You need to be more specific about what the Brush is. How much acreage to clear? Is there a deadline to get the job done? Is this going to be a DIY project or is it going to be contracted out?
140 acres. No deadline. It’s a long term project. weighing DIY vs contracting it out. I have a loaded UTV and was thinking of a brush hog attachment just to maintain the trails.
Do you have already have a tractor or just starting to buy equipment? Mulching is going to require a tractor with some muscle. Would there be any other uses for the tractor beyond the clearing project?
Cleveland, TX Tractor would mainly be for this project and maintenance of the land. I have some other projects, widening and deepening the pond etc, moving some dirt around from time to time, but mainly cleaning up the land. This will be a long term project, I am in no rush and like toys.
Easy TX topography. Mainly pine, magnolias, and oak. I’m keeping the big trees. Getting rid of the underbrush and saplings to improve habitat and land ecology.
I haven’t started looking for contractor quotes yet. Just closed on this ranch last month. I already have 6 miles of trails carved out.
I have experience but not with yall's terrain. I'm assuming there are minimal hills and creeks and rocks? Have someone come out, not even a contractor, but look into the local "Soil and Water Conservation District". Look up your local Ag Agent (https://liberty.agrilife.org/), through the A&M Agricultural Service, there should be one in every county, and they are a great starting spot for questions and then getting put in touch with pros up the ladder, for not just this but any other thoughts and projects. eta, just saw this: You really do need to talk to someone local.
I want to do the same on a smaller scale -- clear the cedar and give the oaks space to breathe again. I would just have them cut the cedars and other trash trees and pull them to a burn pile. Sounds like you're dealing with larger trees especially the pines.
I know somebody that did a similar though smaller project in East Texas. The saplings and brush were small enough that he was able to get it done with a heavy duty bush hog type of shredder. He said that he significantly shorted the life of his shredder, but overall it cost him less than contracting it out. If someone is buying new or relatively new equipment, then wearing it out on this project might not be a good idea.
Had a similar Kubota and there is no way I'd try to tackle a project like this -- you'd need quite a bit more power/ attachments to make worthwhile progress and that would be a big investment.
If there's no deadline and it's very well fenced, maybe just buy some goats and let them do the bulk of the work for you. For 140 acres you'd need a ton of them, but if you had the ability to fence off portions of the land a smaller number could do the trick. I've used them in the past as a first measure in order to make an area considerably easier to tackle and maintain
Also, you have to know what type of brush you're mowing and what you want it to be when you're done (pasture? drivable with no stobs/stumps?) There's a lot of it, on 1 on my ranches for sure, that the worst thing you can do is shred it down and think you're done. It comes back (huisache, bee brush, mesquite, etc..) with a vengeance, and then you have to start using chemicals to spray them when they're small. There's always "controlled" burns, which are never as controlled as you think, but that's the best thing to do after you clear out the big stuff. If anyone is actually interested in this stuff, look up Selah, the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, but seriously, talk to your local ag agent before you start doing anything.
