Central Wisconsin

[markcasper]

1st 40 is all tubed up and ready to go. Started hand cutting the 2nd 40 Monday and moving equipment in today. We are still pushing hard on getting our tap count higher and will be working along side the loggers installing tubing. Attachment 17253Attachment 17254

What kind of wood is being taken out? Prices on the wood if you don't mind me asking? You bought a Leader Vortex?

[Maple Man 85]

What kind of wood is being taken out? Prices on the wood if you don't mind me asking? You bought a Leader Vortex?

Oak, Ash, Basswood, dead trees and hollow maple. We are select cutting and not wiping out any particular species. As for pricing we locked into a contract when prices were higher 2 or 3 years ago but due to spring coming early last year only half our property was cut. I did buy a leader Vortex.

[Maple Man 85]

Oak, Ash, Basswood, dead trees and hollow maple. We are select cutting and not wiping out any particular species. As for pricing we locked into a contract when prices were higher 2 or 3 years ago but due to spring coming early last year only half our property was cut. I did buy a leader Vortex.

I took a couple pics of our woods before and after you can definitely tell it's thinner but the loggers are doing a great job making sure damage is kept to a minimum (it also helps when our woods is right next to our house so we have dailyIMG_0097.jpgIMG_0099.jpg interaction with the loggers).

[markcasper]

I took a couple pics of our woods before and after you can definitely tell it's thinner but the loggers are doing a great job making sure damage is kept to a minimum (it also helps when our woods is right next to our house so we have dailyAttachment 17327Attachment 17328 interaction with the loggers).

Great pictures! Is your woods in the MFL? Good to hear wonderful news about a cutting job well done! I agree, need to be out there every day when the cut is going on.....let them know your watching.

[Maple Man 85]

Great pictures! Is your woods in the MFL? Good to hear wonderful news about a cutting job well done! I agree, need to be out there every day when the cut is going on.....let them know your watching.

No, it was in recreational for many years. When I purchased it to get the sugaring process started and to avoid heavy taxes on short term capital gains I filtered the timber harvest income through our business and used it to purchase equipment rather than take the cash. We are currently in the process of rezoning it to agriculture. The timber harvest process was a good experience for me, one of the things we did right was getting a forester involved. We walked the property many times so we had a clear understanding of each others expectations and then it was holding the lumber company, foresters and loggers accountable. If everyone knows the expectation there is very little wiggle room for extra wood to be removed and the job is done properly.

[For_the_kids]

I tapped Saturday in central WI, near Wisconsin Rapids. We put in 70 taps on buckets. I checked them all today and most were bone dry yet with a few having a 1/2 gal or less in them. I think I got over excited about the warm weather but didn't give enough time for the ground to thaw out.

[markcasper]

I tapped 10 holes yesterday just to see what was happening. Every one was dry and this was on the south side of the hill next to a field and protected from the wind. Tubing fixing is all complete and now will be tapping regardless. I have 12-18" of frost in the soil at the woods and that was confirmed with a maul and a post! With that kind of frost and the current forecast, I'm not seeing much of any sap for 2 weeks, or more. We had virtually no snow cover "here" all winter until a month ago when we got dumped on, and then last week again. With no snow and the cold temps the frost has went deep. Heard reports of 3 feet of ice on the local lake which is unheard of from the guy that told me that.

[TomorrowRiverMapler]

I took the plunge and started tapping this afternoon. I put 67 taps in and had three runners with the rest being dry which was good as I have still have a lot of prep work to do.

[1efddd]

I put in 174 taps today all hooked to vacuum. Only about half of my trees dripped when drilled. The rest are bone dry. I fired up the vac pump but had a hole out on a line. Looked like a critter chew. Didn't have the stuff to fix it with me. I taped up the hole with electrical tape and ran the system for a while and there was definitely sap to be had. Not a very strong flow though. Ran everything on the ground to flush out cleaner from last spring. I'll make the repair tomorrow and run a while to see if it is worth it. Still a lot of frost in the floor of the woods. Water standing everywhere. Frost usually comes out quick on my land. I am in a low area and you can dig a hole about anywhere and hit water at 2-3'. I'm south of Stevens Point about 25 miles. Hancock area.
Let's hear from some others please!