The role of woody residues in N dynamics in harvested forests has not been fully elucidated. Woody residues were found to be an N sink, source, and neutral in different studies. To better understand woody residue role, post-harvest N dynamics in high- and no- woody residue treatments in a Douglas-fir ecosystem were modeled with published equations. Nitrogen mineralization in the combined forest floor, soil (to 15 cm depth), and root pools resulted in 122, 121, 119, 105, and 109 kg N ha-1 yr-1, in years 1 - 6 after harvest. We assumed C:N ratio in woody residues of 300 in decay stage 1 wood and 150 in decay stage 2 wood, 10 years of decay, a 16% C loss due to respiration, and a linear progression of N immobilization, if present. When wood was an N sink, 5 kg N ha-1 yr-1 was immobilized in year 1 through 6, and 96% of the N available from forest floor, soil, and roots remained plant or leaching available where woody residue was retained. When wood was a source of N, additional 7 kg N ha-1 yr-1 became available from wood in high residue and 0 in no residue treatment. When wood was neutral, 100% of the mineralized N in years 1 - 6 after harvest were plant and/or leaching available in both treatments. Except where soil temperature may drive mineralization in forest floor, soil, and roots, and shading by woody residues lowers soil temperature, N availability does not seem to be affected by woody residue treatments 1-6 years post harvest. Calculations show that woody residues are not an important sink for N, if at all. Empirical evidence is still necessary to confirm these estimates.