The practice of painting marks on trees, often called blazing, is a specialized form of non-verbal communication used by foresters, land managers, and surveyors. These marks serve as a temporary or permanent code to convey instructions about the tree’s status or the land’s boundary. The meaning of a specific color, like red, is not universally standardized across all states, counties, or private land ownerships. The interpretation depends heavily on the jurisdiction and the context, meaning a red stripe in a national forest may signify something entirely different from one found on private timberland.
Red Paint as Property Line Indicators
Red paint frequently signals the presence of a property boundary, representing a legally significant application of the color in forestry. Government agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), commonly use this color to delineate the edge between federal land and adjacent private property. The mark is typically applied as a horizontal stripe or band wrapped around the trunk of a tree, often at eye level, making the line visible in dense forest.
A tree standing directly on the surveyed line is known as a “line tree” and features paint marks on two opposing sides, indicating the boundary runs through its center. Surveyors use specialized, long-lasting paint designed to resist weathering for up to five to seven years, though the marks must be periodically refreshed. Because these marks represent official property lines, tampering with or removing them can constitute a violation of state or federal laws. This boundary marking is considered permanent, serving as a long-term legal reference point for landowners and the public.
Marking Trees for Timber Management
In the context of commercial logging and silviculture, red paint acts as an operational instruction for harvest crews. Most often, a red band or series of marks designates the physical boundary of a specific timber sale unit. The red line marks the perimeter within which harvesting is permitted, often applied to the side of the boundary tree facing the interior of the sale area.
This boundary distinction is crucial for selective harvesting plans, as it identifies trees that are not included in the sale and must be left standing. Red paint may also be used to mark individual trees designated for removal, particularly mature trees ready for harvest. Unlike permanent boundary marks, these operational markings are temporary, intended only to guide the logging crew during the timber operation. The forester determines the meaning of the color beforehand, and this scheme is communicated explicitly to the logging contractor.
Surveying for Infrastructure and Easements
A third application of red paint involves surveying for government-controlled land, often related to infrastructure and easements. Government entities like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers use red paint to mark “witness trees” near the official boundary of their federally managed land, such as around reservoirs. These boundaries frequently contain utility right-of-ways or areas designated for flood control.
The presence of red paint in these areas signifies that the land is subject to governmental control or an access restriction. These markings communicate that the land use is limited due to an established easement for power lines, pipelines, or road construction. While the easement itself is permanent, the red paint marks are temporary survey aids, sometimes accompanied by flagging tape to indicate the path of a future project or a specific survey point.