I have a maple here and it came down...how long and how do you dry a piece of wood for a gunstock?

I don't know anything about these things.

Any info would be appreciated

Thanks
Brad

do I have it cut into blanks and then dry or leave it alone and let it dry...I live in SW Idaho...thanks
Brad

Cut into blanks and then let dry.

If you know nothing about it, might be wise
to get someone who knows to look at the tree
BEFORE you start cutting it to maximise the
number of blanks you get or if you only want
a few, getting the best one's.

What kind of maple; if it is a silver maple, then burn it in your fireplace. if it is sugar or red, ok. Let it dry one year per inch of thickness, and you should saw your blanks at least 2.5-3 inches thick. Seal the ends or you will get bad checking; that slows the drying. Use paint or tar. Saw the blanks either as plain sawn, or quarter sawn; the diameter of your tree will dictate how to some extent. Don't cut a blank with the center pith in it. Let someone who knows how do it.