I agree with what Vinemaplebows is saying. Over the years I have interacted with many people who don't understand the "average" price of yew. I have often tried to explain, that to do it legal you have to first spend a fair amount of time in the mountains, to find something suitable. It DOES not grow abundance. You will find a tree, here and there in a draw, often close to water. And even if you find an area that has several here and there, you still have to find one that is semi straight and not just a cluster of gnarly branches, as most are. The tree has to be at least 100 yards from a stream. Most are right next to the stream. Then when you find a suitable tree you need to mark the GPS location and head to the Forest service with the info. Often an hour drive or more back to town. If lucky you will find someone that is thankfull that you are doing things legally and they will let you buy a permit. Often you will get someone who thinks their calling in life, is to protect every tree alive, and they will try to tell you that you can't buy a permit. ( A lie) At this point you have to ask for their supervisor, and go over their head to be able to exercise your "legal right" to buy a permit. Someties it requires having two or three people repremanded. " Seem exaggerated" It's not! been there multiple times.
At this point you have now successfully obtained your permit. You fill the truck with gas, again, and head back out to climb over several, "often very steep ridges" to try to find your target tree. You take a minute to catch your breath while feeling like your going to have a heart attack, before you cut your tree. You harvest as much as entirely possible from the tree. Then as required spread around the remains to blend into the forest. You then make the two or three trips over two or three finger ridges to get them back to the truck. As you load the last limb in the truck, you hear the words "STOP RIGHT THERE" you turn around to see a rookie Forest service employee who has already called for backup, to assist him, with what he is sure is a thieving no good wood poacher. True story! As I tried to convince him that I knew what I was doing and was legal he insisted on arguing with me, and proceeded to tell me that they don't issue permits to cut yew and vine maple. I convinced him that if he would just let me get the permits out of the truck, he would be able to see for himself. It was about that time that several other Forest service trucks showed up. I did have a nice talk with his superiors about the whole irritating incident.
Now after you get threw showing all your paper work and get your staves home. You have a whole new out look on the two or three workable stave that you have spent two full days and 100 dollars of gas to obtain. And when you decide you are willing to part with a stave it can be upsetting if someone treats you like your ripping them off. I don't cut yew or any staves for money and try to help out where and when I can. It is very disheartening when you hear so much talk about "The Price of Yew" as if people are getting rich or gouging people. I know of several of the people mentioned but have never had any dealings with them and will try not to judge them as I know what is often required of the process. I have often looked at the prices and cringed yet I know the work involved.
The last permits that I bought I spent $40.00 and ended up in back surgery and never got to cut a tree. What I am saying and what I believe Vinemaplebows is saying is that it is a whole different world then some are used to and hard to understand unless you have walked it out.
To find a good yew tree on flat or even semi flat and easy to get to ground is very rare.
When I first read this I was reluctant to respond and I hope and pray this will not offend any. It is not a pump for yew prices. I don't like them any more then anyone Else. I do however understand the process and can understand peoples frustration on both sides of the situation
