Yup, Hillbilly, you southern boys (south of RI is south for me. LOL.) just don't know how to grow good BL. Hedge, 10 staves will allow you considerable learnin' wood. I'm surprised you found some trees in KY to cut. Seal the ends. I leave the bark on. If you remove it also remove the sapwood and seal the back. I love KY. My brother and his family are at this very time moving out of KY and heading to Mississippi. In his area there were few trees anywhere. Good deer population? I should have gone there to hunt a time or 2 but...Jawge