Wisconsin § 28.05 - Timber sales; state forests.

§ 28.05. Timber sales; state forests.

28.05(1) (1) Limitations. Cutting shall be limited to trees marked or designated for cutting by a forester employed by the department or by an individual determined by the department to be qualified to do such marking or designating and who is under the oversight of a forester employed by the department. The department may sell products removed in cultural or salvage cuttings and standing timber designated in timber sale contracts, but all sales shall be based on tree scale or on the scale, measure or count of the cut products. The department may require that a person purchasing products or standing timber under a timber sale contract provide surety for the proper performance of the contract either directly or through a bond furnished by a surety company authorized to do business in this state. 28.05(2) (2) Procedure. Any sale of cut products or stumpage with either an estimated volume of at least 500 cord equivalents or an estimated value of at least $10,000 requires approval of the secretary and shall be by public sale. Before the department may sell timber that meets the volume or value threshold under this subsection, it shall announce the sale through 2 publications of a classified advertisement announcing the sale in a newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the timber to be sold is located. 28.05(3) (3) Cooperating foresters. 28.05(3)(a) (a) The department shall, by rule, establish a program that allows private cooperating foresters to assist the state in the harvesting and sale of timber from state forest lands to meet the annual allowable timber harvest established under s.