Best Skid Steer for Land Clearing & Forestry in Canada (2025)

Land clearing and forestry work demands the most from a compact track loader — heavy brush, stumps, standing timber, and uneven terrain push machines to their limits. For professional land clearing in Canada, a large-frame CTL with 90–110 HP, 3,000+ lb operating capacity, and high-flow hydraulics is the minimum for running forestry mulchers, tree shears, and root grapples effectively. Compact track loaders have largely replaced dozers for residential lot clearing and right-of-way maintenance due to lower transport costs and superior maneuverability.

Based on 17,026 auction results tracked by TrackCheck.

Top Picks at a Glance

Model Best For HP Avg Price (CAD)
Cat 299D3 Best Overall 110 $65,000–$95,000 See Prices →
Bobcat T870 Best Attachment Ecosystem 100 $54,686 See Prices →
John Deere 333G Maximum Power 100 $66,155 See Prices →
ASV RT-120 Best Undercarriage 120 $43,060 See Prices →
Kubota SVL97-2 Best Value Large CTL 96 $64,345 See Prices →

What to Look For

Recommended: Large-frame CTL with 90–110 HP, 3,000+ lb ROC, high-flow hydraulics (30+ GPM), forestry cab guard package, and heavy-duty undercarriage

Horsepower

90+ HP minimum for forestry mulchers. 100–120 HP ideal for full-time clearing. Under 90 HP stalls in heavy brush.

Hydraulics

High-flow mandatory — 30+ GPM minimum. Forestry mulchers require 28–45 GPM and 3,000+ PSI. Standard flow cannot power mulcher heads.

Lift Type

Vertical lift preferred for stacking logs and loading trucks. Radial lift offers better reach but less height.

Cab Protection

Full forestry cab guard package essential — polycarbonate front door, side screens, rear guard, belly pan. Flying debris is a serious hazard.

Undercarriage

Heavy-duty tracks with steel embedded. Standard tracks wear 2–3× faster in forestry. Budget $8,000–$14,000 for replacements.

Operating Capacity

3,000+ lb ROC. Logs, stumps, and mulcher heads are heavy. Undersized machines tip forward or stall under load.

Tracks vs Wheels for Land Clearing

CTLs are the only practical choice for land clearing and forestry. Wheeled skid steers cannot safely operate in these conditions.

Wheeled Skid Steers

  • ✓ Not recommended for forestry — listed for completeness
  • ✓ May work for very light brush clearing on hard, dry ground
  • ✓ Lower purchase cost if clearing is occasional

Compact Track Loaders Recommended

  • ✓ Ground pressure 3.5–6 PSI — essential for soft, wet forest floor
  • ✓ Superior traction over roots, stumps, and uneven terrain
  • ✓ Stable platform for heavy mulcher and grapple operations
  • ✓ Can work in mud, swamp edges, and rain-soaked ground
  • ✓ Protects ground for future landscaping/construction

CTLs are non-negotiable for land clearing. Wheeled skid steers sink in soft ground, lose traction on slopes, and lack the stability needed for heavy forestry attachments.

Best Models for Land Clearing

Cat 299D3 Best Overall

Industry-leading 110 HP and 40 GPM high-flow standard. Purpose-built forestry package available with full cab guard, belly pan, and heavy-duty tracks.

110 HP · 4,200 lb ROC · Vertical Lift · 40 GPM high-flow standard

$65,000–$95,000

used price range

View Prices →

Bobcat T870 Best Attachment Ecosystem

Widest selection of forestry attachments including proprietary mulcher heads. Forestry cab guard kit available. 100 HP handles most mulchers.

100 HP · 3,525 lb ROC · Vertical Lift · 38.7 GPM high-flow

$54,686

avg from 123 sales

View Prices →

John Deere 333G Maximum Power

100 HP with 41 GPM high-flow standard. EH joystick controls with customizable response curves. SmartGrade available for finish work after clearing.

100 HP · 3,700 lb ROC · Vertical Lift · 41 GPM high-flow standard

$66,155

avg from 135 sales

View Prices →

ASV RT-120 Best Undercarriage

ASV's Posi-Track undercarriage system delivers lowest ground pressure in class (3.6 PSI). 120 HP Cummins diesel. Purpose-built for soft, wet forestry ground.

120 HP · 3,745 lb ROC · Vertical Lift · 3.6 PSI ground pressure

$43,060

avg from 9 sales

View Prices →

Kubota SVL97-2 Best Value Large CTL

96 HP and 40.7 GPM high-flow at a lower price point than Cat or Deere. Kubota diesel reliability. Good dealer network across Canada.

