the low temps in the 20s all week, it screws up my hunting which just opened on Friday. I hunt public lands, that has flooded fields. This much cold, they'll freeze over. And I'm too old to break a pothole in waist deep water. Cold weather is good for pushing the ducks down, but with it frozen, they'll just keep on going. Another bad start.
Going to go out today and blow the snow off my uncovered wood.

 

[chipper1]

Well shoot! No snow was forecasted overnight, but we got a couple of inches. I got caught with my pants down. Have the two cords of hedge and Mulberry now covered in snow. And I was suppose to meet a guy who wants two loads of firewood. My wood stack is down the hill and with only a 2WD truck, I can't get it out.
Not to mention, with the low temps in the 20s all week, it screws up my hunting which just opened on Friday. I hunt public lands, that has flooded fields. This much cold, they'll freeze over. And I'm too old to break a pothole in waist deep water. Cold weather is good for pushing the ducks down, but with it frozen, they'll just keep on going. Another bad start.
Going to go out today and blow the snow off my uncovered wood.

You don't really think this is gonna stick around do you. While I realize it may not work well for the hunting, it will certainly warm back up and melt the snow off your wood and give you opportunity to get the truck down there. I'd bet you see temps in the 60-70s within the next couple weeks, it's early yet for the cold to stay.
I'm a bit bummed that I didn't get the pressure washing done I had wanted on wed/thur when it was much warmer, now I'll need to bring hoses and the pressure washer into the house, maybe next yr the barn will be wrapped up and I can put all that in there. I'm not expecting any more 70 degree days here this yr, but I'm sure we'll see more 50's and 60s soon, unfortunately I probably won't have time to do much as I'm starting a J O B this week . Oh well, there's always next yr to pressure wash those metal racks.

 

[chipper1]

Morning guys.

Another overnight and day of high winds. I’m going to scout for a while this AM and then take my daughter hunting for the afternoon. FWIW I follow the “realtree fish and game forecaster” and although it’s not always accurate during the rut, it’s a very good predictor of regular game movement. This afternoon is supposed to be the peak. I try to plan my lunch break during the trough of the pattern and always be in the woods during the peaks.

Two groups of 11 total wolves have moved through here in the past 72 hours so the few deer left are pretty much holed up.

How does wolf taste .

 

[Lionsfan]

You don't really think this is gonna stick around do you. While I realize it may not work well for the hunting, it will certainly warm back up and melt the snow off your wood and give you opportunity to get the truck down there. I'd bet you see temps in the 60-70s within the next couple weeks, it's early yet for the cold to stay.
I'm a bit bummed that I didn't get the pressure washing done I had wanted on wed/thur when it was much warmer, now I'll need to bring hoses and the pressure washer into the house, maybe next yr the barn will be wrapped up and I can put all that in there. I'm not expecting any more 70 degree days here this yr, but I'm sure we'll see more 50's and 60s soon, unfortunately I probably won't have time to do much as I'm starting a J O B this week . Oh well, there's always next yr to pressure wash those metal racks.

10 4 brother! What did they give you for a truck???

 

[chipper1]

10 4 brother! What did they give you for a truck???

I don't have any idea, just know they have all the bells and whistles and an auto. Be in with a trainer at least for a couple days, then we'll see if they still want me lol. I'll be sure to get some pictures of it so you can wave when we pass each other .
Looking forward to some good window time, sure we'll be talking more real soon. Yesterday they set me up with my safety regs book(great fire starting material) a bunch of shirts, new blue parrot headset, and I went and picked up my new Keens at the shoe store with the voucher they gave me(I added a little to it).
They seem to have their poop in a group, but you know how that goes, looking from the outside in can sure be different than being in the circle . At least they pay well, have good beni's, and have great equipment, that's three attributes that you don't typically find in a trucking company.

 

[djg james]

You don't really think this is gonna stick around do you. While I realize it may not work well for the hunting, it will certainly warm back up and melt the snow off your wood and give you opportunity to get the truck down there. I'd bet you see temps in the 60-70s within the next couple weeks, it's early yet for the cold to stay.
I'm a bit bummed that I didn't get the pressure washing done I had wanted on wed/thur when it was much warmer, now I'll need to bring hoses and the pressure washer into the house, maybe next yr the barn will be wrapped up and I can put all that in there. I'm not expecting any more 70 degree days here this yr, but I'm sure we'll see more 50's and 60s soon, unfortunately I probably won't have time to do much as I'm starting a J O B this week . Oh well, there's always next yr to pressure wash those metal racks.

Yea, I hope you're right. Weather just took me by surprise. Never trust a politician or a weather person . I like you, had plans to get more outdoor projects done before it got cold. We went from hi 70s last week to 30s today with a wind chill in the teens. I don't care anymore to hunt in weather like that but I'll suck it up and go once next week to see how the bird movement is.

