Game of Logging training?

[ADK_XJ]

Anyone on MT ever gone through the popular Game of Logging training program? Have been shown the main points of chainsaw use and felling by a friend who did but as I'm looking ahead to some major opening up around pole stands this spring wondering if it might be worth finding an organization conducting the classes.

I'm North of Albany in NY, just shy of the Adirondack Park line — if anyone knows of a good program either here in NE New York or S/SW Vermont would be appreciative to hear it.

[ToadHill]

I took levels 1, 2 and 3 through Woodland Training. Excellent instructors. Had a 110 pound 78 year old lady with almost no chainsaw experience safely falling 20" red oak the first day. I would highly recommend them. These guys are professional loggers for a living. Not just classroom instructors. http://www.woodlandtraining.com

[ADK_XJ]

I took levels 1, 2 and 3 through Woodland Training. Excellent instructors. Had a 110 pound 78 year old lady with almost no chainsaw experience safely falling 20" red oak the first day. I would highly recommend them. These guys are professional loggers for a living. Not just classroom instructors. http://www.woodlandtraining.com

Nice, good feedback — looks like I could squeeze a late April session over in VT after this syrup season.

[maple flats]

I took sessions 1-2 about 15 years ago. Great training.
I had been cutting trees for over 30 years at that time and "thought I knew all about it" Boy, was I wrong. I learned far safer methods to address all situations you might encounter in falling a tree, and the safe way to handle problems (like spring poles).
I highly recommend every one who is going to cut any tree heavier than you can control the fall by hand to take the course. By the way, if you have workers you hire in maple work also cut any trees, most worker's comp insurance carriers require the workers to take the course too.

[ADK_XJ]

I took sessions 1-2 about 15 years ago. Great training.
I had been cutting trees for over 30 years at that time and "thought I knew all about it" Boy, was I wrong. I learned far safer methods to address all situations you might encounter in falling a tree, and the safe way to handle problems (like spring poles).
I highly recommend every one who is going to cut any tree heavier than you can control the fall by hand to take the course. By the way, if you have workers you hire in maple work also cut any trees, most worker's comp insurance carriers require the workers to take the course too.

Another vote of confidence — think Ill be signing up in the Spring. Some of the hairy-est trees I've taken down have been less than 10" DBH but got hung up weird or I didn't know how to properly address lean.

[motowbrowne]

Taking a class (mine was a different organization than GOL) was a great experience. Between that and my Farmi winch I feel much safer in the woods than a few years ago.

If you can squeeze it in, you won't regret it. Check your ego at the door, and come ready to relearn everything you know.

[Mitchhorne8]

Heck. I think you guys just convinced me too.

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[maple flats]

In my Game of Logging training and likely all of them, we were shown how to fall a tree against the lean. Then we had to do it one one, mine was about 16-18" at the stump cut, (maybe 14-16" DBH). For that we had a stake to hit, and the one who got the closest won a prize. I don't like to brag, but I enjoyed my new logging helmet. I hit the stake, but not perfectly centered, the next closest was on their stake, but near the side of the trunk.
I used what I learned to drop trees until I got an excavator, now I use the excavator to push gently on the trunk about 11-13' up, that works good too. I still use all other training from there once on the ground.