1. I would like to sell timber from my woodlot. How do I go about doing this?
The best place to start is by calling a Forester. They can give you advice over the phone or, if desired, come out and visit your woodlot. They can help you make an informed decision based on the conditions of your forest. They can also provide you with a list of professional consulting foresters to handle your sale.
2. Are any permits needed to harvest my timber?
No state permits are needed to harvest your timber. Some municipalities do have timber harvesting ordinances which require permits before timber is harvested. If there are any streams to be crossed, you may need a stream encroachment permit from DEP. An erosion and sediment pollution control (E&S) plan is required to be prepared and on site at all times during the harvest. If the disturbed area is over 25 acres (rare), an Earth Disturbance Permit is needed. Road bonds are generally required to truck the logs on municipal roads. A consulting forester will be able to handle any necessary permits and plans.
3. Isn’t doing a “select cut” where only harvesting the larger trees and letting the smaller ones grow a good idea?
No! Cutting trees over a certain diameter is called a diameter limit cut and is extremely harmful to the forest. It takes the best, genetically superior trees and leaves the rest which are usually genetically inferior runts. These poor quality smaller trees will never develop into a quality forest. This type of harvest does not incorporate good forest management principles and will lead to a low grade, non-productive forest for many years to come.
