Felling and skidding costs associated with thinning a commercial Appalachian hardwood stand in northern West Virginia

Abstract

Detailed cost information on thinning operations is needed to develop economic guidelines for managing immature central Appalachian hardwood stands. Three thinning treatments were applied in a 50-yr-old mixed-oak, cove hardwood stand in northern West Virginia. A commercial logging contractor using chain saws and a rubber-tired skidder conducted the logging operations. Time-study data were used to compute production rates for felling marked trees and skidding tree-length logs to roadside landings for each thinning treatment.

Citation

Brock, Samuel M.; Jones, Kenneth D.; Miller, Gary W. 1986. Felling and skidding costs associated with thinning a commercial Appalachian hardwood stand in northern West Virginia. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 3(4): 159-163.