Highway Firewood Collecting

[WarmGuy]

Caltrans has been cutting down some trees along the highway recently. I checked with them, and they said that as long as its for personal use, you may take all you want.

I got four truckloads (spruce, redwood, and one other species), but there were some puzzling things.

I assume that they buck them into stove sized pieces so that people like me will come and take them away. But there were some trees that were cut into 10 foot lengths. Why do you think they did that? Why not just drop the tree and leave it?

Also, some of the rounds were distributed around the forest, like Easter eggs. Why?

 

[DiscoInferno]

I was roaming around the off-the-path parts of the park (woods) behind my house, and came upon something like that maybe 50-100 feet behind a neighbors backyard. Big (2'+ diameter) oak sections cut into stove lengths, and just left scattered. There's no useful way to haul them out, so I don't know why someone would bother cutting them so small. If anything, this would seem to retard decomposition by letthing them dry out.

 

[nshif]

Here in Amador County Caltrans doesnt buck anything. They just drag it to a wide spot nearby along the hiway ( 88 ) and leave it, yours for the cutting. They Dont leave it where it falls because it is usually to near or on the road or on private property. A neighbor and I got about 3 or 4 cords from last years clean up all within a mile from our houses. Easy pickins if you can get it. and how would they ever know if you sold it????

 

[MustBurn]

In my neck-of-the-woods in CT, they chip EVERYTHING! Nothing breaks my heart more than watching some guy throw an 18" by 10" diameter round into a chipper. What a waste.

MB

 

[keyman512us]

In my neck-of-the-woods in CT, they chip EVERYTHING! Nothing breaks my heart more than watching some guy throw an 18" by 10" diameter round into a chipper. What a waste.

MB

MB....Don't be so sure it is "going to waste"...it might very well be going off to a chip fired plant. Although it may seem a waste...since it isn't going into your stove

10 foot lengths? (probably measure at X+ 4" or 6")...sounds like they are "going off to mill"...either commercially...or on someone's 'backyard mill'.

Easter eggs? Either someone is coming back for them later...or they are just leaving them spaced out to de-compose...can't really say when it comes to the highway departments.

 

[MustBurn]

In my neck-of-the-woods in CT, they chip EVERYTHING! Nothing breaks my heart more than watching some guy throw an 18" by 10" diameter round into a chipper. What a waste.

MB

MB....Don't be so sure it is "going to waste"...it might very well be going off to a chip fired plant. Although it may seem a waste...since it isn't going into your stove

10 foot lengths? (probably measure at X+ 4" or 6")...sounds like they are "going off to mill"...either commercially...or on someone's 'backyard mill'.

Easter eggs? Either someone is coming back for them later...or they are just leaving them spaced out to de-compose...can't really say when it comes to the highway departments.

Actually, they point the chipper at the embankment and let it fly. We have some of the nicest mulch on the side of our roads here in CT.

MB

 

[Corie]

Also, some of the rounds were distributed around the forest, like Easter eggs. Why?

I think this is the funniest thing I've heard in a while. I'm dying over here!

 

[WarmGuy]

Another thing I noticed, as I stacked this wood, is that one piece had a little designed carved into it with the chainsaw. I guess someone was bored (new definition of bore cutting).

 

[eba1225]

So I spent Sunday morning scrounging wood along our neighborhood road, less than a 1/2 mile away. About half way thru an older lady stopped by in her car and I thought :gulp: , here it comes someone about ready to say that is my wood and leave it alone, I was prepared for that and would have left the rest if that was said :red: . But to my amazement the lady said "I hope your taking it all" as this is my property, in mind mind I was thing YESSSS :coolsmile: , of course I am. I then said do you want me to also take the standing dead wood? She said yes , and I have a chain saw but am scared to use it, I said don't worry I have one and will be more than happy to remove the dead trees, in the next month or so.

Tally from scrounging 2 hrs - about 3 cords
Projected dead trees - about another 3 cords