Forest Operations > Conduct Skidder Operations > Introduction

The role of the skidder

Once the trees have been felled and presented, the role of the skidder operator is to snig bunched whole trees/stems or large single logs/trees to a landing site where they will be processed.

In a stand of trees, the species, size or quality will often determine the type of process the harvested trees will undertake prior to transport from the forest coupe.

The two common forest operations are, whole tree chipping, or the tree is cut into lengths either by a mechanical processor or chainsaw operator.

The skidder can be used on a clear fell or forest thinning operation; which can be either plantation or native forests.

On a clear fell operation the trees are felled and presented in bunches by a feller buncher in preparation for a skidder to skid/snig them to a landing site for further processing.

On a thinning operation the smaller poorer quality trees are selected, cut down and processed. This can be achieved by two types of forest harvesting methods.

The trees are felled and bunched in ribbon style to one side of the gullet row, and skidded out of the forest coupe to a landing site for further processing.

Fig 6 Trees laid long ways up the gullet row