using found wood for smoking - anything special?

[Phillip Moore]

So from time to time my red oak tree will drop a limb or branch. I've also seen suggested calling tree service place and asking for some pieces of wood from a trees they've cut down.

Do you have to do anything special with this before using it? Like, let it dry out a while? There are some places here in Austin who use 'green' mesquite, so I guess they don't let it dry out.

Would I have anything to fear from using the wood from my red oak tree that dropped a limb?

 

[Phil Perrin]

Phillip, if the limb fell off from a storm or has been damaged,go ahead and use it. If it fell off from disease,I wouldn't use it. Also,green wood can give off a bitter smoke. Let it dry form several months. You'll have much better results. HTH