I found an area that was recently logged, they setup an onsite mill and cut their boards as they were dropping trees. They left several huge piles of slabs behind. I did some poking around the other day and pulled out a peice of maple (not sure which species, but its hard). Saw some oak, hickory and birch buried in there too, but since I was alone and no-one knew where I was I didn't want to do too much climbing and digging.
I got 3 usuable staves from the maple slab I grabbed though.
Anyone else have any luck with staves they've come by this way?