I have permission to collect this tree. I would love a positive ID on it so that I could best know how to care for it. I would also like to know your thoughts on whether I should collect it or not? It has great deadwood and appears to be in very good health. However it is very well established in the ground, it does not move around a lot. And it is on a pretty steep hill. It would be difficult to remove. I don’t want to remove it if disturbing it will most likely kill it. I know the success rate of collecting is not high, but if this species hates having its roots touched it may not be a candidate for me. Please let me know. Thanks

Hello, welcome to this Forum.
I can see a very nice bonsai hidden in this tree, but it needs a lot of work. Leaves are not so small either.

Ablum wrote:

However it is very well established in the ground, it does not move around a lot.

I don't understand what is the meaning of this since all trees on the ground don't move at all.

I have been told and read it’s better to collect trees that wiggle a bit to indicate a smaller tap root or smaller more fiberious roots. The way this thing feels I think it may be connected to the other side of the earth. I’m guessing it has some rather large roots, and everything I have been told indicates that is not a good sign for collecting. That’s partly why I’m asking here.

Oh... nice one. Looks like a great deadwood project.

Please, look up pictures of Taxus and compare (I'm not sure if that's what it is).

I would certainly try to collect it.
Cut a circle around the root system using a shovel. Or look up how to transplant trees, here's one link:
www.lowes.com/projects/lawn-and-garden/t...s-and-shrubs/project

Personally, I would consider to, after digging the circle, leave the tree alone for a season, before collecting it.

It might be a yew, but I think it’s an eastern hemlock. There are a few others near it. Someone pushed this one over, and I’m having trouble. It’s neighbors have the small pine cones still attached and they are full mature 30-40 foot trees. So I think it’s that but it does have that type of foliage.

Ablum wrote:

It might be a yew, but I think it’s an eastern hemlock. There are a few others near it.

Makes sense to think it's a hemlock if there are other hemlocks nearby.
Foliage does seem different though - but can't really see it on the photo. Got a close-up?

I don’t have a close up. I will have to get one before I leave for the day.

I would love to leave it for a year, but with the area it’s in Im going to have to get it out of there in one shot. It’s not something I could leave sitting around and have it be unsightly. I will have to fill in the hole and be careful to keep as much grass as I can. It’s going to be a thing.

Ablum wrote:

I would love to leave it for a year, but with the area it’s in Im going to have to get it out of there in one shot. It’s not something I could leave sitting around and have it be unsightly

Seems like you don't have a choice - and it will have to be removed anyway. So, I'd go for it.

Here are a few images of the foliage, and the images with my hand and the pine cone are of the hemlock near it.