Distance to the mill. The closer a woodlot is to the mill, the lower the hauling costs. The ease with which the forest land can be reached affects costs. Steepness of terrain and soil moisture conditions affect the equipment that can be used and speed of harvesting. Poor markets mean lower timber prices.
Buyers often pay more for logs when their inventories are low to ensure continued mill operation.
Your restrictions on harvesting and skidding techniques. Restrictions set forth in your timber sale contract, such as seeding skid trails after harvest, will increase logging costs. Different buyers may offer substantially different prices for the same timber, depending on their own particular costs and markets. The only way to actually determine what your timber is worth is to offer it for sale on the open market and contact as many potential buyers as possible. Determine a Selling Method Selecting the appropriate selling method for marketing your timber is the key to having a successful timber sale.