SAF CF Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

A seasonal high water table; log when soils are dry or frozen: Correct. Low-chroma depletions and redox concentrations form under periodic saturation. A shallow seasonal water table means rutting and compaction risk, so equipment use should be timed for dry or frozen conditions.

An excessively drained, droughty soil; favor drought-tolerant species: Excessively drained soils show uniform bright colors without gray depletions.

Red parent material only; there are no drainage limitations: Mottling with gray depletions reflects wetness, not merely the color of the parent material.

A well-drained, fertile soil; any harvest season is suitable: Redox features at 12 inches are inconsistent with a well-drained soil.

Gray depletions and redox concentrations mark periodic saturation; their depth sets the drainage class and seasonal operability.

Answer: C

1. 1. The top is above eye level (+60%) and the base is below (−5%), so total percent = 60 + 5 = 65%.
2. 2. Height = 65% × horizontal distance = 0.65 × 66 ft.
3. 3. = 42.9 ft.

36.3 ft: Subtracted the base reading (60 − 5) instead of adding it; a negative reading is added to the top reading.

39.6 ft: Used only the top reading and left out the height below eye level.

42.9 ft: Correct. The base reading is below eye level, so the readings are added: (60 + 5) ÷ 100 × 66 ft = 42.9 ft.

65.0 ft: Read the percentages as feet, which is valid only at a 100-ft horizontal distance.

Percent clinometer: height = (top % − base %) ÷ 100 × horizontal distance, so a negative base reading is added.

Answer: C

1. 1. Tree factor = BAF ÷ (0.005454 × DBH²): 8 in → 10 ÷ 0.3491 = 28.65; 12 in → 10 ÷ 0.7854 = 12.73; 16 in → 10 ÷ 1.3963 = 7.16.
2. 2. Count × factor: 6 × 28.65 = 171.9; 4 × 12.73 = 50.9; 2 × 7.16 = 14.3.
3. 3. Sum = 237.1 trees/acre over 4 points.
4. 4. Mean = 237.1 ÷ 4 = 59.3 trees/acre.

30.0 trees/acre: This is basal area per acre (12 trees × 10 ÷ 4 = 30 ft²), not trees per acre.

48.3 trees/acre: Used the mean DBH (10.7 in) for one tree factor; tree factors must be computed by DBH class.

59.3 trees/acre: Correct. Tree factors are 28.65 (8 in), 12.73 (12 in) and 7.16 (16 in). Summing count × factor gives 237.1 over 4 points, or 59.3 trees/acre.

237.1 trees/acre: Summed trees per acre across all points but did not divide by the 4 points.

Convert prism counts to trees per acre class by class (BAF ÷ tree BA), sum, and average over the number of points.

Answer: B

Offer to reduce the harvest area by half as a compromise: Splitting the difference before learning their interests may satisfy no one.

Ask what concerns lie behind their stance, such as views or traffic: Correct. "No logging" is a position. Exploring the underlying interests, such as scenery, safety or noise, opens options like buffers, timing or haul routes.

Postpone all contact with the neighbors until the harvest is finished: Avoidance usually escalates conflict and damages future relations.

Explain that the landowner has a legal right to harvest the land: Asserting rights hardens positions and does not address what the neighbors care about.

Interest-based negotiation looks behind stated positions to underlying interests, which often allow solutions that satisfy both sides.

Answer: C

The ESA does not apply because the activity is on private land: The §9 take prohibition for listed animals applies within the United States regardless of land ownership.

§7 consultation is required because a listed species is present on the land: §7 is triggered by a federal action, not by the presence of a species on private land.

§7 consultation is not required, but the §9 take prohibition still applies: Correct. §7 applies only to actions authorized, funded or carried out by federal agencies. The §9 prohibition on take of listed fish and wildlife applies to everyone, including on private land.

A habitat conservation plan must be approved before any harvest begins: An HCP is needed only to obtain a §10 incidental take permit when take is likely; it is not a blanket precondition.

ESA §7 is for federal actions; §9 take prohibitions for listed animals apply on all lands; §10 permits with HCPs authorize incidental take.

Answer: B

1. 1. SEV = net FV of one rotation ÷ [(1 + i)^t − 1].
2. 2. 1.05^30 = 4.3219; 4.3219 − 1 = 3.3219.
3. 3. SEV = $3,000 ÷ 3.3219 = $903.09 ≈ $903 per acre.

$694: Discounted only one rotation ($3,000 ÷ 1.05^30); SEV values an infinite series of rotations.

$903: Correct. SEV = $3,000 ÷ (1.05^30 − 1) = $3,000 ÷ 3.3219 = $903 per acre.

$2,000: Used simple interest in the denominator (0.05 × 30 = 1.5).

$60,000: Treated the periodic sum as a perpetual annual series (a ÷ i).

Faustmann SEV = net future value of one rotation ÷ [(1 + i)^t − 1], the PV of a perpetual periodic series.

Answer: B

1. 1. Deduction under §194: $10,000 (the per-property annual maximum).
2. 2. Amortizable remainder = $14,000 − $10,000 = $4,000.
3. 3. Year-1 amortization = $4,000 × 1/14 = $285.71.
4. 4. Total first-year deduction = $10,000 + $286 = $10,286.

$10,000: Took the $10,000 deduction but left out the first-year amortization of the remaining $4,000.

