Find Maple Burl in the Forest

• 1). Locate bigleaf maple trees, which you can find in the Pacific Northwest. Bigleaf maple trees grow in abundance in the foothills of the Cascade and Coast ranges. They have green leaves with five points, small yellow flowers and brown fruit.
  
  
• 2). Search for bigleaf maple trees with growth on the trunk. When a growth occurs on the trunk of a bigleaf maple tree, it can cause the wood to take on a highly figured quality. The wood tends to be darker overall in color than the rest of the maple, and it will have many whorls and patterns through its surface. The outside edge of the growth is usually uneven, creating rough ridges.
  
  
• 3). Determine whose land you are on and whether you can harvest the maple burl. If you own the property, you can harvest the tree any way you like. If not, you want to make sure you get permission. Otherwise, the owner can take legal action such as a lawsuit for trespassing.
  
  

Find Maple Burl from a Supplier

• 1). Locate logging companies with contracts to harvest in the Northwest Pacific area. While companies don't harvest bigleaf maple as often as other types of trees, you can find suppliers offering it for sale. Some companies host auctions in which they sell the wood to the highest bidder.
  
  
• 2). Contact companies specializing in exotic hardwoods. Sometimes these companies work as the middlemen, visiting auctions hosted by lumber companies. If a buyer knows you would like maple burl, he can keep an eye out for it at the next event.
  
  
• 3). Purchase maple burl from store selling a variety of wood products. Keep in mind the price is usually higher because of the difficulty in finding maple burl. If you order from an online vendor, don't forget to factor in shipping.