Forest Products Permits
Forest products permits are required for removal and use of forest products from the Bighorn National Forest. The major products available to individuals are firewood, posts and poles, Christmas trees, and transplants.
Contact the local ranger district office for information about the types of permits available and rules for forest products from the Bighorn.
Permits may be purchased by mail or at Bighorn National Forest offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan.
To purchase permits through the mail, use the forms listed on the right side of this page.
Christmas Tree permits are now also available to purchase online through Recreation.gov.
Firewood
With a firewood permit, you may cut dead and down material Forest-wide except as noted on the permit. Material must be hauled in lengths less than eight feet. Other regulations for cutting and removing firewood are stated on the permit.
Cost | $6.00 per cord |
Minimum purchase | 4 cords (each purchase) |
Maximum purchase | 12 cords per calendar year |
Availability | Year round |
Expiration | December 31 |
Posts and Poles (Dead, Live, and Teepee)
Permits for other products such as saw logs, house logs, or commercial quantities of firewood or posts and poles are usually available only on a competitive basis. Contact a ranger district office if you are interested in any of these products.
With a post and pole permit, you may cut material seven inches or less in diameter measured at 12" from the ground. There is no maximum length per piece. Live trees suitable for posts, poles, or teepee poles may be cut forestwide in areas not designated as closed to cutting forest products. Other regulations for cutting and removing posts and poles are stated on the permit.
Cost | $9.00 / permit |
Minimum purchase | 3 permits each purchase (60 poles) - dead or live 1 permit per family - teepee (family ceremonial) |
Maximum purchase | 20 permits per calendar year (max 400 poles) |
Availability | Year round |
Expiration | December 31 |
Transplants
Transplanting a tree, shrub, or other plant can improve the aesthetic as well as economic value of your property. You may dig trees, flowers, and bushes with a permit.
Transplanting trees is most successful if done in the early spring or late fall when the tree is dormant.
Several conifer species can be found on the Bighorn National Forest, including lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir.
The maximum transplant height (less root wad) is six feet for conifer-evergreen trees, 10 feet for aspen and hardwoods, and three feet for shrubs. Limber pine trees cannot be removed. Information on transplanting and other regulations in regard to digging them is available at any district office.
Cost | $5.00 / permit (valid for 1 tree) |
Minimum purchase | 4 permits |
Maximum purchase | 5 permits |
Availability | Year round (early spring or late fall is suggested) |
Expiration | December 31 |
Christmas Trees
Cutting your own Christmas tree can be an enjoyable experience for the entire family. Terms and conditions for cutting Christmas trees will be given to you when you purchase the permit.
Trees cut with these permits must be less than 10 feet tall. Permits may be available through some commercial outlets. Information regarding other applicable regulations are available at any district office.
Christmas Tree permits are now also available to purchase online through Recreation.gov.
Cost | $8.00 / permit (valid for 1 tree) |
Minimum purchase | 1 permit |
Maximum purchase: | 5 permits |
Availability | November |
Expiration | December 31 |