I picked oaks - Being a syrup maker, it ain't in my heart to cut a sugarmaple down! Some of the maples I've done though, split good, except for the crotches, they can be a real s.o.b.
Agree I think birch is way over rated at least compared to are white birch.I rather burn pine as it is close and easy to get but DFir is on top of my list not much choice here I do get the odd Manitoba maple I think they call it Box Elder in the states? but takes a long time to season.Poplar is very easy for me to get just a phone call away for free wood but it leaves allot of ash and I like to drop my own trees.Douglas-fir, Western larch....then Western birch (leaves too much ash - but good heat):greenchainsaw:
Glaring omission - ash.
I voted Birch, because its probably the best I can get around my area in Alberta, Canada. Unfortunatley birch is even hard to come by. Mosty soft wood in these parts. Poplar is llike a weed, its so common.
You guys are super lucky you have access to so much hard wood like oak, which is unheard of hear in Western Canada.
I made some calls yesterday to get prices on a cord of Birch, most places are charging $350 and you gotta pick it up yourself. What would someone in the U.S charge for a cord of Birch or cord of Oak?