Beware of...

• Timber buyers posing as consulting foresters. In the timber industry you either work for the landowner or a timber company, never both. A consultant that wants to purchase your timber or deal with only one company should raise alarm. Seek professional assistance from someone who is looking out for your interests.
• Timber Sale Contracts provided by timber companies. These contracts rarely protect the land and landowner to the extent that is necessary

• Diameter Limit Cuts. This type of harvest completely ignors growth rates, and biological maturity of different tree species. For example, an 18-inch diameter at breast height sassafrass tree is considered mature, while an 18-inch diameter at breast height red oak is considered to still be a juvenile. Should they both be harvested at the same time? Trees to be harvested should be a direct result of the the landowner's objectives for the woods, combined with forest and site characteristics. Diameter limit cuts should not be considered unless you are a landowner who needs to really maximize their profit at some expense to the future of the woods. Also, diameter limit cuts do more damage to residual trees (the trees that are being left) because a diameter limit cut does not account for where a specific tree will be dropped, but only that it may be cut.