"Ax Men" episode more like "The Real World" for state timber regulators

The History Channel bills "Ax Men" as a reality-television show offering a glimpse into the rugged life of Northwest loggers.

But perhaps part of the show should have aired on A&E Television's Crime & Investigation Network.

Washington state timber regulators say it appears "Ax Men" episodes airing nationwide show a Cle Elum-based company, S&S Aqua Logging, breaking state law by salvaging logs from the Hoquiam River without permits.

"We get our cases from TV now," joked Larry Raedel, the chief of law-enforcement services for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who was tipped to the case Sunday while watching the show at home.

The state normally doesn't issue permits for underwater log salvage because of the potential ecological impacts of pulling the logs from the river, Raedel said.

"He (the owner of the company) had inquired about permits, and we said we don't issue permits for that kind of activity," Raedel said. "So, apparently he went off on his own and was doing it."

Because the river bottom is considered state aquatic lands, the logs are public property, Raedel said. The logs can be valuable because they are preserved and essentially pressure-treated while underwater.

The state is investigating the case as a possible felony theft. No charges have been issued.

But DNR on Friday seized more than 50 logs and other pieces of wood from a property alongside the Hoquiam River in Grays Harbor County.

A call to the company's offices was not returned. History Channel officials also could not be reached for comment, but parts of episodes featuring the company were still on the channel's Web site Friday afternoon.

The sections feature Jimmy Smith of S&S Aqua Logging, a logger prone to yelling and cursing, working on a river with his son, James.

In one scene, Jimmy Smith explains that he took to underwater salvage to get logs without having to cut them down.

"It is unfortunate that the History Channel has chosen to glorify illegal activity and unsafe logging practices on their television program," said state Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark, who oversees DNR, in a prepared statement.

Raedel said he's not sure how long the company has been pulling logs from Washington rivers. He said they have not had a chance to interview the owner.

They also have not heard back from the History Channel after trying to reach the show this week to see about getting copies of all the episodes.

Warren Cornwall: 206-464-2311 or wcornwall@seattletimes.com