The F4 Dion forwarder is a great machine, it’s on the small side for my upcoming needs, but has very low cost of ownership, and daily fuel costs are very very low. It’s biggest draw back is the low visibility and cabin comfort. These both need improvement.

The small diameter saw log heads to the saw mill below us in the valley. The rest is pulp mill bound. In this area of southern BC Canada, it’s mostly dry land Douglas Fir, some Larch and Ponderosa pine. It’s an easy sort to manage.

In the images I am working in a primarily Douglas Fir stand with some Ponderosa pine and western Larch.
Further east we have cedar, spruce, 3 pines, Doug fir, larch, hemlock, balsam and grand fir.
I usually am either thinning to space out the canopy and clean out the forest floor for fuel Reduction or doing more of a restorative approach to prep…[Read more]

Thinning is on its way. The future is bright!

Hello fellow forestry professionals. Just a few images of my setup here in Canada. I’m thinning for fuel reduction purposes. Hope you enjoy.

I’ll send some pics tomorrow evening.

We have more common CTL systems in eastern Canada, but it has crept west in recent years.
I use a small Canadian built F4Dion forwarder, very light and effective for low impact harvesting.

I’ll post picks in the future.

Here in BC Canada, we really don’t thin and prep the stands for optimum growth or health. It’s very poor management and land use. We are only now seeing our results of disastrous forestry practices. Cudos to Europe for thinning!!!