96 HP · 3,200 lb ROC · Vertical Lift · 40.7 GPM high-flow

$64,345

avg from 36 sales

View Prices →

Attachments You'll Need

Attachment Use Price Range Flow Required
Forestry Mulcher Primary clearing tool — mulches trees up to 8–12" diameter, brush, and stumps into chips $10,000–$25,000 CAD High-flow required (28+ GPM)
Tree Shear / Disc Saw Cutting trees 6–18" diameter cleanly for timber salvage $5,000–$15,000 CAD High-flow required
Root Grapple Removing stumps, rocks, and debris after mulching $2,899–$6,500 CAD Standard
Log Grapple Sorting and stacking logs for removal or burning $3,500–$8,000 CAD Standard
Brush Cutter / Rotary Mower Clearing grass, light brush, and saplings under 3" diameter $4,000–$10,000 CAD Standard to high-flow
Stump Grinder Grinding stumps below grade for finished lots $5,000–$12,000 CAD High-flow required

What to Expect at Each Budget

Under $25,000

Older CTLs (12-20 years) with 4,000-7,000+ hours. Bobcat T300, Cat 277, older ASV models. Likely need undercarriage work...

See options →

$25,000 – $40,000

8-12 year old CTLs with 2,000-4,000 hours. Bobcat T650/T770, Cat 279D, Kubota SVL75-2. Some have high-flow. May include ...

See options →

$40,000 – $60,000

3-7 year old large CTLs with 1,500-3,500 hours. Cat 289D3, Bobcat T76/T770, John Deere 331G. High-flow available. Modern...

See options →

Over $60,000

New or low-hour purpose-built forestry machines. Cat 299D3 ($85,000-$120,000 new), John Deere 333G ($100,000-$130,000), ...

See options →

Shop by Province

Alberta British Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland And Labrador

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Undersizing the machine

A 65 HP machine will stall in anything heavier than light brush. Forestry mulchers need 90+ HP to maintain disc speed under load. A stalling mulcher dulls teeth and damages the hydraulic system.

2. Skipping the forestry cab guard

Flying wood chips, branches, and rocks will shatter standard glass and injure the operator. Full polycarbonate forestry packages cost $3,000–$8,000 but are essential safety equipment.

3. Using standard-flow hydraulics

Standard flow (16–26 GPM) cannot power a forestry mulcher. You need high-flow (28–45 GPM) minimum. This is not upgradeable on most machines — it must be factory-spec.

4. Not budgeting for undercarriage wear

Forestry work eats tracks 2–3× faster than construction. Budget $8,000–$14,000 for track replacements every 800–1,200 hours. Factor this into your per-acre pricing.

5. Buying a wheeled skid steer

Wheels cannot handle soft, uneven forest terrain. You will get stuck, damage the machine, and lose money. CTLs are the only option for professional land clearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What HP skid steer do I need for forestry mulching?
Minimum 90 HP for light-to-medium brush. 100–120 HP recommended for full-time land clearing with trees up to 8–12" diameter. The mulcher needs sustained hydraulic power — an undersized engine stalls under load and damages teeth.
How much does land clearing cost per acre in Canada?
Professional land clearing runs $1,500–$5,000+ per acre depending on density. Light brush: $1,500–$2,500/acre. Medium brush with small trees: $2,500–$4,000/acre. Heavy timber requiring selective clearing: $4,000–$8,000/acre.
Can a skid steer mulch trees?
Yes — a large CTL (90+ HP) with a forestry mulcher can process trees up to 8–12" diameter. Larger trees (12"+) need a tree shear to cut, then the mulcher processes the stump and brush. Machines under 75 HP should not attempt forestry mulching.
What's the best forestry mulcher for a skid steer?
Popular options include the FAE, Fecon, and Denis Cimaf mulcher heads ($10,000–$25,000). Disc-style mulchers handle larger material, while drum-style create finer mulch. Match the mulcher to your machine's hydraulic flow — most need 28–45 GPM.
How many acres can a skid steer clear per day?
A 100+ HP CTL with a quality mulcher can clear 0.5–2 acres per day depending on vegetation density. Light brush: 1–2 acres/day. Medium brush with saplings: 0.5–1 acre/day. Heavy vegetation: 0.25–0.5 acres/day.
Do I need a CTL or wheeled skid steer for land clearing?
A CTL is required. Wheeled skid steers cannot safely operate on soft, uneven forest terrain. CTLs provide 3.5–6 PSI ground pressure (vs 30+ for wheels), essential traction on slopes, and stability for heavy mulcher operations.

Looking specifically for a compact track loader?

See our dedicated guide for CTLs:

Best Compact Track Loader for Land Clearing →

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