What month will you start tapping

[spud]

Just wondering when people will start tapping and where is your location. Last year I was able to get 13,000-15,000 gallons of sap in mid Feb. I know the big operations in my area start tapping the first of Jan. just so they can be done in time. I am thinking of starting in Jan in hopes of getting a week of mild temps like Vermont does most years. It's a gamble I think may pay off.

Spud

[heus]

Feb here in NE Ohio

[Mark]

In the U P of Michigan I will start tapping February 1st to be ready March 1st.

[sjdoyon]

Planning on January to take advantage of our helper who will be on college break. Probably will only tap between 10:00am-3:00pm. We lost the first big run this past spring in Feb, we tapped a few days afterward so we figure we lost about two barrels of production.

[Bruce L]

Usually tap end of Feb-early March,but this year I said we are tapping in the January thaw,unless it is like the last non-winter will be tapped on New Year's Day,try to get the earlier runs in case the season is a bust again.

[spud]

Usually tap end of Feb-early March,but this year I said we are tapping in the January thaw,unless it is like the last non-winter will be tapped on New Year's Day,try to get the earlier runs in case the season is a bust again.

Bruce L- I am thinking the same thing you are. I really do not want to miss the Jan thaw if we have one. Proctor got 5 gallons of sap per tap in the first week of Jan. I think that was in 2006-2007 you could look it up on their site. Just the thought of missing 20,000 gallons of sap kills me.

Spud

[red maples]

mid to end of feb. usually. but never before christmas wish I did that last year!!! all depends on the temps and what the weather guy says even though they seem to be wrong most of the time as of late at least they got Sandy right!!!

[Little Maple]

We are going to start tapping the first of January this upcoming year no matter what the weather is doing out!

[heus]

Wow canadiens and vermonters tapping in early Jan. Thats amazing.

[schellmaple]

With the early tapping in January and February can the tap holes dry up before the end of the season?

[Jim Brown]

We traditional tap on or near Valentines day. Last year was the 11th and we made our first syrup on the 17th

Jim

[Leo]

I will start tapping about the second week of March. Last year we had crazy warm weather in February and March but the sap still didn't run until March 19.

[maple flats]

I'm thinking Jan, when 2 or my college grandsons are on break.

[Dennis H.]

I do not tap by the calender, I watch what mather nature gives us then make an educated guess as to when to pull the trigger.

This past season I tapped about the 20th of Jan and I made the most syrup in a season then I ever have.
If I waited to when the calender says it is time, around the 2nd week in Feb, I would made half of what I made.

So I would advise others to us the calender as a guide but pay attention to the weather and long term forecast.