Short answer: most forestry mulching jobs we do run between $2,500 and $12,000, and bigger or rougher tracts go higher. Here's exactly how we price it, so you can budget before you ever call.
How We Price: By the Machine Day
Our forestry mulching rate is $2,500 per machine day, and a full day is our minimum job. That covers Cody, the Bobcat T86 and mulcher, fuel, teeth and getting the machine to you within 60 miles of Stilwell. The question for your job is how many days it takes, and that comes down to three things.
1. Brush density
On flat, easy ground, here's roughly how much we can mulch in a day:
| Brush density | What it looks like | Acres per day | Rough cost per acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Scattered brush and small cedar, mostly open | About 2.5 | About $1,000 |
| Medium | Mixed brush and cedar up to 6–8", walkable | About 1.25 | About $2,000 |
| Heavy | Dense cedar and hardwoods, hard to walk through | About 0.6 | About $4,000+ |
2. Terrain
Slope and rock slow the machine down. Plan on roughly 20% more time on moderate slopes and around 45% more on steep, rocky Ozark ground like you find around the lakes and in Bella Vista.
3. What you want done
Clearing everything is fastest. Selective clearing, where we work around trees you're keeping, takes about 15% longer. Pulling trees out by the roots for a build-ready lot is a different, slower job than mulching, and we quote it separately.
Real Examples
| Project | Machine time | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Fence line or 1 acre of light brush | 1 day | $2,500–$2,900 |
| 2 acres, medium brush, flat | 2 days | $4,500–$5,750 |
| 5 acres, medium brush, flat | 4 days | $9,000–$11,500 |
| 5 acres, heavy cedar, flat | 8.5 days | $19,000–$24,500 |
| 20 acres, light brush, flat | 8 days | $18,000–$23,000 |
Plug in your own acreage, brush and terrain in our instant price calculator.
Other Costs to Know
- Hourly skid steer work (tree pulling, grading, grapple and debris work): $180/hr.
- Transport: free within 60 miles of Stilwell. Beyond that, $4 per mile round trip.
- Builder lots: $5,000–$7,000 for a 0.5–1 acre lot, completely cleared with roots and stumps out. Volume pricing for 3+ lots. See builder lot clearing.
- No surprise bills. After a free site visit you get one flat price in writing, and that's what you pay.
Ways to Lower the Cost
- Cost-share: cedar and brush removal on working land may qualify for USDA EQIP. You have to be approved before work starts.
- Mark what matters. Clearing only the areas you'll actually use costs less than clearing the whole tract.
- Book in the off-season. Late fall through winter is ideal for mulching, and scheduling ahead gets you on the calendar sooner.
Mulching vs. Bulldozing
A dozer can look cheaper per hour, but it leaves burn piles or haul-off bills, ruts and scraped topsoil. Mulching leaves the ground covered and usable the same day with nothing to burn or haul. Once you add cleanup to dozer work, the cost is usually close, and the result is better land.
Get Your Exact Price, Free
Free site visit, one flat price in writing. Usually a same-day reply.
Schedule a Free Site Visit Try the Price CalculatorOr call or text 918-708-1014
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does forestry mulching cost per acre in Oklahoma?
On flat ground, light brush runs about $1,000 an acre, medium brush about $2,000 and heavy cedar or hardwoods about $4,000 or more. Slope, rock and selective clearing add time. Our rate is $2,500 per machine day with a one-day minimum.
What is your minimum charge?
One machine day, $2,500. That covers mobilization within 60 miles of Stilwell, and we make the most of the day on your property.
Do you charge for estimates?
No. Site visits and written quotes are free, and the price we quote is the price you pay.
Is there a travel fee?
Not within 60 miles of Stilwell, which covers most of NE Oklahoma and NW Arkansas. Beyond 60 miles we charge $4 per mile round trip, quoted up front.
Can government programs help pay for land clearing?
Often. USDA EQIP cost-share can help pay for brush management on agricultural land. You must apply and be approved by NRCS before any work begins.
About Cody MorrisCody owns and runs Grit and Iron LLC out of Stilwell, OK. He served 8 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a Cherokee Nation citizen, and took 2nd place nationally in Heavy Equipment at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. He walks every property and runs every job himself.