Mule logging! 4 mules pulling bigger timber

[@sethderrick688]

I was having a conversation with my wife this morning over breakfast and she saw something on the internet about mule trains out west. I told her that as a kid I'd used mules to harvest trees in TN. I was a foster kid and my foster family had a mule and quite a lot of acreage of locust trees. As I was describing to her what it was like to hook that mule up I thought, "surely there must be pictures or video of someone doing this". And that's how I found this channel. I was logging with mules just outside of Livingston in the late 70s - early 80s and this brought back a LOT of memories. Thanks for sharing these videos!!

[@zachodommulelogging]

Oh man! That is very awesome!!! I’m glad to hear it and glad you’re enjoying the videos. Thanks for taking time to watch and comment. I surely appreciate it. Take care my friend and do come again, please anytime

[@PapawMule]

Interesting..! I grew up in the 50s logging with mules and horses..

[@zachodommulelogging]

Nice! I like sitting and talking with all the old timers that grew up in that era. It’s vastly dying these days. There are still a few of us still working at it. But not many….thank you for the kind words and for watching

[@robertmarino2158]

Zach , FYI only , you might want to watch Working horses with Jim , logging on u - tube , he had to repair his skoot for logging he hit a very large Rock & damaged it badly , repair work on the farm daily ! I hope you enjoy his workings , best of luck , stay safe & have a good day !

[@zachodommulelogging]

Hey buddy! Thanks, yes Jim and I have been friends a long time. He’s a great guy. And a smart teamster, always enjoy his work. Thanks for the kind words and for watching my friend

[@anthonymclaughlin1837]

Man , your pair are coming along great. Loved the tongue repair in the woods, doing what ya gotta do 👍. Pretty slick Red Oak ya'll are slipping out too! Great video.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Thank you sir! And yep, sometimes you do what ya have to do lol. Thanks for watching buddy

[@plainsimple442]

Hey Zach, I enjoyed seeing you drive a 4-mule team. Pretty soon it will be a 20-mule team!

[@zachodommulelogging]

Shew lord, idk about 20. That might be a little much for me lol. But thank you kindly and thanks for watching my friend

[@terrythomas7035]

I loved those pics of Mr. Summers

[@zachodommulelogging]

Thank you ma’am

[@thirzapeevey2395]

That's the way the Conestoga wagons were driven. They had no driver's seat. Freight wagons going into the Baltimore harbor in old Baltimore (before the 1906 fire), where driven this way with the mules single file, because the streets were too narrow for a team. I think the twenty mule team borax wagons were jerkline as well.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Right! Thanks for watching

[@ronelchadwick7110]

The older folks are wells of information we need to draw from.they lived through good times and bad.easy and hard times.

[@ronelchadwick7110]

I love to listen to what they have to say.makes sense.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Yes for sure! I dearly love all of my older friends that have helped me along the way. Their info is priceless for sure. Thanks for the kind words and for watching

[@robertmarino2158]

Zach , in Pueblo , Colorado we have a chain company called Pee Wag they only make snow chains all over the country, i would like to visit / tour there operation if they allow , it would be interesting to me , i like the old days farming & equipment they used , remarkable !

[@zachodommulelogging]

Oh man, that would be so cool 😎 let me know how it goes please if you do!!! Thanks for the kind words and also for watching….

[@kenwillis8487]

Enjoyed watching from limestone Tennessee! I thought I saw Morristown on your logo at first that’s about 45 minutes from me!

[@zachodommulelogging]

Cool 😎 I actually live in Morrison TN though. Morristown is over around Knoxville. Quiet a ways from me. Anyway, thanks a bunch for watching and also commenting! Take care

[@arkansas1336]

Great seeing the teams together! Nice repair on the cart's tongue. I've usually tried to use ironwood in the stretchers but honestly you have to use what is available. Btw, if you're interested, a few years back, 'EnglesCoachShop' rebuilt the wagons for the 20 mule teams that hauled borax from Death Valley. I think he might have a KZbin play list of those 7-8' diameter wheels and the 20 mules working.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Thank you sir. And yep, sometimes you just use what’s handy! And yessir, I’ve watched some of their stuff on the borax wagons. That’s a pretty neat operation they have. And the 20 mules is cool 😎 although a little different than the way they actually drove it. Thanks for watching!

