Logging Stories
Jim Bauer, owner of Jim Bauer Logging, logged in Montana and Idaho for more than 30 years, owning his own company with his wife Norma for 20 years. "It was good for us, we did well," said Bauer. "It's just like running a dairy running a business like that. We took one vacation in 20 years and that got cut short because we lost a sawyer over in Idaho. He was the only one we lost." Bauer said one spring he told his crew that he was going to rent life flight. "I'm going to give every one of you a ride. They asked what's the matter. I said if that's why you get hurt, you want a helicopter ride out of the brush [then we will just do it so you can enjoy it]." Bauer said they had four employees they had to life flight out.
OVANDO - Jim Bauer started logging with the Anaconda Company out of Missoula in 1956 after graduating from Missoula County High School. When he sold his logging business in 1988 he'd overcome many challenges and seen many changes in innovations and logging philosophy.
Bauer first became interested in logging because his two uncles were loggers. He also loved being outdoors so it seemed like a good fit.
He started working for Dick Rossignol with the Anaconda Company. His uncle Al Wulfekuhle was the wood superintendent for a crew of 15-20 people. Bauer started out as the choker-setter.
"Started...
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