What makes someone a logger ?

[bnmc98]

I think its really two fold.
You have people who work in the logging industry, referred to as "loggers" by outsiders.
Then within that scope, those that are referred to as loggers are usually the ones who know the whole ball of wax. They know how to harvest and sell, run the equipment and do the books, understand the laws and make up the contracts. Deal with mills, and organize the different crews. Sometimes, they are the ones doing all the work, even if its solo. But, they still know how to do it all. Basically what Bitzer said.

To my friends and acquaintances, and people I meet, I am a "Logger". To anyone in the industry I'm a contracted Faller and Skidder Operator.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Anyone who has made at least one cut with a saw and has a p/u truck is a logger. Lol

 

[Gypo Logger]

I think a logger is someone who has made it thru thick and thin and bust or boom. Someone who is not afraid to be broke, while living the lifestyle they choose, however mediocre.
It's about being your own man, knowing the markets, and selling to the horses mouth and not to a middle man.
Log buyers and sawmills are always looking for stupid loggers, which are a dime a dozen.
If you are any damn good, you are working for yourself as oppossed to being just another insignifacant wanabe woodtick. Lol.
Another earmark of being a died in the wool Timber Tramp, is being able to make home brew and sharing it with your friends, which are also a dime a dozen. Lol.
Being a logger is also about being bushed.
Cheers!
John, the Woodtick.

 

[madhatte]

This has become a very good thread. Thanks to everybody who stayed on topic instead of starting fights.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I think its really two fold.
You have people who work in the logging industry, referred to as "loggers" by outsiders.
Then within that scope, those that are referred to as loggers are usually the ones who know the whole ball of wax. They know how to harvest and sell, run the equipment and do the books, understand the laws and make up the contracts. Deal with mills, and organize the different crews. Sometimes, they are the ones doing all the work, even if its solo. But, they still know how to do it all. Basically what Bitzer said.

To my friends and acquaintances, and people I meet, I am a "Logger". To anyone in the industry I'm a contracted Faller and Skidder Operator.

Depending who I'm talking to, I either say I'm a logger or I run heavy equipment.
Told a Dr once I was a logger...

I spent the next 45 mins trying to get everyone to understand that no, it wasn't like the 1830s... they were convinced I was out there riding logs downriver and the whole works!

Most of hours are spent running firewood processor and skid steer, the rest mainly on a 648 grapple skidder. Have quite a few hrs on excavator too, a little running delimber and dozer as well. Haven't run the buncher yet.

 

[Trx250r180]

This has become a very good thread. Thanks to everybody who stayed on topic instead of starting fights.

I started this thread after thinking how my step dad and his dad were ,i consider them loggers ,his dad was one of the types in the old crosscut saw pictures ,falling by hand literally,and the railroad hauled the logs to town.

 

[svk]

A logger is someone who is out in the woods and is immediately responsible for the falling of trees, regardless of if he/she is operating a chainsaw, axe, handsaw, or joystick.

As @Gypo Logger referenced in another thread, people who work in the logging industry but aren't actually falling trees are not loggers.

 

[madhatte]

people who work in the logging industry but aren't actually falling trees are not loggers.

I reckon every rigging crew on the entire west coast would disagree with that assessment... but then, I'm just a lowly forester myself.

 

[svk]

I reckon every rigging crew on the entire west coast would disagree with that assessment... but then, I'm just a lowly forester myself.

Ok, you've got a point. I guess I don't know what the official titles are of guys in your neck of the woods for various positions.

Let's compare it to "professional" hunting.

The hunter makes the sneak and pulls the trigger. Then the processing team comes in and guts, skins, processes the animal, and packs out the meat. The hunter moves on to his next quarry.

Can you call those other guys hunters? You could but they aren't in this case. Do those other guys possess the knowledge to be a hunter? Probably but again that's not what their job duty is in a given day.

Here's a different example of something more close to home for me since mining is big up here.

But nobody calls themself a miner. You are a supervisor, production truck driver, millright, and so on.

 

[Skeans]

Ok, you've got a point. I guess I don't know what the official titles are of guys in your neck of the woods for various positions.

Let's compare it to "professional" hunting.

The hunter makes the sneak and pulls the trigger. Then the processing team comes in and guts, skins, processes the animal, and packs out the meat. The hunter moves on to his next quarry.

Can you call those other guys hunters? You could but they aren't in this case. Do those other guys possess the knowledge to be a hunter? Probably but again that's not what their job duty is in a given day.

Here's a different example of something more close to home for me since mining is big up here.

But nobody calls themself a miner. You are a supervisor, production truck driver, millright, and so on.

The cutters I know get pissed if you call them loggers same with the fallers, they'll tell you a logger is the yarding and loading ends of the job.

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[svk]

The cutters I know get pissed if you call them loggers same with the fallers, they'll tell you a logger is the yarding and loading ends of the job.

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Good point, I was just thinking about that.

The guys I know who do road construction are "equipment operators".

Janitors prefer to be called custodians.

 

[rwoods]

You can just call me Ron.

Ron

 

[madhatte]

You can call me... Al?

 

[InfiniteJest]

 

[Gypo Logger]

This has become a very good thread. Thanks to everybody who stayed on topic instead of starting fights.

I totaly agree and I'm on your side.
In addition, a logger is a selfefacing cull, just ask me, Dennis Cahoon, Tommy Fales Jr., or Art Martin.
It's also important to not take yourself too seriously.
Live simple, live cheap, live free. We aren't getting any younger. Stay young, stay strong.
I just wanted to add Madhatte, that it's usually Bob that starts all the fights, but I really miss the times when Slowpe was the cause of all the bickering and decention on this otherwise good forum. Slowpe brought alot of hits here, so after having said that and moving forward, I hope she returns.

 

[scheffa]

If only they would bring back more hand falling, here in Aus almost everything is cut by machine. We have one local bloke here in the country who falls a bit by hand, only the trees that are too big for the machines. He won't put anyone on to cut by hand due to the insurance costs

 

[jd548esco72]

 

[bitzer]

From the outside looking in anyone in the industry could be called a logger. Hell even guys who make strictly firewood are called loggers by the lay person. The really dumb call tree service guys loggers. Those in the industry know better. If all I did was hand cut I would want to be called a timber cutter or timber faller. At that point like madhatte said the guys moving the logs are the loggers. Until you get to the truckers. Then they are log truck drivers. I've also heard my trucker called a logger many times by firewood customers which kind of bugs me because I'm the logger. The guy that cut/skid the logs. So in review if you have any part in the landing of the logs I would say you are a logger. Unless you are on the inside looking out in which case there are cutters, operators, etc who are all employed by the owner of the logging company. The owner is then the logger and those are the guys who work for him. Unless you're one of the guys who work for him. Now if you sub for a logger and bring your own skidder along then you can be a logger too. If you just bring a saw then you're just a cutter. Timber buyers, timber pimps, etc thats a whole nother ball game.

 

[jd548esco72]

we were pulpwooders mostly, we got dragged into logging when the pulp market hit the skids --

 

[Skeans]

If only they would bring back more hand falling, here in Aus almost everything is cut by machine. We have one local bloke here in the country who falls a bit by hand, only the trees that are too big for the machines. He won't put anyone on to cut by hand due to the insurance costs

Yep thanks to the tethering you guys designed by you guys down under, heck there's two of the tigercats playing yo yo yo and down the hill about a mile from my job right now. I'm waiting for the first machine to take a tumble down a hill to see what really happens.

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