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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QuCTHDeKuo22RkrBa7Apq0pNgZ+jwZBkxP18yK54sOR90pf4HIW+eNmsAoJH8+IK
 NSNmxAbLBM81yc5smYvOMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000849213-09-000108.txt : 20090213
<SEC-HEADER>0000849213-09-000108.hdr.sgml : 20090213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090213180936
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000849213-09-000108
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090213

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLUM CREEK TIMBER CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000849213
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				911912863
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		999 THIRD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4300
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104-4040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(206)467-3600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		999 THIRD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4300
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104-4040

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PLUM CREEK TIMBER CO L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDONALD JOHN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001111901

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10239
		FILM NUMBER:		09605937

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		IBM PROFESSOR OF FINANCE
		STREET 2:		20555 STATE HIGHWAY 249
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77070
		BUSINESS PHONE:		206-467-3600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		999 THIRD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4300
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104-4096
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mcdonald09p_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000849213</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLUM CREEK TIMBER CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001111901</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDONALD JOHN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>999 THIRD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 4300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104-4096</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.91</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (2002 SIP)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (2003 SIP)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (2004 SIP)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The open market purchase of common stock reported herein was executed through several individual broker transactions, and is
 being disclosed in Table I on an aggregated basis.  The purchase price of $30.91 reported in Table I represents the weighted
 average purchase price for the aggregated purchase transaction reported in Table I.  The range of purchase prices for the
 reported purchase of 10,000 shares was $30.70 to $31.03.  The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide the SEC Staff,
 the Issuer or any security holder of the Issuer with full information regarding the number of shares of common stock
 purchased by the Reporting Person at each separate price upon request.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option granted under the Plum Creek Stock Incentive Plan provides the right to purchase common stock at the fair market
 value thereof on the date of grant, and may be exercised by the Reporting Person at any time prior to the expiration date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jose J. Quintana, Power of Attorney for John G. McDonald</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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