Bearing Tree
A tree marked to witness the location of a nearby survey corner, recording bearing and distance to the corner.
Detailed Definition
A bearing tree (also called a witness tree) is a tree near a survey corner that is marked to help identify and relocate the corner. The tree records the bearing and distance from itself to the corner monument.
Purpose: - Witnesses the location of survey corners - Helps relocate corners if monuments are destroyed - Provides additional evidence of corner location - Documents the original survey
Marking requirements: Bearing trees are marked with: - Two blazes (cuts in bark) - Upper blaze: larger, contains survey data - Lower blaze: smaller, contains "BT" designation - Scribe marks showing bearing and distance to corner
Information recorded: - Species of tree - Diameter at breast height - Bearing from tree to corner (degrees) - Distance from tree to corner (links or feet) - Condition of tree
Modern practice: - Still used where suitable trees exist - GPS coordinates supplement or replace bearing trees - Reference monuments (iron posts) may be used instead - Historical bearing trees remain valid evidence
Legal significance: Bearing trees are considered accessories to the corner and provide evidence of corner location. When the original monument is lost, bearing trees help re-establish the corner position.
Related Terms
PLSS
The Public Land Survey System, a method of subdividing and describing land in the United States using townships, ranges, and sections.
Section Corner
A surveyed point marking the intersection of section lines, monumented on the ground to define section boundaries.
Monument
A physical marker placed at a survey corner to permanently identify the location on the ground.
Cadastral Survey
An official government survey that establishes and defines the boundaries of land parcels for ownership and management purposes.