The only good thing is, I've got my first fire of the season going. It's a small fire, but it's Hedge cutoffs and it's putting out the heat.

 

[djg james]

I don't have any idea, just know they have all the bells and whistles and an auto. Be in with a trainer at least for a couple days, then we'll see if they still want me lol. I'll be sure to get some pictures of it so you can wave when we pass each other .
Looking forward to some good window time, sure we'll be talking more real soon. Yesterday they set me up with my safety regs book(great fire starting material) a bunch of shirts, new blue parrot headset, and I went and picked up my new Keens at the shoe store with the voucher they gave me(I added a little to it).
They seem to have their poop in a group, but you know how that goes, looking from the outside in can sure be different than being in the circle . At least they pay well, have good beni's, and have great equipment, that's three attributes that you don't typically find in a trucking company.

Sorry, didn't see a 'truck' mentioned in your previous post, then I remembered you new job.

 

[Lionsfan]

I don't have any idea, just know they have all the bells and whistles and an auto. Be in with a trainer at least for a couple days, then we'll see if they still want me lol. I'll be sure to get some pictures of it so you can wave when we pass each other .
Looking forward to some good window time, sure we'll be talking more real soon. Yesterday they set me up with my safety regs book(great fire starting material) a bunch of shirts, new blue parrot headset, and I went and picked up my new Keens at the shoe store with the voucher they gave me(I added a little to it).
They seem to have their poop in a group, but you know how that goes, looking from the outside in can sure be different than being in the circle . At least they pay well, have good beni's, and have great equipment, that's three attributes that you don't typically find in a trucking company.

Come on, I'm sure you have better fire starting material than that.

 

[Philbert]

(Old joke applies here)

Weather went from 70 to 30, like it had just seen a State Trooper parked on the shoulder.

Philbert

 

[svk]

Never eaten wolf. Tried a bite of coyote once at a wild game feed. In the words of Crocodile Dundee, “you can live off it, but it tastes like ****”

 

[turnkey4099]

Introduction: I'm Chilidawg and live near the Lake Michigan shoreline in the NW lower peninsula of Michigan. I've read through the first hundred or so pages of this thread and I'm firmly convinced that you folks are like taking a class in firewood gathering. I'm on around 3.5 acres, most of which is wooded with ash, maple, cottonwood and a few oak. Some white pine, too.

I have a buddy about 5 miles away that has been teaching me the fine art of wood scrounging but truthfully it never sounded like a whole lot of fun at first. Now, I have 2 saws, double-bitted axe, and a Truper splitting maul.

Being retired, I probably won't be around long enough to match your average experience but the increased activity may just keep me vertical a little while longer.

Thanks again and keep educating this newbie

Welcome to the site. I'm one of the oldest members here and still 'wooding'. It is the greatest physical fitness program going! Good start on the equipment. Add a hookeroon and perhaps a Fiskars Splitting ax. Beware the Chainsaw syndrome "just one more won't hurt"!!

 

[Chilidawg]

Well, I have a cant hook, access to a hydraulic splitter and am trying to avoid CAS. Presently my good luck has gone sideways, as both saws are down and waiting for parts.

 

[chipper1]

Yea, I hope you're right. Weather just took me by surprise. Never trust a politician or a weather person . I like you, had plans to get more outdoor projects done before it got cold. We went from hi 70s last week to 30s today with a wind chill in the teens. I don't care anymore to hunt in weather like that but I'll suck it up and go once next week to see how the bird movement is.

The only good thing is, I've got my first fire of the season going. It's a small fire, but it's Hedge cutoffs and it's putting out the heat.

I'm burning, you guessed it, black locust .
Just split some nice cherry and Bradford pear, then moved 10 nice BL logs to the back. Hauled a bucket of chips and splitter litter to the back, then blew the rest into the woods. I also managed to get the pressure washer inside, still need to get the hoses in, as I had to run out for a small load of red oak .

Found this in the Bradford, I can hear the conversation now, "Honey, have you seen the blade for the edger, I just sharpened it and was gonna put it back on over here by the tree" LOL.

Saw some deer when I was out getting the "load of red oak" LOL.
You guys ready for all this yet .

 

[chipper1]

Well, I have a cant hook, access to a hydraulic splitter and am trying to avoid CAS. Presently my good luck has gone sideways, as both saws are down and waiting for parts.

That's a great reason to try a husky .
Bummer about the saws though, and that is a nice thing about the other manufactures, you can order parts online. My local dealer is terrible for supplying parts, they want you to have them do the work on it, otherwise they don't do a good job on getting parts, even then they still don't. I know this from all the guys asking for help with their saws, one guy said his saws been there for months.