What are Feller Bunchers?
The name may sound a little odd, but in the timber industry feller bunchers are serious business. Feller bunchers are used to clear cut standing groves of trees and then stack the felled logs onto special sleds called skidders for removal. Some feller bunchers use powerful hydraulic shears to clip smaller diameter trees, while others use oversized chainsaw blades or large rotary saws to slice through larger ones. Most feller bunchers utilize one of two chassis designs, depending on the conditions on the site. Light to medium duty feller bunchers use a rubber-tired tractor chassis, similar to backhoes. Heavy duty feller bunchers or those working in muddy or uneven fields may use tracked designs also found on bulldozers. Many well-known manufacturers of farming equipment, including Case, John Deere and International Harvester, also make feller bunchers for the timber industry. In the field, feller bunchers perform most of the same duties as human lumberjacks. Trained operators drive thei