[@OutoftheWoods0623]

looks like a good days work, wish I could join ya,

[@zachodommulelogging]

Be glad to have ya anytime…I reckon we about 3 hrs or so from you. Thanks again!

[@charliemarvin1129]

this is the best i have watched so far just great and thank you

[@zachodommulelogging]

You’re most welcome and thank you kindly! Thank you also for watching and commenting. Take care

[@thomasneill6858]

That looks like therapy to me

[@zachodommulelogging]

Yessir it really is and thank you kindly

[@br927]

Love it!

[@zachodommulelogging]

Thank you! And thanks for watching and commenting

[@robertmarino2158]

Mount pleasant mills , on u-tube, great story about 2 brothers & family that goes way back logging , enjoy the story I did , stay safe .

[@zachodommulelogging]

I’ve seen that one! It’s great…thank you sir and will do! As always, thx for watching!

[@terrythomas7035]

They seemed to catch on pretty quick

[@zachodommulelogging]

Yes ma’am they did. Thank you for watching

[@jacobkennedy112]

Y’all prefer mare mules over horse mules? Or just the way it happened?

[@zachodommulelogging]

I tend to lean more towards mare mules just because they settle down a little quicker usually and generally are just easier to get along with and keep: but I’ve worked horse mules too and got along just fine with em. If ya break em right you can get a little more out of a horse mule. But they’ve gotta be broke right and that’s a chore sometimes.

[@jacobkennedy112]

I’ve always worked both but most old timers always seemed to lean towards mare mules. I do believe my horse mules know who is working them where my mare mules will do right for anybody.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Yep. That’s part of it I’d say.

[@jbbrown7907]

Wouldn't t log tongs do less damage to your oak sawlog?

[@zachodommulelogging]

A chain or cable choker does the least damage to the log per say…but grabs doesn’t hurt the sawn lumber either because it doesn’t go in deep enough. It comes out in the slabs when they open the log up. Tongs are good for bunching and short skids, but they’re prone to slip and come off when turning tight etc. I do use them, but I use chains and grabs the most. Thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate it

[@randallcrane2704]

👍👍👍

[@zachodommulelogging]

Thank you ☺️ and thanks for watching!

[@ronnielloyd4514]

I did not think people still used mules to work with.

[@zachodommulelogging]

There are still a few of us left thankfully…we enjoy working with our mules and it’s a lot easier on the younger timber skidding with animals. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care

[@kennybolt8329]

Looks like it may have come a shower , your shirt looks a little wet ! You ever do any J hole logging. Would love to see a video doing that. Enjoy the content.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Wet from sweat lol. And being too fat 🤣🤣. If you’re talking about J grabs…then yeah I know what ya mean but we don’t use em much here where we are. That’s more of a easy Tennessee thing. And West Virginia. They’re handy tho on steep ground. Thanks for the kind words and for watching

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

Good work, but you made it harder for yourself riding the near wheel mule instead of riding on the forecart.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Well not really. Driving four with one line you have to ride the wheel lead mule to maintain control of the wheel team. And driving four with one line is easier than driving four with team lines honestly once ya figure it out. Thanks for watching and commenting my friend

[@ronnietucker4943]

I have always used one line in this application. I have seen where some folks would use check lines on the lead team. I figured they did not know any better or just did not know how to break their stock to one line. You was doing a fine job for just starting out. In a little while they will work together like one team. Jack said they would keep a brace and bits with them in a saddle bag so they would have it when needed. Elm makes a mighty tough tongue. It can get in bad shape but it wouldn't break plumb off. Good video you and Thomas made.

[@zachodommulelogging]

Thank you sir. We cut what we had down lol. Which was some sorry red oak. But it’ll get me by till I can do better. It took my mules just a little bit to figure it out and I had to hold my off mule off a little. But other than that, it was smooth sailing more or less. Thank you!

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

@@zachodommulelogging That's how traditionally is it done in Bavaria, too, where I am from originally. I just personally found it easier to drive from the driver's seat with four lines in my hand instead of using the jerk line. On the driver's seat I didn't have to deal with that additional heat from underneath. Of course, one could use a saddle to make it easier, but I guess, you are a man who doesn't mind when things are a bit harder.

[@zachodommulelogging]

We traditionally use a saddle here too. I just didn’t have one available to use. But yes you’re correct. And thanks again for the kind words. Take care