Post when you pull

[twofer]

Wanted to get a thread going for people to post to when they pull their taps.

We're about half an hour south of Lansing and so far so good. We only have the sugar maples tapped in our bush and so far the buds have been swelling but haven't opened. The sap is still running in clear.

[xyz5150]

When i pull my taps or when my wife pulls my taps? I told my wife last week i thought is was going to be over by this weekend looks like i lied.:lol:

[Sugarmaker]

Taps are still in but we plan to pull all 550 by the weekend. Any new sap is going on the ground! were done!
Chris

[40to1]

I was going to pull taps on the 17th - the weather was too warm and the sap was fermenting in the buckets.
But then a cold snap saved it all and I got a few more great days.

However, I'm exhausted, projects at work are way past "ripe", the wife isn't amused, and the kids want me back. Took the taps out earlier this week.

It's strange not to have to go out and collect sap....

[michiganfarmer2]

I was going to pull taps on the 17th - the weather was too warm and the sap was fermenting in the buckets.
But then a cold snap saved it all and I got a few more great days.

However, I'm exhausted, projects at work are way past "ripe", the wife isn't amused, and the kids want me back. Took the taps out earlier this week.

It's strange not to have to go out and collect sap....

When the season is over, for me its like a friend had been visiting, and is now leaving to go back home. I feel kinda lost,lol. Im a freak

[Ogemaw Tapper]

I am waiting to see if it starts flowing again here in the Northeast corner. Colder than the dickens here last night, and more to come they say, but warming nicely along 'bout Monday. So far I've only had one good flow on my gravity system, that lasted from last Sunday morning clear until Monday night. Collected more sap Monday morning from over-night flow than I ever have.

[whalems]

We have just got going here in northwest michigan. Only 1 good week of sap so far. every thing is froze up solid here for a couple days atleast. hope for some good runs next week.

[michiganfarmer2]

hows it ging wiht your new rig Mike? Do you like it? how much have you made?

[whalems]

The rig is great:) I have made 35 gallons of finished syrup so far. But this cold weather is been hard to deal with:mad: looks good for next week. Good luck with your season, Mike

[JBIV]

I pulled my taps yesterday. I wasn't going to be able to boil on the weekend. Sap was running good and clear after the cold came back.

So far I have just under 15 gals bottled up, with 4 gals of near syrup yet to finish. That is a lot better than the 5 gals I made last year!

Good Season for my 3rd year.:)

[xyz5150]

Pulled my taps yesterday collected nearly 650 gallons in a 3 day stretch ending Sunday. Boiled until midnight last night, 300 gallons left to finish hope i can keep it cool. Bottled 6 gallons last night just broke the 40 gallon mark. Going to have to upgrade my evaporator 4 hours of sleep a night isn't cutting it.

[twofer]

We're pulled as well. For all the mishaps and lacking severely in the number of taps we were able to put out we still made just under 50 gallons.

[ELM_DALE_MAPLE]

Pulled 1/2 the taps yesterday (Sunday) and I am pulling the remainder tonight or tomorrow night depending on the weather. Getting thunderstorms right now.

[michigansugarman]

Pulled our 50 taps on Sunday, 4/3. Made 17 gallons syrup this year on our 2 x 4 Leader evaporator. A good year for us.

[firetech]

The well rounded lady is singing. We are pulling as we go the kids pulled about 20 buckets yesterday and we will pick up and pull as we go along. we are still setting on about a 750 gals of sap looks like I need a day off to finish boiling. what a season!!!!!!!!We have been buying wood for the last week 3 full cords. But the mess is made and we are still making syrup. Here Fishy Fishy watch out Mr Wally.

[Friar_Athanasius]

Got in 210 gallons from Friday and just finished boiling. We are done 'till next year.

We got about 25 gallons of the best tasting maple syrup that I have ever had.

This is our first out of many seasons to come!

[retubjb]

Pulled my taps Sat., had 80 gal from 23 taps from Fri to Sat., so i can replenish my supply of syrup for the year. I only wanted 3-4 gal. this year. Maybe more next year.:)

[Paperman]

Same here pulled this past weekend. Had to dump some sap as we pulled. Almost brought a tear to the eye.
Ludington

[metalhead62]

pulled the last 50 on the 5th

[3fires]

Pulled my 30 today. :( I was sad to do it, was kind of getting to be a habit gathering all that sap.

11 3/4 gallons total.

I kept the 30 gallons of sap that was in the buckets today, but some was a bit cloudy, and I won't have a chance to boil until Thursday, so it's probably getting dumped.

[holey_bucket]

pulled my 20 today.

There wasn't really anything since my last gathering on Sunday.

Not exactly sure on the numbers, but I think I got 6.5-7gal of Syrup.

