Question
have a small red maple in the wooded part of my back yard and want to move it to the front. it's only maby 3 feet tall. want to move to the front

Answer
Sure.  Easy.  Spring is a good time to do this, and the tree you describe is still quite small.  

Dig it up, and move it.  Keep the root ball intact.  Dig around it by about 1/2 foot from the trunk, lift it out carefully, and wheel-barrow it to the frontyard.  See this link with other helpful advice:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/trees/f1147w.htm

Be sure you don't bury the trunk too deep into the ground...keep it 1 too 2 inches higher than the surrounding, existing grade.

~Marc