Commemorative Woodhaven Call

“A blue-stained turkey pot call represents the work the NWTF is engaged in and the organizational commitment to restore forested landscapes to a desired condition that supports a healthy ecosystem, quality wildlife habitat and robust outdoor experiences.” — Tom Spezze, NWTF national director of field conservation and state policy

The Story of Your “Blue Stain” Custom Call

Each pot call tells the story about western forests, the challenges they’re facing, and the work that the NWTF is doing to restore those forests. These blue stain calls are an artifact of a poor forest stand condition and a reminder of the importance of the work NWTF is engaged in across the west to address forest health issues, reduce wildfire risks and repurpose what might otherwise be considered waste into valuable resources.

In the spring of 2023, the National Wild Turkey Federation launched an ambitious pilot program as a part of the 20-year national master stewardship agreement with the USDA Forest Service. This program, referred to as the Timber Transport Pilot, aimed to tackle the ongoing wildfire crisis in the western United States, while also contributing to the conservation of wild turkey habitat in the west.

Northern California, including the Klamath National Forest, is known for devastating wildfires, a problem exacerbated by forests that are densely packed with trees. Previous Forest Service reports found that numerous areas within the Klamath National Forest have tree densities exceeding 500 trees per acre. This results in interlocked crowns and stunted growth, leading to suppressed and weakened trees. Consequently, these trees become highly susceptible to stress and mortality caused by insects and diseases. The presence of these small ladder fuels, combined with the accumulation of ground fuels from fallen dead trees, significantly increases the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

In total, approximately 6,000 acres of work was completed to enhance wildlife habitat, improve forest health, reduce wildfire fuel loads and increase the hunting and recreation value within the national forest. Under the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, the Timber Transport Pilot was tested as an innovative method for addressing the challenges posed by overstocked forests. This pilot program focused on transporting sawlogs from areas with an excess supply of timber to regions equipped with sawmilling infrastructure. By doing so, the program aimed to facilitate more efficient and effective forest restoration efforts across the western United States.

Before the harvested logs were transported by rail to Wyoming, they were first sent to Gilchrist Forest Products in Oregon for debarking. This crucial step was taken to prevent the spread of forest insects, such as the western bark beetle, five-spined ips beetle and California flatheaded borer. These insects pose significant threats by causing tree mortality and decreasing the economic value of harvested timber. Debarking the logs before transport ensured that these pests were eliminated, thereby protecting both the destination forests and the economic integrity of the timber industry.

Photo Credits: Woodhaven Custom Calls, NWTF Staff and Neiman Enterprise

Where Does Blue Stain Wood Originate

Bark beetles, native to the forests of western North America, inhabit lodgepole, Scotch, ponderosa, and limber pine trees. The blue stain fungus is carried from tree to tree on a specialized structure in the beetle’s mouthparts. As these insects bore into the wood, the fungus begins to grow inside it. This fungus, introduced into the tree by the beetles, discolors the wood with a distinct blue tint, marking the presence of the infection and often leading to further deterioration of the tree’s health.

Once the beetle kills a tree, it becomes known as dead standing timber. If harvested within five years, these trees can still be utilized for wood products and sequester their carbon storage. However, if they are not harvested within this time frame, the trees eventually fall and begin to decay. This process transforms them into vast amounts of kindling within our forests.

Therefore, timely harvesting of dead standing timber is crucial not only for maintaining forest health but also for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing wildfire risks. This underscores the critical importance of the implementation of the Timber Transport Pilot, particularly emphasizing the need for an expedited restoration process.

Blue stain can also result from wildfire-burned landscapes, where the heat causes the discoloration. This staining occurs at the tree’s cambium layer, which is the tree’s nutrient transport system. Both heat-induced blue stain and beetle-induced blue stain are symptoms of warming/drought conditions, poor forest stand health or inadequate forest management leading to intense and frequent wildfires.

