retapping 2012 holes

[GV2]

I am new to this fabulous forum. This is my first year tapping trees. I got a late start this season putting up 20 buckets and producing my first quart and 1/2 of dark syrup. I pulled my taps last Sunday just before the unseasonable Massachusetts record warmth got underway. Most of my trees have avoided budding and it looks like we may get a run of below freezing nights next week. I am tempted to set up again and I would like to know if I could reuse the same 2012 holes. If so, could I just reset the spigots or should I lightly re-drill first? My second choice would be to tap new holes for this possible late run.

Thanks,

Pete

[PerryW]

IMO, its just too late in the season to justify the damage to the trees to bore new holes, or even ream out the old ones. I'm up near Franconia Notch and I am seeing sugar maple buds actually popping open. You will almost certainly be getting bud run, which will not make good syrup.