Bowsaw defeats another spring pole

A snowy forest floor signals a long break for power tools, but that doesn't mean elbow grease gets time off.  Today, the most popular forest management work of the (not yet) winter season commenced:  cutting spring poles with the bow saw.  This red maple wasn't the worst looking spring pole ever, but it sure did act like it.  Here's the curving tree before cutting.  Note how the undesirable bending biomass placed itself in a spot to shade some birches.

Here's a picture of the first bit of cutting, a look which should be a familiar sight to those who have seen pics of Hardwood Hermitage spring pole work before.  The left cut is on the inside of the bend, which will tear fibers allowing the felling cut, coming from the right side in, to drop the spring pole.

A good deal of lopping took place after the pole finally dropped.  Critters will like to munch on the red maple buds, which start to emerge this time of year.  Instead of breaking birches in the area, deer or moose can more easily chomp on the tasty ends of maple twigs.