>
> Why early winter instead of late...looking for lumber...

Around here trying to walk in three or four feet of snow in the bush is
harder than early winter when the snow is light, and the soil isn't frozen
yet.  If you want to get the root ball or burl, digging is easier too.
Plus, no bugs, and the forest is beautiful in late fall early winter.
 (Actually it's beautiful all the time!)
Sap starts to run as the days get longer in Feb--The maple syrup guys start
to set up their works in Feb to get ready for the sap run, so That's why I
suggested in Nov-Dec for lumber prospects, but maybe it's different where
you're located.
Claudio in Waterloo