I agree. I buy logs on a small scale. The chance for any planting to have a high percentage of veneer logs is extremely low. As Dr Tim says, if it looks like a veneer log don't tap but tap everything else. I the woods I tap,(rented bush) I have marked a few trees that might make veneer, all else are tapped. The marked ones even though they look like possible veneer can't truly be graded until cut because the centers must also be good. It is also possible that 50-150 yrs ago they were tapped and no trace shows now. To be veneer a log must be at least 18" on the small end and 24"+ is graded better. That will never happen in 50 yrs in a woods setting and only very remotely possible in an open setting. But then you don't get veneer in the yard tree, only in crowded woods settings. The trees need to be fighting for sun to grow tall and straight and to shed the lower limbs early on. A maple tree like most others have branches to hold the leaves, if a branch is not contributing to the sugar production of that tree the tree shuts it down, the limb dies and falls off. Good forest management helps by removing those limbs sooner but there are very few veneer logs made by doing so. Most are natural because of competition.