The WORST episodes of Ax Men
Every episode of Ax Men ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Ax Men!
The History Channel presents the first non-fiction show about the lives of the Pacific Northwest timber cutters and the dangers they face. From the same team responsible for Ice Road Truckers, this new series will take a look at the legacy of the pioneers who laid the foundations for future generations of loggers.
#1 - Falling Fast
Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/7/2014
It's only the second week into the logging season, but it seems like the teams could already use a break. In Alaska, the Papac team fights to find a replacement to fill the shoes of injured Coatsy. On Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Gabe Rygaard and his crew are scrambling to make up for their slow start by bringing in a second yarder. In Wyoming, David Zitterkopf and Sons keep their chainsaws humming as they tackle their 100 acre site, but run into a snag with the landowners fence. In Canada, Triack Resources is struggling to get their wood off the mountain and delivered to the mill. And down in Florida, the Dreadknots are pulling lots of wood, but it's not the right kind the log buyer's looking for.
#2 - Log Runners
Season 8 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/15/2015
The battle for King of The Mountain rages on between the big boys of the Pacific Northwest. In Washington, the Rygaard crew has a problem with getting the wood to the mill, so Gabe’s bringing in a trucking ace to get the job done. While up in Alaska, Papac has to deal with a dangerous unpredictable downhill site and mother nature isn’t helping make it any easier. Down in the bayou, Shelby’s got his jetboat back and has enlisted a couple of assistants to pull big wood for his log buyer. Down on the St. Johns River in Central Florida, the Chapman crew is in a tight battle with the Dreadknots. But today they’ll have deal with their nemesis who’s back to poaching logs. And in Wyoming, the Zitterkopf crew is still going strong but in order to stay on schedule, it’s all hands on deck as David gambles by putting Ethan in the skidder for the first time.
#3 - Jet Logged
Season 8 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/8/2015
Shelby gets his jetboat back, and it now has a new five hundred horsepower engine that will help him get the job done. Up in Washington, Rygaard is still struggling, and with no other options, Gabe is forced to promote his inexperienced crew, which could spell disaster. And in Canada, Dave McRae and Triack Resources step up to the plate and bring in a beast of a machine to get the wood out. Down in the high plains of Wyoming, the Zitterkopfs are without their skidder, but David comes up with a plan to save the day and keep delivering the much needed wood to the mill. And down in Florida, Greg Chapman's decision to leave the logging in the hands of his crew, could cost him more than just productivity.
#4 - Davi and Goliath
Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/1/2015
Shelby Stanga is still without his jet boat, but fortunately he has his trusty assistant Davi and his Go-Devil to pick up the slack. On Alaska's Kupreanof Island, the Papac crew is fighting to remain atop the King of the Mountain leaderboard, but today they're moving to the toughest section on their site. In the remote mountains of western Canada, the Triack team is hanging with the big boys, and with Kellie returning to work after recovering from an injury, it's all hands on deck. Down in Florida, Chapman logging has taken the lead in their competition with the Dreadknots and their slice of the pie keeps getting bigger. However, with a full crew and determined attitude, the Dreadknots refuse to go down without a fight. And in the high plains of Wyoming, David Zitterkopf is up early to conquer the task at hand, but with the rain coming down, he finds his production stuck in the mud.
#5 - Don't Cross The Boss
Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/22/2015
Ax Men has reached the midway point of the season, and the pressure to finish strong is higher then ever. In the Pacific Northwest, Rygaard logging has begun to claw its way back up the log count thanks to DJ Jeremiah, but today… he’s a no show. In Alaska, their season-long lead is slipping away, and if they don’t fill the seat in the yarder soon, they may not recover. Deep in the Louisiana Bayou, Shelby Stanga is still without his Jetboat, but with help from his niece and his trusty swamp buggy, his hunt for valuable sinker cypress continues. Up in the hills of Wyoming, Zitterkopf and Sons Logging rolls the dice and brings in a new hand to increase production, but this gamble may be a bust! And in Canada, Triack Resources attempt to haul logs out of a near impossible predicament.
#6 - All's Fair in Loggin' War
Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/15/2015
Down in the swamps of Louisiana, Shelby Stanga is trying to upgrade his logging empire, so he takes a risk and tries out some new equipment. In the Pacific Northwest, Rygaard has been struggling all season, but wildcard DJ Jeremiah just may provide the spark they've been missing. In British Columbia, Triack's production is slowing down due to steep terrain and narrow logging roads. And in the Southeast, the Dreadknots have fallen behind Chapman and are feeling the heat, so today they'll travel deep into the Withlacoochee River in search of the sunken treasure. And on the high plains of Wyoming, David Zitterkopf's log buyer has a unique and special order–one that won't be easy to fill.
