land productivity; reducing fire or insect hazard; improving esthetics or wildlife 

 habitat; or similar benefits that can result from properly conducted harvests of 

 decadent stands. 



For example, a recent study of lodgepole harvesting in Wyoming showed that re- 

 moving and field chipping "residue" (nonsaw log) material from the site cost about 

 $262/acre more than conventional saw log removal followed by piling and burning. How- 

 ever, if today's chip prices or roundwood product prices were applied to that residue 

 material the dollar values would probably be nearly equal. In addition the need for 

 slash treatment was eliminated by near complete utilization, some esthetic gains were 

 realized, and more wood was utilized from the site.l 



Logging Systems 



During recent years, the output of lodgepole pine products has increased substan- 

 tially in the Bitterroot. Post and pole plants have enjoyed good markets, and a boom 

 in log homes has created several new operations. One sawmill has installed a mill 

 capable of handling material down to 2i2-inch scaling diameter. In most of these 

 operations, either lodgepole pine stands were cut selectively (that is, only specific 

 products were removed) , or lodgepole was taken as a component of a sale with larger 

 volumes of other species and bigger logs. A complete removal of all material has not 

 been the normal operating procedure^. 



We have studied one logging operation in cooperation with the Darby Ranger District 

 and several logging operators, in which all or most of the lodgepole pine was removed 

 in an overmature, pure lodgepole stand. The stand was logged for saw logs, posts, and 

 poles. Pieces with rot were not removed, but sound dead material was taken. Briefly, 

 the study showed that three different skidding methods--small, rubber-tired skidder; 

 small crawler tractor; and horses--were all technically able to handle this type logging 

 job. These methods were used because they are within the means of a part-time, small- 

 crew logging operator. Productivity and amount of material removed varied among the 

 methods, but all appear to have economic potential for operating in lodgepole pine. 

 [A full report of the study is currently being prepared: John R. Host, Production and 

 utilization in small stem lodgepole pine stands, Intermountain Station, Forestry 

 Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, Montana.) 



The more productive operations were the rubber-tired skidder and track skidder, 

 averaging about 460 ft^ of wood per man-day. Probably this could be improved to aver- 

 age 500 ft^ per man-day or more. A portion of the mature lodgepole--probably 15,000 

 acres (mostly unregulated) - -could be logged with such systems. The remainder would 

 probably require skidding systems that keep logs off the ground (skyline or helicopter) . 



Alternative Marketing Schemes 



Utilization of mature lodgepole pine stands throughout the Mountain States has 

 been handicapped in the past because often the timber purchaser was interested only in 

 the prime material such as saw logs and would leave smaller material in the woods. In 

 addition, markets for most older dead and down material were lacking or erratic. One 

 solution that has been proposed is to establish a marketing operation that would sim- 

 plify the purchase of small log and "residue" material and provide a more stable means 

 for both workers (loggers) and wood users to utilize the resource. 



■^Benson, Robert E. 1974. Lodgepole pine logging residues: management alternatives 

 USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. INT- 160, 28 p. Intermt. For. and Range Exp. Stn., Ogden, Utah 



12 



