Illinois & Southern Wisconsin Logging Company & Walnut Timber Buyer

Walnut and white oak markets have been strong in Wisconsin and Illinois. Please know that there is no way of knowing even a rough value of your trees without seeing them in person. What dollar amount they will bring is dependent most importantly on the quality and size of your trees. Other factors include accessibility of your trees, quantity of your trees and freight (trucking) costs. We are not at all interested in any “yard” trees or any trees growing near buildings. We are not a “tree removal service”. We are interested in looking at jobs that have a minimum of 10-15 walnut trees of at least 20 inches in diameter at chest height and up.

We can harvest all species of hardwood timber such as red oak, maple, cherry etc. but due to log market conditions currently, our emphasis is only on Black Walnut and White Oak. Trees should be at least 20 inches in diameter at chest height and up.

All trees are felled with a chainsaw. The logs are “skidded” out using a Timberjack log skidder. The skidder we use is quite small and very maneuverable for minimum impact to your land. On the landing, cut logs are sorted out, displayed, and then stacked post-sale with our Bobcat compact track loader. Once purchased, the cut logs will be hauled away by log trucks.

We have two methods,  percentage-share and lump sum standing.  Percentage-Share contract- Upon signing of this contract the landowner will receive an earnest money deposit which can range from $1,000 to $10,000. Then, the trees are harvested and cut logs displayed for sale on the log landing site. The logs will be sold to a reputable sawmill and/or log buyer in a fully transparent manner. The log buyer will issue checks to the landowner and us upon signing of their purchase agreement. Landowner proceeds will range from 50-75% of the total log sale amount, per our contract. With the Lump Sum contract the landowner is simply paid an agreed purchase amount in full prior to harvesting the standing timber. With both methods, no logs will leave the landowners property without full payment. Illinois landowners are subject to a 4% IL DNR timber tax on their log/timber sale proceeds.

When a tree is felled, the marketable portion is taken to the log landing. The top, limbs, branches etc. will remain in the harvest area. None of this debris will be left blocking existing trails or in any crop fields. It’s on our contract! These tops can make excellent wildlife habitat and also shelter new hardwood regeneration from deer browsing. In 2-5 years significant decay will occur and the tops will become much less noticeable.