Collecting wood

Spud,
I don't know much about alder, but I think you'd like to let the sap run back before you harvest, so most trees it would probably be best to harvest, if you mean cut the wood from the tree, in the fall. If you mean to gather wood that has fallen on the ground, the dead wood, I'd think that would be okay anytime. My grandmother liked to cut limbs on the waning moon.
Peggy

Most people cut firewood in fall or winter, but maybe that's because it's a pleasant time to do the work and easier without so many leaves. I suspect you'll find it dries pretty quickly once cut into small pieces.

Ahhh haaa! That's the reminder that I needed! After the sap falls. Thanks folks!

Alder is the most excellent wood for smoking fish, sweet and mild smoke, but I was taught years ago to peel the bark from the limbs before drying the wood. The bark contains a lot of something that blackens the fish.

You are correct about the bark. I removed mine at the time of harvest. Alder and red bay are my favorite for fish, but with bay wood you can leave the bark on. Any Alaskan salmon smoker would flip if the bark was left on the alder.

smokemullet,
Does what they call bay trees in Florida work for smoking? I think they're related to magnolias?
Peggy