Many industrial and other timberland owners have leased 
hunting rights to hunting clubs or others both to capture 
some income and to reduce the likelihood of arson by dis- 
gruntled hunters. Other recreational uses have also become 
increasingly popular in southern timberlands, particularly 
on national forests and other public lands. Many of the 
larger private owners are also providing recreational oppor- 
tunities to the public, especially to the local people. 
Dollars per thousand board feet (1985 dollars) 
200 
150 
100 
50 
1875 1885 1895 1905 1915 1925 
Stumpage Price Trends in the South 
From the above discussion, it is apparent that a wide array 
of forces has affected the timber resource in the South. 
Changes in stumpage prices have also had impacts, largely 
because of price influences on management practices. 
Stumpage price is the selling price of standing timber. 
Most of the timber harvested in the South is sold as stump- 
age by the timberland owners and then logged by the for- 
est industries or independent loggers. 
From the 1800’s through the 1930’s, stumpage prices for 
pine sawtimber in the South were very low—only a few 
dollars per thousand board feet (fig. 2.13, app. table 2.29). 
During most of this period, low prices reflected the plenti- 
ful supply of timber in the country. In the 1930's, they also 
reflected the effects of the Depression, and to a certain 
extent, declines in timber quality. 
Pine 
ee 
1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 
Figure 2.13—Average stumpage prices for sawtimber on privately owned land in the South, 1980-1985. Prices are 5-year 
moving averages from several price series 
78 
