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Osage trees

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Muskyman:
I just talked with a woman who answered a post I put out looking for Osage trees. She said she has 3 big ones.  In your experience are big trees likely to be a good source or a disappointment.. I’m going to look at them tomorrow.. the few big ones I’ve seen didn’t look like they had much in the way of bow wood but, I didn’t look at them like I might cut them completely down just looked at the limbs in them..  I’m hoping that they might have a few good limbs but I’ll probably have to take the whole tree to get permission to cut them, which is okay, I’ll cut the rest up for firewood..

Any thoughts
Thanks, Mike

Jim Davis:
It depend on the growing conditions. If the tree had to fight for sunlight and water. it's likely to have thin growth rings, twists and turns. If it grew in the open, there will be limbs near the ground.


You'll just have to size it up when you look at it. But you are certainly correct that Osage makes good firewood.

Staves some distance in from the bark of a big log may have wider rings, but there will be a lot of work to get down to them.

Eric Krewson:
I would limit my osage tree size to 25" in diameter or less, everything I have cut was less than that. I have cut 20" trees; you have a handful with one that size if you are back off the road and working by yourself. I have ended over ended log quarters over 100 yards to get to my truck on more than one occasion, I was hale and hardy back then. 

I could have cut several almost as big as this one, having cut for years I knew my limits and walked by and left them alone.

This monster is next to the parking lot at my gym and is at least 5' in diameter.

Muskyman:
Your picture looks like what I envisioned when I talked with her Eric. I’m hoping if it is and has some good looking limbs she will let me have them without having to take the whole tree..
She might be looking for someone to take these trees down and not have to pay to get them removed.   
I don’t want to get into a situation where I’m outgunned on these things.
I’ll look them over tomorrow and if it’s not worth it I’ll bow out gracefully.
Thanks for the input
Mike

Muskyman:
Guess I should have posted that I was looking for these things a couple months ago. Got another message from someone that has some just a few miles from me.. Going to try and see them tomorrow as well..

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