[Baystatetom]

I have girdled a lot of trees and believe it is a fast effective way to do forest improvement work, however a lot of loggers hate the practice as there will be a good number of standing dead snags for years to come. If you do not plan on using that acreage for much go for it, if you are going to do firewood harvesting, pasture animals, or put numerous trails in there you might be better off felling the trees and dicing up the parts real small so they rot fast. Also pines die pretty hard by girdling, cut them a solid inch deep and put 3 rings all the way around the stem. Some will still heal over and keep growing. I have seen some that continued to grow above the girdle but not below it. Makes for a unique tree!
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Pulled in my biggest log yet yesterday. A cherry 10′ long with a 18″ tip end. I flipped the go-devil on its side, chained the log to it, then up righted it with the team. I can’t believe how easy it was. Way easier then rolling it with a peavey. The steers worked hard pulling it in but got the job done. I give a lot of credit to that go devil, they might not have been able to ground skid that log.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I could use a binder on mine but I also have a clevis on the bunk then a hole on the front V, so I just use a choker chain on the log, then through the clevis and hole in the V and up to the team. I have not lost one off it yet.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/306677_2806087234395_1325088378_32040094_1252070423_n.jpg
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

You can teach them to keep stepping out and avoid the chain. Some learn it on their own. I can’t recall ever seeing a chain rub enough to cause a problem. My guess is if it starts getting sore they will learn to step out a little on their own.

[Baystatetom]

Jac, I like it nice job.
Harvey, I have bounced my off some pretty big rocks and ran over a few stumps without tipping it over, but have not had any sidehill use yet. Like I said though I am kind of thinking of mine like a bobsled. I just dropped the biggest tree I will have hooked to yet. I think I will try flipping the sled on its side binding on the log and pulling it over with the steers. By that point this afternoon I knew they were too wore out, so I figured I would do it first thing in the morning next time I get out there.
`Tom

[Baystatetom]

I hate to sound like a callous jerk and I know how much you love your team and want the best for them, but I would say just give him a few days to a week and then continue as normal. They are way tougher then us, he’ll be fine.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Tristan,
Mine is at least twice that heavy. I under stand the appeal of a lite one but was trying to make mine a bit more like a bobsled. I made it 4 feet wide with 4 foot runners. The V on the front of mine is also a lot heavier then your bent pipe. The pipe on yours may well be better but I gave my welder friend the chance to do what he thought was best and that’s what he came up with. I have found it easier to ground skid the logs a short distance to get to a good loading point then it is to get it right beside the log every time. Today I ground skidded a good sized log and then used the go devil on the next one. The go devil definitely made their job easier. I think in winter conditions I’ll be able to load two or three logs on it at a time.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I think the bunk is okay now that I have used it a few days. Honestly it is built heavy enough that I wonder if the advantage having the log off the ground is slightly negated by the weight of the thing. However my team is still young and as they get bigger and stronger that extra bit of weight should not be a factor. Summertime ground conditions would also be better for a arch, so I am not using it under perfect conditions. I am already dreaming up ways to home build a arch!
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

Basically no mud season at all here in Mass. It was a little greasy for a few days and now its so dry they are worried about brush fires already. The big machine guys didn’t even stop for more then a day or two. Weird for sure.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HUq3mHSOZo&feature=youtu.be
a little better one. Go to the Facebook Group Everything Oxen to see a bunch of pictures
Tom

[Baystatetom]

I try and teach stand in and out while they are in their stalls in the barn. Its a good thing to do in poor weather, and they can’t go anywhere except to move their rear end one way or the other.
Just the other day mine wouldn’t stand still so I could get the yoke on, finally I had enough and gave the off steer my best elbow to the head. He then ripped the ring right out of my trailer and ran across my clients well manicured lawn with me yelling and swearing behind him.
We all have those days!
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU-FoTUmofQ&feature=youtu.be

I called a friend to come help me with a few bigger logs, this is his team of shorthorns trying out my new go devil. It is a little heavy but it should also be tough enough to drop trees on or to flip it up sideways chain on the log and pull back over. My welder friend did a awesome job. He put a removable stake on the front with a few hooks for chokers, hardhat etc. and a piece of pipe to hold a peavy. The bunk may be a little far back but I have not used it enough to decide if it is a real draw back or not. I also think I may be able to cob job a pole on there for winter. I can’t get photos to upload so I’ll take a better up close video of it tomorrow. What a great day in the woods! Warm weather, new toys and the help of someone way better then me.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I read a article in some real old copy of small farmers journal written about a old time ox man from Maine. He worked his oxen on the farm but was also a champion in the draw ring. He thought the oxen pulled much better with their heads up then down, and would train them to do so by putting a chain around their horns and to the yoke so when the yoke slide back on a load it lifted their heads. I have no idea if this is good bad or otherwise but thought the mention of it fit the thread. My off steer holds his head high while my nigh steer holds his lower. The off steer is also stronger and faster, maybe it is a better style?
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

My welder friend called today (he usually builds fire escapes in big brick buildings) and said my new go-devil is ready. He says he got a little carried away and should charge $1,000 for the labor, but he was excited to show it to me. He wants to deliver it to my job so he can see it in use. I have to say I can’t wait either. I can’t seem to get pictures up here anymore so I’ll post a youtube vid.
~Tom

[Baystatetom]

I always used traditional twisted whips, switched to sticks and branches when my steers stepped on and broke my last twisted whip. The problem was I kept dropping them on the ground out in the woods when hooking chains and I always had to turn circles scratching my head “where did I leave that stick now”. I bought a fiberglass stick at the feed store and I have really started to like it. At first it seemed heavy and stiff but I have gotten used to it. I mention all this because it is great at getting my off steers attention when he is running ahead. I just reach over there and tap his horn with it. He hates that! And when I have his attention I bark a order at him and he listens. I have also used buggy whips. I just cut the lash a bit shorter and apply several layers of black electrical tape to it to stiffen it up a bit.
~Tom

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