Will this tree survive?

[Urban Sugarmaker]

I recently bought new house and there's about a dozen mature sugar maples on the property. The previous owner made syrup here and the trees look good except for the one pictured. I think they split the bark badly and severely injured the tree. See picture.

The crown looks healthy and I have no idea how old the wound is.

Will it survive? Or is this tree doomed?

[DrTimPerkins]

Judging from the amount of callus tissue growing on the right-side of the photo, that wound is fairly old (several years at least) and probably was not just a simple taphole. More likely it was an anchor of some sort for a hammock or clothes line or something that repeatedly damaged the stem. Probably not from splitting. Most splitting observed with maples from tapping is actually very superficial, and doesn't extend into the wood at all. Almost looks like something was put in the tree and reacted badly in the wood, causing the dark discoloration you see.

Looks like the tree is already responding positively in terms of growth to eventually cover the wound. It should do OK in the long-run. I'd be more concerned (as a homeowner) about how closely it is growing to the house. 30 yrs from now that tree will be very big, and there will be a weak spot in the stem. Wind, ice or snow could snap it off -- and it's about a 50% chance it'll land on the house. Alternatively, the roots are growing very close to the foundation. Is it poured concrete or block?

[Urban Sugarmaker]

Looks like the tree is already responding positively in terms of growth to eventually cover the wound. It should do OK in the long-run. I'd be more concerned (as a homeowner) about how closely it is growing to the house. 30 yrs from now that tree will be very big, and there will be a weak spot in the stem. Wind, ice or snow could snap it off -- and it's about a 50% chance it'll land on the house. Alternatively, the roots are growing very close to the foundation. Is it poured concrete or block?

Thanks Dr. Tim. It is actually closer to the neighbor's house and I think the foundations around here are mostly block. Mine is block. There is a tap hole in the center of that wound so that's why I was thinking it was from split bark from hammering too hard. There's one other tree with some hooks screwed into it but it's not wounded like this one.

[maple flats]

That hole in the wound could be from something like an anchor or anything else screwed in there over a long time, not likely a tap hole.
In terms of that tree falling some day, remember, if your tree falls on a neighbor's home you are responsible. Is it within 75-80' of the neighbor's home? While sugar maples can grow to about 120' tall, that only seems to happen in terrains where the tree needs to reach for light, like in the bottom of a narrow valley.

[Urban Sugarmaker]

That hole in the wound could be from something like an anchor or anything else screwed in there over a long time, not likely a tap hole.
In terms of that tree falling some day, remember, if your tree falls on a neighbor's home you are responsible. Is it within 75-80' of the neighbor's home? While sugar maples can grow to about 120' tall, that only seems to happen in terrains where the tree needs to reach for light, like in the bottom of a narrow valley.

Dave I'm almost 100% positive it is a taphole because the previous owners tapped here, but I could be wrong. Regardless, it looks like the tree will survive but with a weak spot in the trunk. This neighborhood has many mature maples and beech in close proximity to the houses. These trees have survived some significant weather events over the last few decades, and I can only hope they keep going. But of course it's a concern.

[Someclown]

It will survive but definitely as mentioned has fibre damage
Here's a maple damaged by a nail someone put in many years ago at breast height
20191103_153000.jpg
This tree was healthy but I had to remove it do to hazard trees around it that needed to be removed.
If you have it taken down please post a picture of the inside damage for us