In areas like Colorado, where the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative focuses on restoring high-priority wildfire landscapes, the NWTF has sourced blue-stained spruce from wildfire-affected areas. This effort helps remove excess fuels from the landscape, store carbon and supply timber to mills in need.

The Market for Blue Stain Wood

Many consumers notice the bluish discoloration in blue stain timber and become concerned that the wood is moldy. However, it is important to understand that the blue stain is not mold. This blue staining does not pose any health risks and the wood remains safe to handle. Thus, while the appearance of blue stain timber may be unusual, the staining is purely cosmetic and does not compromise the structural integrity of the wood.

This blue stain wood is of less commercial economic value due to the grading guidelines set up by these markets. Boards milled from blue stain timber are usually graded as lower quality and usually have less value than bright or green boards. Blue stain is also harvested for low value biomass (such as particle board or pellets), simply to remove it from the forest.

The up side is that there can also be positives to blue stain timber, and in some markets the aesthetic can be sought after.

“If you get enough blue stain and it can be sort and put into pattern, there can be an added value product,” said Dan Buehler, Resource Manager for Neiman Enterprises Inc. “The blue stain also must have a consistent pattern such as streaks and not isolated into one part of the board to make it look ‘nice’.”

Beyond its origins and impact on tree health, blue stain timber represents a broader narrative of resilience and transformation. It is a testament to the challenges faced by our forests and the adaptive strategies employed to mitigate those challenges. Through projects like the Timber Transport Pilot, blue stain timber becomes a tangible marker of progress, embodying the NWTF’s commitment to sustaining both forest ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them. This wood, marked by its distinctive color, carries with it the story of a landscape’s struggle and recovery, and the collaborative efforts to turn adversity into opportunity.

Through the Timber Transport Pilot project, the NWTF and its partners have made large strides in the conservation of our forests and the wildlife that inhabit them. During this project, 2,746 acres of forest products were harvested and processed into boards by Devils Tower Forest Products in Hulett, Wyoming. If these salvaged trees had not been milled, they would have been left to accumulate and eventually burned, releasing even more carbon into the atmosphere. By milling the timber, the NWTF has effectively captured and stored carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting broader conservation and climate goals.

“From a forest management perspective, blue stain tells a story, Beetles are native and a natural component of western forests, but beetle epidemics indicate stressed trees and unhealthy forests.” — Patt Dorsey, NWTF director of conservation in the west

This exclusive pot call features a sound chamber made from premium teak wood and a custom blue stain timber sound board that may come from the Timber Transport Pilot and RMRI landscapes in Colorado. The call also features a crystal surface and a hickory striker, and will proudly display the NWTF’s tagline: “Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests.”

Each call comes with a unique, one-of-a-kind plaque for display, showcasing the individual call number along with the NWTF and WoodHaven logos. This collectible item will not only highlight the craftsmanship of WoodHaven Custom Calls but also symbolizes the NWTF’s commitment to conservation and the innovative use of the Timber Transport Pilot to move wood resources long distances in confronting the wildfire crisis.

Blue stain pine is a beautiful version of a wood byproduct. However, blue stain in pine is caused by a fungus left behind from a beetle infestation that kills the tree.  Pine beetle infestations have become an epidemic to western forest landscapes that has significantly impacted wildlife habitat and how or even if wildlife continue to utilize the habitat. “Beetle kill” forests also present a significant increase in fuel-loading and a catastrophic wildfire condition, impacts water quality/quantity and soil retention. Science has determined that a beetle killed spruce tree, for example, has a merchantable value for less than 5 years from the time it dies. Removal of this timber quickly is essential for all of the reasons stated above otherwise no market exists for any level of removal and utilization. “A blue-stained turkey pot call represents the work that NWTF is engaged in and an organizational commitment of the NWTF to restore forested landscapes to a desired condition that supports a healthy ecosystem, good wildlife habitat and a quality outdoor experience”.