Understanding Timber Harvesting Regulations in Texas

Timber harvesting regulations in Texas have a wide-ranging impact on both your property, the profits from your timber harvest, and your future timber harvest profits.

One of the most important and impactful ways to manage your property—for timber harvests or other purposes—is to hire a professional Forest Management company to create a management plan such as a forest management plan, wildlife management plan, wetlands management plan, etc.

By hiring a professional company, you will be in a better position to know you’re complying with timber harvesting regulations in Texas and maintaining your land’s forest health for years to come.

 

Why It Matters to Understand Timber Regulations

While having a professional forestry service supervise and facilitate your timber harvest is important, it’s also necessary to educate yourself about your property, harvesting regulations, and other details about your land and timber sales.

Discuss these details with your consultant forester.

It’s important that you have a basic understanding of the legislation, both past and current, that impacts your timber harvests, sales, taxes, reforesting, etc.

 

FAQs: Common Timber Harvesting Questions in Texas

 

Do you need to have a bill of sale and what should it include?

If you sell or buy logs, pulpwood, woodchips, trees, and other tree/wood products, Texas law states that you will need a bill of sale. Within the bill of sale, you’ll need:

• Names of those involved in the sale
• A land survey and description
• A description of the timber details
• Proof that the seller owns the timber and that there aren’t third-party liens
• The seller’s signature

 

According to The Texas A&M University website, your bill of sale contract should include these details:

• A general description of the timber sale
• What will be harvested
• The selling price(s)
• The terms of payments and deposits
• Restrictions and limits to operations
• Effective times and dates
• Forestry Best Management Practice (BMP) requirements
• Legal State and Federal business requirements
• Insurance and bonding requirements
• Liabilities are identified
• Dispute resolution measures

 

Another way having a professional, licensed forester to manage your timber harvest is important is that they will make sure that they’re working within the professionally surveyed boundaries of your land so that you don’t unintentionally cut on someone else’s property.

Much of the recent legislation involving timber has revolved around disputes surrounding the illegal cutting and sale of timber.

 

Do You Know About the Timber Asset Protection Act?

This law, passed in September 2023, helps protect against timber theft. The Timber Asset Protection Act requires more documentation from both the buyer and seller than previously required before the law and increases penalties for those found in violation.

 

How a Professional Forestry Company Can Help

Companies like Acorn Outdoors, an experienced, licensed, professional Forestry Management company serving East Texas, as well as parts of Louisiana and Oklahoma, help facilitate timber harvests from start to finish.

For example, Acorn Outdoors acts in the service of the landowner by being a sales agent and facilitator between the landowner and timber buyer. They provide oversight in important details such as:

• Identify and map the sale area
• Establish sale parameters and review with owner
• Market timber sale
• Provide contract
• Supervise & monitor logging
• Use approved buyers
• Control access & monior security
• Reconcile settlements
• Activity reports

 

Once the sale is complete, they can then help create a reforestation plan to ensure you have a renewable timber resource for years to come.

 

While understanding all the regulations involved in your timber harvest may seem overwhelming, your experienced, licensed forestry management company will help guide you through the process and ensure you stay within the law—while also getting the most out of your timber harvest.