It may sound simple, but having clearly defined boundaries is the first step in managing a property. If current boundaries are known, we can establish a painted boundary line that adheres to Arkansas land posting requirements and will maintain that boundary line for our clients. If a boundary line is not known we work with Registered Land Surveyors who are familiar with timber land boundaries to establish your boundary lines.
This is probably the area that most landowners overlook the most. A good inventory is the foundation to any decisions that are made in the future. We use the most modern methods of sampling to get an accurate picture of the number of trees, the species, the volume, the growth rate, the presence of low value trees, and much more from our inventory. We have inventoried properties as small as 10 acres up to the thousands of acres. Each inventory consists of a detailed GIS map, showing all features, timber stands, buildings, roads, and trails. Each inventory will include a detailed reporting of stand and tree data, by unit if needed. Our inventories include a written set of management recommendations that are in line with your objectives.
Sometimes our management recommendations require the use of methods to improve the current stand of trees. Brush control, control burning, weed control, cull tree removal, or tree planting all these are done with proven contractors who are licensed, insured and bonded. We offer supervision and inspection of this work and only charge you for that. We don’t add on any charges for the work done by the contractors.
One of the many benefits of owning timberland is realizing some income from the property. Many of our client’s number one objective is the revenue generation from their property and we assist in all aspects of this process. From marking timber for selective harvest, delineating areas for complete harvest, to obtaining bids, executing timber sale contracts or timber deeds and working with the harvest operation to be sure our client’s interests are preserved. Since we are not timber buyers, we have no other interest involved other than our client’s interest. Our job is to market your timber in such a way as to gain the most value from the market. This is usually done through a competitive bidding process. We manage the entire timber sale process from start to finish, all with your authorization.
Many clients of ours are absentee landowners or not able to view their property. For this we offer our services for an annual inspection of your property. We look for outbreaks of disease, damage from ice or wind, fire hazards, or trespass. We provide you an annual report detailing our findings, if any, and what actions might be needed.
Another potential source of income from owning timberland is from hunting or recreational use leases. We act on your behalf and oversee the signing of leases, access control, insurance requirements, and compliance with lease covenants. This has become a very popular practice in recent years, even on smaller properties. However, if not closely monitored, there could be potential for abuse or damage to the forest resources. Understandably, liability insurance is a big part of any hunting lease. We will procure a $1,000,000 specialized hunting lease liability policy and insure that all premiums are collected and policies remain in force.
For those clients that desire a complete, turnkey package we offer our Long Term Management Program. This is program is designed to utilize any or all of our services to accomplish the long term goals of our clients. There is one annual fee that includes the annual inspection, boundary line maintenance, and hunting lease administration. Plus there are discounts for our normal fees for other services such as timber marking, timber stand improvement, and timber sales.
Many timbered tracts are also home to a variety of wildlife species. In recent years, the booming population of beaver in our state has become evident in flooded areas that kill standing trees. We can arrange for the removal of excess beaver, their dams and other structures to protect your timber resources. We actually do most of this work ourselves, but if needed can employ other professionals who can accomplish this task with the same attention to detail.