[glassman]

pulled 91 of 91 on sunday in the thunder snow. ended with somewhere between 15 and 20 gallons. alot of boiling on a 3 by 4 flat pan.

[Forrest hunters]

Pulled all 34 taps on 4-5 and have about 12 gallons of concentrate to finish and 42-43 gallons to boil down from 4-5 pick up. Probably get 1-2 gallons more. My trees must stink though as I hauled 375 gallons and have only finished off 4.5 gallons so far and may get the 1-2 more. That will only yield 1:57 (with 2 more gallons) for the year or 1/5 gallon per tap.

[retubjb]

I said I wanted 3-4 gal., ended up with 3.5 gal, not bad for 23 taps and only collecting sap 4 days. Still gotta wash my equipment in the next few days and stor it away til next year. Really think it is a block arch and a 2x4 pan to boil faster.

[michiganfarmer2]

IM pulling this weekend

[HandsomRiver]

My wife said, "that is enough" !

[whalems]

Pulling taps tomorrow.

[GramaCindy]

I will be pulling my taps depending on what I can squeeze out of tomorrow's boil. I have about 60 gallons of sap and 8 gallons of super sweet to start. The weather outlook is dismal for sapping, but great for spring! http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.30069458106835&lon=-91.45225524902344&site=dlh&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text;)
Sad to see this, my first year end with such a small harvest. More taps next year for sure!!!

[Ed R]

We had a pretty good year, 460+ gallons of syrup with a little under 1400 taps. Last year we made about 325 gallons with the same amount of taps. No problems cropped up during the year which is a plus. Spiles are pulled and buckets are picked up. Now buckets to wash and wood to cut.

[sugarmangraham]

I quit collecting on this past Sunday and boiled down on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the 200+ I gathered over the past weekend. Havent had time to pull taps yet, been so busy. I havent even had time to get on the computer! I will probably pull all my taps this weekend. So far we have made 15 gallons with some frozen sweet to finish off yet. Thats alot for us.
Had lots of fun this season spending time with my father and my little cousin making syrup. Time to make plans for next year and get to work cleaning everything up.

[mauisun97@yahoo.com]

Pulled all taps Friday morning finished boiling by 2pm, total for season was 18 gallons from 58 taps now the cleanup then the list of:rolleyes: improvements for next year.

[fishman]

I pulled on Saturday. 9.5 gallons and a bunch of candy from 54 taps. Disappointing to say the least. We just never had good sap conditions this year. The few days that it did get above freezing it wouldn't drop below freezing at night. Of course if I had back all of the sap I spilled and the syrup I boiled over on the finishing pan I would have done better.:( I did find that I am now prepared to do 15-20 gallons on my new 2x4 flat pan which is my goal. Just need the sap next year.

[beetree]

What a year down here in southern MI! Almost made up for the last two. We made 450 gal. from 1171 taps. Sugar content started at 3.7 then dropped to 2% just before that cold spell. We pulled everything out on the 2nd with 2.6% sap. First year in a long time that I haven't had any vandalism on the road side stuff. Looking at a water guy r.o. and doubling the amount of tapes for next year.

[Tweegs]

Pulled the last of them today. Got all that were on tube during the week, just finished with the buckets. Was done boiling last Sunday.

[syruplover99]

We pulled all of ours yesterday with the help of vernal patches, uncle Jim dad brother and sapping dog!!! It was a great year!

[pierre]

:)we pulled all are taps today great season made a record 71gal. 67 grade
A light ,4 med. on are last boil today now the clean up

[Four D Acre Farms]

we pulled on sat the 9th, day time temps in the 60's didnt freeze and was near 70 on sunday, out of wood, out of time, out of storage, oh yea did i mention i was out of wood. :lol:

[johnsben]

We pulled all our taps (150 ish) on Friday night (8th) and Saturday (9th) but didn't keep the sap that was in them. Last collected on Thursday. Ended up with just under 40 gallons of syrup with the last week being 23 of it.

[chandler37]

Last boil was on the 8th; that was sap from the day before. Still over 2% and clear. Produce 52 gallons, only half bad. Boyne Falls area

[sugarshack poultry]

pulled 50 taps on the 9th didnt keep any of the sap. good year 17 gals. hope to bump to 6000 taps with three leases added.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Pulled on the 8th and 9th as most producers in the area. Ran the vac as we pulled and didnt get muck so Mother nature was in controll and said enough is enough see ya next year.

[michiganfarmer2]

Pulled on the 8th and 9th as most producers in the area. Ran the vac as we pulled and didnt get muck so Mother nature was in controll and said enough is enough see ya next year.

do you use the check valve adapters? We had some freezing wether the last cuple days, but my trees wont run. im guessing the holes are healing closed because of bacteria. Im gonna try the check valves next year. I wasnt even able to make a quart per tap this year.