The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: JRWoodchuck on November 30, 2016, 01:38:42 PM

Title: Doug Fir vs White Fir identification
Post by: JRWoodchuck on November 30, 2016, 01:38:42 PM
I live in Eastern Oregon and primarily cut Western Larch for firewood. Occasionally Doug Fir. But I don't know Doug Fir well enough to identify it over White Fir and don't like cutting trees down that I don't need to. So my question is, is there any distinct ways to tell them apart when dead and standing. Once I cut one down I know almost as soon as I start cutting it. But they look similar to me prior. Thanks!
Title: Re: Doug Fir vs White Fir identification
Post by: BradMarks on November 30, 2016, 03:01:17 PM
Dead and standing, that's a tough one.  Green, piece of cake.  If the tree has only been dead a year or two, there might still be needles, maybe.  Telltale sign in a dead WF could be the branching, or lack of in the tops(WF usually die topside and move down), and cluster branching mid section.  If the bark is coming off toward the top, it is definitely whiter looking than DF.  You say you know almost immediately when you start cutting it on the ground.  Not the safest for the next person, but you could put a cut into the tree and look at your saw chips. Once you get past the outer layer, the heartwood of a DF is most assuredly darker.  Trunk bark for the two can look similiar, especially if growing in the same stand.  Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Doug Fir vs White Fir identification
Post by: JRWoodchuck on November 30, 2016, 03:18:41 PM
Thanks Brad, When I start cutting I always finish cutting a tree down just to make sure that no freak accidents happen to someone else. I really don't like cutting trees down that don't need to be cut. I just wasn't sure if there was some tell tale ways of picking one out over the other. Thanks again.