Tree tapping

[Arklatex]

I've never done this before but I'm researching and sharing with yall. Earlier, Hawgrider had a post that mentioned tapping trees as a source for hydration. Growing up in Texas, the only thing I know about tapping trees for resources is that maple syrup is good...

So here is my first bit of research to share. Famous Survivalist Ray Mears using the birch tree:

https://youtu.be/pjlfu608L70

[hawgrider]

I've never done this before but I'm researching and sharing with yall. Earlier, Hawgrider had a post that mentioned tapping trees as a source for hydration. Growing up in Texas, the only thing I know about tapping trees for resources is that maple syrup is good...

So here is my first bit of research to share. Famous Survivalist Ray Mears using the birch tree:

https://youtu.be/pjlfu608L70I've got a birch syrup thread around here somewhere I tapped my birch a couple years ago. It takes 100 gallons of birch sap to make 1 gallon birch syrup. It take 40 gals of maple sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup. The size of the diameter of the tree will dertime how many taps you can put in it.

[hawgrider]

Found it-

http://theoutdoortradingpost.com/showthread.php?2086-Almost-time-to-tap-the-maples-Then-shortly-afer-the-maples-comes-the-birch&highlight=birch+syrup

[hawgrider]

How many maples do you have Ark?

[Arklatex]

How many maples do you have Ark?
I don't have any. Don't think there's birch either, maybe too low and south... I'll have to scout again. My interest is from a survivalist aspect of carving a spile and tapping cottonwood or walnut as a "water source"

[hawgrider]

I don't have any. Don't think there's birch either, maybe too low and south... I'll have to scout again. My interest is from a survivalist aspect of carving a spile and tapping cottonwood or walnut as a "water source"
Oh ok got ya..
There are serveral types of trees can be tapped during the early spring for a water source its clean and drinkable right from the spile. After the run is over though the sap gets cloudy and is not desireable and then quits flowing. So based on what I remember it can be used as a seaonal water source. In a survival spring situation you can make a spile from wood or simply penetrate the tree with a knife and let the sap flow off your knife into a container or canteen and drink without any boiling. I carry a plastic spile and a piece of tubing im my bug out pack.



Here is a good list of trees to tapped http://wildfoodism.com/2014/02/04/22-trees-that-can-be-tapped-for-sap-and-syrup/

[hawgrider]

Looks like black walnut also runs in the fall and winter I didn't know that.

Black walnut*(Juglans nigra)
The black walnut tree is a valuable timber species, whose sap flows in autumn, winter, and spring.* It is more common in the Midwest than in the Northeastern United States

[Inor]

Looks like black walnut also runs in the fall and winter I didn't know that.

Black walnut*(Juglans nigra)
The black walnut tree is a valuable timber species, whose sap flows in autumn, winter, and spring.* It is more common in the Midwest than in the Northeastern United States

We have a butt-load of Black Walnut growing around us. But I don't know that I would be real keen on tapping them. They have some oils in the wood that are not real healthy especially for animals. I would be a little scared ingesting the oils. Plus I would be afraid of ruining the trees for lumber.

[hawgrider]

So I just now watched your video Ark.

I notice the buds on the tree that guy is tapping. Up here when the buds form the run is over. And we don't tap so low on the tree as he is. I see he starts to use his knife. If he would have worked his knife in a little more it would run right down his knife.

[Arklatex]

Here is a good list of trees to tapped http://wildfoodism.com/2014/02/04/22-trees-that-can-be-tapped-for-sap-and-syrup/

Great link. I have lots of sycamore around here too. Maybe that's the ticket if I were to try the syrup route.

[hawgrider]

These guys know there stuff.

https://youtu.be/T4altDO4tOs

[Arklatex]

Excellent video Hawg.

[shootbrownelk]

Looks like black walnut also runs in the fall and winter I didn't know that.

Black walnut*(Juglans nigra)
The black walnut tree is a valuable timber species, whose sap flows in autumn, winter, and spring.* It is more common in the Midwest than in the Northeastern United States

I've got a Black Walnut in my backyard, here in Wyoming's high desert. Courtesy of some long dead squirrel. I've been here for 30 years and I didn't plant it. It grew pretty well after I started watering it. It's about 10" in diameter now.