Whether you plan to buy forest land, want to sell standing timber or plan to sell woodland, you should know the exact property boundaries.

If you are not sure of the boundaries of your forest land, you may need to find the description in the deed to your property. The deed, which documents transfer of the property to you, should be recorded in the County Recorder of Deed's office. This deed, along with preceding deeds for the property and deeds for adjacent property, are the basis for locating property boundaries.

Evidence of boundary lines on forest land may be in any of the following forms: wire fences, blazes on trees, stone wall, wooden fences, streams and changes in vegetation. In addition, a boundary line corner may be marked by a surveyor's stake (triangular piece of wood), iron pipe, granite or cement post, pile of rocks, wooden post as well as other readily identifiable items.

When you sell standing timber, which is a crop of mature trees, you must know precisely the location of your woodland property's boundary to ensure that timber harvesting occurs only on your land.

If you are uncertain, you may wish to obtain professional assistance from a consultant forester. It is also a good idea to consult with owners of adjoining land when establishing property boundaries so you are in agreement. You should know where corner posts are located so it is understood what you own and your neighbor owns before harvesting timber.

Well maintained, obvious property boundaries will prevent accidental harvesting of your timber when a neighbor's trees are being cut. Loggers working on your property won't mistakenly harvest timber of the land of adjacent owners.

Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.