#7 - Old Log, New Tricks
Season 8 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/8/2015
In the Louisiana Bayou, Shelby Stanga’s jet boat is in desperate need of repair and he needs to find logs to buy a new engine. At Rygaard Logging in Washington, Gabe takes a gamble and hires a wild card veteran logger. And up in Alaska, the Papac team is fighting the elements mother nature is throwing their way, and it could be too much for them to handle. Down in Florida, it’s do or die with the Chapman crew and the stubborn Gump Log. Meanwhile in the Wyoming wilderness at Zitterkopf logging, their fearless leader returns and it’s all hands on deck.
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#8 - Teepee of Death
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/18/2015
In Washington, Rygaard’s remaining veterans go old school to keep the team on track. Deep in the Bayou, Shelby and Bob discover a valuable sinker cypress, but reeling it in is easier said then done. In the high plains of Wyoming, the Zitterkopf crew tries to tackle a dangerous tangle of logs known as “the teepee of death.” In Alaska, the Papac crew takes on “shotgun logging,” one of the most dangerous forms of logging in the industry. In Florida, the Dreadknots get on a hot streak, while on the Saint Johns River, the Chapman crew’s season could go up in smoke as an engine overheats. In British Columbia, the Triack crew tries to fight through the hottest temperatures of the season.
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#9 - Swamp Man Boogie
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/11/2015
Deep in the Bayou, Shelby hits Lake Ponchartrain with Belinda and Bob to retrieve a massive log he marked years ago. In Florida, it’s round two between Chapman and the legendary Gump log. In Washington, things go from bad to worse for the bare bones Rygaard crew. On Alaska’s Kupreanof Island, Papac risks it all by downhill logging. In British Columbia, the Triack crew tackles the steepest section of the Britannia site. And in Wyoming, the Zitterkopf sons try to keep production moving while their leader, father David, is at the hospital.
#10 - The Log and Winding Road
Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/4/2015
In Louisiana, Shelby and his assistant Bob head out looking for logs on his newly repaired two-ton swamp buggy. In Central Florida, the Chapman crew goes to battle against the legendary “Gump” log – the biggest challenge of their career. In Washington, Rygaard fights to stay in the load count race, but their equipment doesn’t cooperate. In Alaska, Joe’s forced to take over as Papac’s yarder operator. North of the border in Canada, Triack Resources races to get out as many loads as they can before an upcoming storm threatens to shut down their operation. And in Wyoming, David Zitterkopf is known as the workhorse, but an illness may have him down for the count.
#11 - Hire Wire Act
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/28/2014
In Louisiana, Shelby looks to repair his custom made two-ton swamp buggy. In Alaska, Coatsy returns to the Papac worksite. In the Pacific Northwest, the Rygaard crew must climb over a hundred feet in the air to top a new lift tree. In Wyoming, David Zitterkopf’s attempt at swinging between the trees could end in disaster. In Florida, with Katelyn back and the half-million dollar order on the line, the Dreadknots go night logging. And up in Canada, an injury to a key crew member leaves Triack stuck behind the eight ball.
#12 - The Swampman Cometh
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/21/2014
Shelby the Swampman uses an airboat to search for a treasure trove of century old logs in a legendary lost canal. In Washington, Rygaard tries to haul out the biggest log on their site–a mammoth six-ton cypress. In the Wyoming wilderness, while David Zitterkopf delivers the first load of logs to the mill, his sons struggle to hold down the fort. In Alaska, Adrianne steps up and takes a shot at working on the landing for the Papac crew. In British Columbia, the most rugged section of the Britannia site puts Triack to the test. And in Florida, the Dreadknots are firing on all cylinders, but an accident late in the day could be a game changer.
#13 - Failure to Communicate
Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/14/2014
It’s week three, and the loggers are feeling the pressure to produce. In Alaska, Coatsy’s still out of commission, so Papac institutes an extremely dangerous process called Shotgun Logging. Over in Wyoming, the Zitterkopf men are taking the Bear Ranch site by storm. At Rygaard, the team has doubled the yarders to up production, but they’ve also doubled their trouble by crowding an already tight landing. Up in Canada, Triack Resources are on a roll using a logging method called “chucking”, but getting the loads out is proving a major challenge. And in Florida, poor communication between the Chapman crew nearly costs a diver’s life.
#14 - Untethered
Season 10 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/12/2019
Jason Rygaard races to clear a hillside in time to fill four logging trucks; Jay R Harkness fights to control the untethered Tigercat on a steep, snow-covered mountainside; Bucking Billy and his son Hogan battle a forest of hang-ups and widow-makers.
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#15 - Logged and Loaded
Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/30/2014
The crews of Ax Men are back and the race for green gold is on! In Washington, Rygaard pushes deep into their roughest terrain yet in an effort to recapture the title. In Alaska, Papac’s dreams of a repeat are shattered when Coatsy’s seriously injured. In Canada, a new contender steps into the ring, taking on a daunting site and proving they’re the special forces of the industry. Down in Florida, the Dreadknots and Chapman battle over a half-million dollar log order. And in Wyoming, old school loggers Zitterkopf & Sons tackle a 100 acre-site… all by hand.
