Hawk2064,

My intention was and is to break off the branch even with or below the bark so that the tree would heal over in a few years with no visible signs of a prior branch. Subsequent layers of growth will have no knots. I selectively harvest the trees once they attain three to four feet in diameter or two hundred feet or more in height. If any branch stubs, sharp or otherwise remain, I continue hitting until all remnants are gone. My concerns of disease entering the tree at these wounds have proved to be unfounded. I have tiger blade saws and “chain saws on a stick” as I refer to them. My next door neighbor is a dealer as this is also a large fruit growing area. I also can not afford to leave branch stubs due to safety and liability. Trespassers often plant marijuana on my land and this is open cattle range. I have seen some nasty wounds on cattle. The cattle who eat the marijuana, once I tear down the illegal fences, do not show any signs of “influence” much to my disappointment. There is not much entertainment working in the woods. I encourage range cattle because they keep down the undergrowth legal or otherwise.