A method for forecasting the log‐class distribution resulting from harvesting forest stands is investigated. The diameter distribution of a stand is approximated by a two‐parameter Weibull density function, the parameters of which are recovered from stand level characteristics. Theoretical bucking is performed for actual and simulated distributions and the resulting log yields are compared. An application to 40 stands indicates that an accurate prognosis can be expected, given a good approximation of the diameter distribution. For cases with multimodal diameter distributions or many small trees, the prognosis is unreliable.