$10,286: Correct. $10,000 is deducted; the remaining $4,000 is amortized at 1/14 in year 1 ($286); total = $10,286.

$10,571: Amortized a full year (1/7) of the $4,000; the half-year convention allows only 1/14 in year 1.

$14,000: Deducted all costs at once; only $10,000 per qualified timber property per year may be deducted.

IRC §194: deduct up to $10,000 of qualified reforestation costs per qualified timber property per year; amortize the rest over 84 months (half-year convention).

Answer: C

1. 1. MAI = volume ÷ age: 1,200/20 = 60; 1,750/25 = 70; 2,400/30 = 80; 2,950/35 = 84.3; 3,250/40 = 81.3 cu ft/acre/yr.
2. 2. PAI for each 5-year period: 110, 130, 110 and 60 cu ft/acre/yr.
3. 3. MAI is greatest at 35 years; after 35, PAI (60) is below MAI, so MAI declines.
4. 4. MAI culminates at 35 years.

25 years: Took the start of the period with the greatest periodic increment rather than the peak of MAI.

30 years: This is where periodic annual increment (PAI) peaks (130 cu ft/acre/yr for 25–30); PAI culminates before MAI.

35 years: Correct. MAI is 60, 70, 80, 84.3 and 81.3 cu ft/acre/yr at ages 20–40. It peaks at age 35, where periodic increment (110, then 60) falls below MAI.

40 years: This is the age of greatest standing volume in the table; MAI is already falling by then.

The rotation of maximum volume production is the age where MAI peaks; it occurs where PAI falls to equal MAI, after PAI itself has peaked.

Answer: C

Clearcutting now, relying on acorns and stump sprouts to restock the site: Without large advance oak regeneration, a clearcut on a good site is usually captured by faster-growing competitors such as red maple and yellow-poplar.

A seed-tree cut that leaves 8 to 10 large oaks per acre for seed: Seed tree suits light, wind-dispersed seed of intolerant species; small new oak seedlings cannot compete in full sun on a good site.

A shelterwood sequence that builds large oak advance regeneration first: Correct. Oak regenerates mainly from large advance regeneration. A shelterwood (often with midstory control) raises understory light enough for oak to grow before the final removal cut.

Single-tree selection that removes the largest oaks each cutting cycle: Single-tree selection creates small gaps that favor shade-tolerant species such as red maple, not intermediate-tolerance oaks.

Oak regeneration depends on large advance regeneration; shelterwood methods are used to develop it before the overstory is removed.

Answer: D

Small-diameter hardwood pulpwood that was knocked down: Low-value pulpwood returns the least for the logging capacity used, even though it is down.

Leaning but rooted hardwood sawtimber: Rooted, leaning hardwoods usually lose value more slowly than downed pine and can follow later.

Undamaged pine left standing between blowdown patches: Undamaged timber has no salvage urgency; cutting it first uses scarce logging capacity on wood not losing value.

Downed and broken pine sawtimber: Correct. Downed pine deteriorates fastest (bark beetles, sap stain, decay) and carries high value, so it is salvaged first; standing damaged trees and hardwoods usually lose value more slowly.

Salvage first what is most valuable and deteriorating fastest; downed softwoods usually top the list.

Answer: A

1. 1. Basal area removed = 130 − 85 = 45 ft²/acre.
2. 2. Percent removed = 45 ÷ 130 × 100.
3. 3. = 34.6% ≈ 35%.

35%: Correct. Removal = 130 − 85 = 45 ft²/acre; 45 ÷ 130 × 100 = 34.6%, or about 35%.

45%: Reported the 45 ft²/acre removed as if it were a percentage.

53%: Divided the removal by the residual basal area (45 ÷ 85) instead of the pre-thinning basal area.

65%: This is the share of basal area retained (85 ÷ 130), not the share removed.

Percent removed = (pre-cut BA − residual BA) ÷ pre-cut BA × 100; the denominator is the stand before cutting.

Answer: D

Decline to market the timber and refer the client to the mill's procurement forester: Abandoning the client is unnecessary and would hand the seller to the buyer's representative.

Accept the fee but keep it confidential to avoid influencing other bidders: Concealment is the opposite of the disclosure the Code requires.

Accept the fee if the mill's bid turns out to be the highest: Winning the bid does not remove the divided loyalty; the conflict must be disclosed and resolved.

Disclose the offer to her client and resolve the conflict, normally by declining the fee: Correct. The Code requires members to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest; a payment from a buyer while representing the seller creates one.

SAF Code of Ethics: disclose and resolve conflicts of interest; represent the client's interests, not a party on the other side of the deal.

Answer: A

Skyline cable yarding uphill to landings on the ridge road: Correct. Cable systems move logs to a landing with partial or full suspension, so tractors never travel the steep, erodible slopes; the ridge road gives uphill yarding.

Cut-to-length harvester and forwarder working downslope: CTL machines are ground-based; standard units are not suited to 55 to 70% slopes.

Helicopter yarding to a landing at the bottom of the unit: Helicopter logging is far costlier and is reserved for units without feasible road or cable access; here a ridge road already exists.

Rubber-tired skidders working on contour skid trails: Wheeled skidders cannot operate safely or without heavy soil disturbance on slopes this steep.

Steep ground with a road above is classic cable (skyline) country; ground-based systems are limited to gentler slopes.