Recommendations for cleaning up 65 acres of overgrown forest?

Question

I just purchased 110 acres in Western Washington.

45 acres is beautiful level pasture. 65 acres is forest heavily overgrown with scrub trees, brush, blackberries etc., and has varying degrees of slope from gentle to steep.

Do you have any equipment recommendations for cleaning this up? I want to leave the timber and pretty much remove everything else.

General purpose tractor? John Deere? Recommended type and brand of implements?

Bobcat T300? Recommended implements?

Has anyone ever used a Fecon Bullhog? Is this overkill? Is there a more suitable implement for cleaning up blackberries and light brush?

Thank you in advance for any guidance you can provide.

Answer 1

I would actually recommend goats.

I don't know your plans for the land but it you we're planning on farming goats would be great to start with. Goats are extremely destructive and are well suited towards that type of work. They would destroy all brush and shrubs within reach. They would even munch on the grass and smaller plants somewhat. When all done, the goats could be sold, butchered or kept.

Goats would be considerably less expensive that power equipment. The goats would appreciate (increase in value) while providing a service while the machinery would depreciate (decrease in value) over time. Also, the machinery seems like a large investment for a one time use machine.

Answer 2

We have a caterpillar skid steer, it is on tracks, we purchased it for several reasons after great research.
We need something that would take a wide variety of attachments for our tree farm, and we were building a home. My husband has also does contract work for the forest dept. removing fallen trees and clearing fire hazards. This particular equipment is on tracks, so it is Very environmentally friendly, there are too many attachments to list them all, but here are a few that work for what you have in mind..
Marshal saw, which cut timber at ground level, leaving no stump,
Grapple, which is like claws that pick up slash and down timber.
Bucket for leveling.
There are lots of different models of the skid steer with different weight capacity, ours is not too large but can carry 1600 lbs.
We have been real happy with the folks at caterpillar, they are friendly, they will send someone out to talk with you no matter where, and they have a great service dept.
Hope this info helps.
You also might check with your local forestry office, they more than likely have a list of reputible companies that do just such a job....its an option
God Bless
grandma

Answer 3

Have you considered leaving it alone? It provides habitat for many mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, plants and so on. A natural area will usually have a more biodiverse population. (it is possible that it is habitat to some rare, threatened or endangered species)

If not, maybe you should contact the Washington Department of Natural Resources and chat with one of the forestry specialist. There might even be some state or federal program you could enter into to leave more habitat.

Answer 4

all u need is a tractor and a bushhog attached to it....u can rent those or sub it out!

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 5

burn it but let it be controlled like that other person said

Answer 6

Controlled burn

Answer 7

a huge bomb