Firewood Permits
Individuals camping on the Daniel Boone National Forest are welcome to collect dead and down wood for their evening campfire without a permit. Firewood collected without a permit must be used for a campfire on the Forest; it cannot be taken home or taken to private land. No standing trees may be cut - dead or alive - of any size.
Individuals who wish to collect firewood on the Daniel Boone National Forest to burn at home or on private property must purchase a firewood permit. Firewood may only be collected in the designated areas provided with the firewood permit. Each firewood permit allows for the collection of up to 4 CCF (approximately four full-size pickup truck loads or four cords). The permit is valid for cutting dead and down wood only.
A standard firewood permit allows you to cut wood for personal use only. A special use permit may be required to collect firewood in bulk or for commercial purposes.
Purchase a Firewood Permit Online
The Special Forest Product E‑Permits portal is a secure and convenient way to purchase U.S. Forest Service special forest product permits online. With E-Permits, you can purchase and print a permit using a computer or mobile device from the comfort of your home.
Purchase a Firewood Permit In-Person
Firewood permits are available to purchase in-person at any of our District Offices. The Forest Supervisor's Office does not issue firewood permits. Please call ahead to make an appointment and confirm availability.
Firewood Permit FAQs
The Daniel Boone National Forest sells firewood permits for $5/CCF* with a minimum purchase of four CCF. The minimum purchase cost for a firewood permit is $20.
*Firewood is measured in units of hundred cubic feet (CCF). Four (4) CCF of wood is roughly equivalent to 5 cords where a cord is the amount of tightly stacked wood 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
The maximum removal limit is 20 CCF per individual for up to one year from point of issuance.
This permit will terminate either at midnight of the termination date shown on your permit, or when the quantity you have purchased is reached, whichever comes first.
A printed physical permit must be in the permittee's possession and kept readily available while harvesting and transporting products.
- This permit is nontransferable.
- A copy of the permit on a mobile device is not acceptable.
- Multiple reproductions of this permit are not allowed.
If you would like to designate a second cutter, contact the local District office.
When searching for firewood in the Daniel Boone National Forest, review forest maps and the list of Prohibited Areas & Restrictions before planning your trip to harvest. Be sure to only use designated motorized roads and be aware of seasonal road closures. Maps and restrictions may be updated periodically throughout the lifecycle of your permit and can be obtained online and at ranger district offices.
The designated harvest area is limited to within 100 feet of the clearing limits of roadways and parking areas.
Prohibited Areas & Restrictions
You CANNOT harvest within:
- Wilderness areas
- Administrative sites
- Highway easements
- Along established hiking trails
- Designated campgrounds
- Active timber sales or commercial fuelwood blocks
- Any areas closed to entry by Special Orders (including the tornado damaged area in Laurel, Pulaski Counties)
Important Note: Privately owned lands and state in-holdings within national forest boundaries are closed to harvest. The boundaries between private/state lands and federal lands are not always marked. It is the permittee's responsibility to know where you are harvesting at all times.
If you have questions about specific areas, contact the local District office.
The following MAY be harvested:
- Dead and down trees
The following MAY NOT be harvested:
- Live trees
- Standing dead trees
- Trees with paint marks, signs, or national forest tags
When harvesting, you must adhere to the following:
- Firewood shall not be moved in piece lengths longer than 4 feet.
- Do not drive off road when ground conditions may cause excessive rutting or ground damage.
- The use of portable sawmill equipment, mechanized equipment (tractors, ATVs, etc.) and large capacity vehicles is strictly prohibited.
- The use of hand propelled game carts is allowed.
Firewood Harvesting Best Practices
- Check the weather forecast and always let someone know where you will be and when you are expected to return before you go.
- Stay alert and give log trucks and equipment plenty of space. Forest Service roads may have heavy logging traffic.
- Park in areas that do not impede traffic or block gates.
- Comply with fire requirements and current restrictions to prevent forest fires.