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Do Black Walnut trees need to be alive for harvest

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From: Jared Shelerud City: Monticello, WI
I have several black walnut trees on my property that are still standing, but are dead. They were most likely choked by invasive vines. The bark is falling off, but no rot or decay is evident. In general, for trees to have any sort of value do they need to be alive when harvested, or can these trees still be cut usable? Thank you
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Jared, Decay resistant species such as black walnut "can" be utilized for lumber assuming the tree is recently dead (dead standing) or recently uprooted from the stump due to a weather-related event. Recently dead means the wood is still solid and intact, and unaffected due to decaying processes. But how long can the tree be dead and still be useable for lumber? Well, the answer to that question is really simple: if the wood is no longer solid, but rather it is soft and doty, you've obviously waited too long.
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