Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

LOL sounds simple enough. typical me... over thinking it again!

no... quit collecting sap when it doesn't taste good anymore. The sap will develop a "buddy" off flavor once the trees start to bud, and will make very crappy tasting syrup at that point. That's when you want to pull your taps.

Hey thanks Baker! ill go empty my containers and have a taste. then check it evey day until it tastes different.

I always like the tail end sap best myself . Luck

crazy how fast the jugs fill up especially if the taps are not leaking! im guna keep an eye on them n if they are not going to over flow I will empty them tonight.

Watch for the buds on the trees as a clue, as well as warm weather. If the sap is gone too far buddy then you'll smell it as its cooking... I've made syrup with the off smell and it wasn't great... But I agree with Ross, the last good stuff makes damn good syrup! High sugar content usually so quicker to boil, usually very dark and excellent maple flavour that you don't get as much from the lighter syrup.

a lot of my trees will have sap that is just a little bit yellow too...if you drink a little bit it's like chewing a piece of wood, if it tastes like that, don't boil it. just dump it on the ground and pull the spile. once it's yellow/buddy it doesn't go back without an extended cold period. if it's still clear but not real sweet but not tasting like wood, boil it....it makes the nicest thickest darkest syrup with amazing maple flavour.

just a quick note on yellow sap... sometimes rain will run in a bit off the bark and tint the sap yellow while its still good... that sap is fine to cook up

Long as the yellow ain't from the squirrels. Keep your lines tight & your lids even tighter . lol Luck

well in less than 2 days I collected a full 5 gallons from 3 taps on a huge maple! WOOOHOOOOO! A massive success with my homemade rig! I didnt get stuck in the mud either! I just stopped short of getting stuck LOL! Sap is still nice n clear but im not going back there again until turkey season.