#16 - Cutting it Close
Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/6/2014
In the season finale, battles and fortunes are all on the line. On Alaska's Kupreanof Island, a chainsaw accident leaves the crew short-handed on the last and most dangerous site of the season. In Washington, Gabe Rygaard's ferocious push to move the final loads proves too dangerous when Jason flips a loaded trailer. In the Bayou, it's Shelby's big day as he heads to the mill to find out if he's successfully filled his 200,000 board foot order. And down on Florida's St. Johns River, Greg's mistake could cost his crew a victory over the Dreadknots when a broken propeller leaves them dead in the water.
#17 - Tooth and Nail
Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/16/2014
In Washington, Rygaard's quest for king of the mountain hits the skids when the crew nearly topples the yarder. Down the road, the Oakes crew capitalizes on their sidelined rivals and one team member learns first hand a drastic remedy for a toothache in the brush. In the Bayou, while trying to bring in a land-locked monster cypress, Shelby pushes his boat to the limit. On Alaska's Kupreanof Island, Joe returns, determined to whip the crew back into shape. And down in Florida, Chapman races against a lightning storm to find river gold, while the Dreadknots conspire with a Chapman enemy to secure their lead.
#18 - Dog Days
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/2/2014
In Washington, a battle erupts when Oakes is accused of stealing Rygaard's logs. In Alaska, tensions soar as a runaway log nearly wipes out the crew. In the Bayou, Shelby brings out his puppy to help him with a special assignment. Down in Florida, when Swilley gets snagged underwater, it's up to Jeter to save him. And in Louisiana, Ax Cut Lumber uses a homemade invention to float a monster log home.
#19 - Large Barge
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/22/2013
In Cajun country, Shelby has found a huge cash of logs, but to get it, he has to navigate the paddle barge through a narrow canal surrounded by private homes and docks. On the Olympic Peninsula, Gabe goes it alone and risks his own life trying to do too much. Down in Florida, the competition is heating up as the Chapman team discovers someone is poaching their logs and the Dreadknots suffer a crippling injury when Kraken gets his hand caught in a winch. Up in Alaska, Joe is sent to teach new logger Adrienne while topping a tree.
#20 - Swamp Man Sabotage
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/15/2013
The competition is heating up a quarter of the way through the season. Down in the Bayou, Shelby brings in a new assistant, but the logging gets put on hold when the Swamp Man finds that all his equipment has been sabotaged. In the Pacific Northwest, Joe tries to muscle his way through his mistakes but his shortcuts land him in hot water with the boss. In Washington, Gabe's greenhorns aren't living up their potential, and things get heated when Jason oversteps his boundaries and takes matters into his own hands. In Florida, the Dreadknots have their hands full with some surprise help on the boat, while Swilley fights for his place on the boat with the Chapman crew.
#21 - Out on a Limb
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/15/2013
It's week four and the season is already running off the rails. On the Olympic Peninsula, Gabe runs a hung-over greenhorn into the ground but Jason disagrees with Gabe's management style. In the swamp, Belinda is too hurt to log so she's brought in a new assistant who almost drowns Shelby's dream of rebuilding his logging empire. Up in Alaska, Mike Papac decides to shake things up and brings in a long time family friend to help in the rigging. The battle for river supremacy rages on in Florida as the Chapman team fights amongst themselves and the Dreadknots divide to conquer.
#22 - Fight to the Finish Line
Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 6/2/2013
In the dramatic Ax Men season conclusion, Shelby hits the lake with a squad of assistants to have one last confrontation with Richard. In Florida, the Dreadknots and S&S struggle to pull enough logs to help out their ailing leader, Jimmy. In Canada, Gord's whip cracking doesn't help as their final site offers lethal challenges. And in Washington, Craig Rygaard and the crew push to finish on time, and Gabe has a surprise for his father on his last day as a logger.
#23 - The Reckoning (2)
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/18/2009
As the logging season winds to a close, the drama heats up. Conner fights off defeat, while the men of Pihl fight each other. Jimmy's barge refuses to budge, and for Browning and Rygaard, eleventh hour catastrophes send the competition down to the wire.
#24 - Clash of the Titans
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/11/2009
The gap between winners and losers is narrowing. Rygaard's new greenhorn battles to prove himself, while Conner Aviation's substitute pilot gets wild with the chopper. Dwayne Dethlefs leaves Pihl Logging high and dry, while the Aqua Loggers are sunk by bad weather. At Browning, Jesse's crew tries to catch Rygaard's lead.
#25 - The Final Haul
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/8/2008
Logging's toughest season winds down but the battle is far from over. Jesse questions the future of his family's business as J.M. Browning continues to fall from glory. The Gustafson crew returns to the Challenge, but rumors of a final pullout abound. The Pihl crew wraps Beaver and celebrates a successful year. A member of the Stump Branch crew announces that he will not return.
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