Hi John. Good to hear your project is going well. White, red, and jack all self-prune quite well in an even-agd stand like I'm envisioning you have there. However, for the utmost in saw log quality-not saying that's your primary concern-some early branch removal can still be justified.

BTW, not sure about the others.

+oM

Thanks Tom. Some of the mixed-in hardwoods will be harvested for firewood as needed but the conifers will stay. Some of the cedars and spruces will be left as-is with all lower branches for wildlife, but the ultimate goal it to have a mixed conifer/hardwood forest where you can easily walk under most of the canopy. The trees that don't self prune or marginally self-prune will start to have their lower limbs removed this winter.