All maples work very well -- I trim a few trees every year here in ND. We have a lot of native maples as well -- common name boxelder. I also like green ash (name of the tree, not green wood) for a mild smoke. I also like apple when I get the chance to prune apple trees. I use about 5 - 8 pounds of wood for a pork shoulder left on the grill for 12 hours. Same for a beef chuck. Start the fire with charcoal, then use chunks of dry wood -- keep the temperature of the smoker cool (about 200 degrees F) and the meat well away from the heat. I use a New Braunfels smoker that my kids gave me for Father's day a few years ago. Mesquite I get from my relatives in Texas. Bring back a few chunks (my wife says 'cords') of mesquite whenever we get down there. Its not true that I leave luggage behind. :-) Have a few plants started -- wish spring would come to the tundra. Nels in ND