VARIOUS TIMBER THEFT METHODS

1. Logger does not accurately report timber hauled on a pay-as-cut contract.
2. Logger cuts unsold (unmarked) timber on a lump sum sale.
3. Logger moves onto your property from an adjoining property for which he has a legitimate contract.
4. Logger moves onto another tract from your property. Under certain conditions, you could be held responsible.
5. Logger simply moves onto your property and cuts your timber thinking that no one will notice or report the activity.
6. Logger moves onto your property by accident. Yes! It can happen!
7. Higher price timber is hauled on lower price loads on pay-as-cut contracts.
8. Excessive cut-offs to merchandise up log value to the logger’s benefit, where you lose payment for what’s left in the woods.
9. Unnecessary logging damage to your property is “theft” of your asset’s value.
10. Cutting stumps too high or leaving too much top on pay-as-cut-sales.

SOME WAYS TO PREVENT TIMBER THEFT

1. Check your property if you hear logging anywhere in your vicinity.
2. Clearly mark your boundaries. Paint boundaries with purple paint in those states that have such a law. (Some states require colors other than purple.)
3. Walk your boundaries regularly.
4. Have a good clear up-to-date survey and title documents for your property.
5. Maintain obvious signs of owner activity on your property.
6. Be especially vigilant if a property adjoining or near yours has a good timber stand.
7. Be especially vigilant if someone has tried to buy your timber and you refused.
8. Be wary if you have been approached by more than one timber buyer in a short amount of time.
9. Be suspicious of logging equipment moving at night or at off hours such as weekends.
10. Be suspicious of timber buyers advising you have insects or diseases that are killing your trees.
11. Doubt timber buyer comments that timber prices are going down at the mills.
12. Investigate any new vinyl flagging hung on or near your property.
13. Require advance payment of one or two weeks hauling for pay-as-cut sales.
14. Be alarmed if you catch a logger with a forester’s paint gun, especially if it contains tree marking paint that is the same color as your marked timber sale.
15. Hire a competent forestry consultant to manage your timber activities.