Ideally, shouldn't you wait a long time before you cut it into boards?
I'd seal the ends and I don't think I'd even take the bark off for at least 3 years.
Absolutely NO on waiting to cut! Cut ASAP though cutting the tree when the amount of water in the tree is lowest is a good plan. Once the log is down the wood starts losing water. Almost all will be lost through the ends and they will split because of the erratic water loss.
Cut into lumber, sticker carefully and slow down the drying. Air drying produces wood as good as it can get, it just takes time. Kiln drying NEVER improves wood. It simply dries it cost effectively (quickly) with an acceptable level of degrade.
