Removal - Grapple Skidder

The harvest system must have a grapple skidder to efficiently move the dead trees. The feller-buncher has put 5 to 10 trees in a bunch for this machine to pick up in one trip and move them to the desired location. This not only cuts costs but also reduces the travel over the ground which may disturb the regrowth more than desired. We have used wheel skidders very effectively and with the proper timing with nature and the seasons we are very satisfied with the operation. It is very important that the feller-buncher operator place the trees correctly and in the correct amount for the grapple skidder operator so that he does not tear up the ground and make bad ruts. These two operations remove the trees with the limbs and tops attached leaving only the stumps and roots in the ground. The stumps and roots will be removed by an excavator with a thumb or a dozer with a root blade. Care must be taken to save the top soil for future growth.