Forest Products Permits

The Chequamegon-Nicolet NF has issued a  FIREWOOD RESTRICTION ORDER that bans the possession, storage, or transport of any firewood that originates from outside the state of Wisconsin or more than 25 miles from the destination point unless certified (refer to Order # R913-09-02). This order is intended to stop the spread of invasive insects such as the emerald ash borer.

Cost: Currently, the charge is $5.00 per cord, with a four (4) cord minimum (1 cord equals 4' x 4' x 8'). TSA requirement: Product – Fuel wood, Code 07; Unit of Measure – CCF, Code 03.

Restrictions:

1. No live trees may be cut unless designated in writing by the District Ranger on the permit.
2. Firewood cutting is permitted along any road that is open for motor vehicle use identified on the Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) with the exception of those roads that traverse an otherwise prohibited area, such as Research Natural Areas or Developed Recreation Sites. Travel Management Rules must be followed.
3. Firewood may only be taken within 150 feet of the edge of the open road.
4. Standing dead trees may be felled for firewood if they are 18 inches or less in diameter (measured at 4.5 feet above the ground). Standing dead trees over 18 inches in diameter (measured at 4.5 feet above the ground) may not be felled. Dead and down trees less than 18 inches in diameter may be removed for firewood.
5. Prior to removing firewood from a timber sale area (normally marked with paint on the trees and having signs of active or recent cutting) contact the nearest Ranger District Office for locations within the timber sale area where firewood gathering can occur. District offices can provide information about timber sale areas where logging slash is available for firewood. Firewood gathering must be done without interfering with timber sale operations.
6. Trees marked with paint or tags may not be cut unless described otherwise on the permit.
7. Trees within 100 feet of beaver ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers may not be cut.
8. The use of tractors, rubber-tire skidders, ATVs, and similar vehicles is not allowed.
9. Maximum length of firewood pieces is 48 inches.
10. Firewood volume is limited to a maximum of 12 cords (1 cord = 4’x4’x8’) per permittee per year on the Forest.
11. Firewood may be gathered without a permit by persons camping in developed or dispersed National Forest recreation sites, with the quantity limited to an amount needed at the site. Such firewood collected must remain in the recreation site.

Many people enjoy the experience of hiking in the woods to find the perfect Holiday tree. While trees in the forest are not professionally trimmed or groomed, many people prefer them for their natural appearance.

The most popular holiday tree species on the forest is balsam fir, which is plentiful and retains needles well. Balsam firs are less abundant on the Washburn Ranger District, so red and scotch pines are popular there.

Permit Sales

Permits cost $5 per tree, with a limit of five trees per household. Fourth grade students are eligible for a free holiday tree permit through the Every Kid Outdoors initiative.

Online

To purchase a holiday tree permit online ($5 + small processing fee), either set up or sign in to a Recreation.gov account. Next, visit the page for Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Holiday Tree Permits.

It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Select the type and number of holiday tree permits desired.

If a family member has the Every Kid Outdoors pass, enter the voucher or pass number in the appropriate box. This will apply a discount for one free tree.

Once the transaction is complete, you can download and print the permit. Downloadable cutting area maps are also available for your convenience.

In-Person or by Mail

Call your local Ranger District or the Forest Headquarters office to arrange no-contact pickup or mail delivery of your permit. Along with your permit, you will receive tree cutting guidelines, information regarding cutting areas, and suggestions for flame-proofing your tree.

In order for students to receive a free tree permit in person, they must present a valid Every Kid Outdoors voucher.

Please note holiday tree permits are now available Tuesdays through Sundays at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center.

Need to Know

Selecting Your Tree

• Your permit(s) must be in your possession when cutting the holiday tree(s).
• Maximum tree height is 20 feet.
• Maximum stump height is 6 inches. Trees must be cut as close to the ground as possible.
• Remove any snow from around the stump so you can accurately measure the stump and tree height.
• Take the whole tree. Do not remove the top of the tree. Any debris or branches from the cutting should be removed from the cleared portion of roads and trails.
• Do not cut Northern White Cedar or Hemlocks.
• Trees cut under this permit are for personal use and are not to be sold for commercial purposes.

Where to cut your Tree

• Know where you are and do not cut on private land.
• Permit Area Description: All National Forest land except for: Wilderness Areas, Research Natural Areas, Developed Recreation Areas, Administrative Areas, the Argonne Experimental Forest, or within 100 feet of a lake or pond.
• Gathering is not allowed within 100 feet of hiking trails that are within one half mile of developed campgrounds.
• Trees may be cut along roads and trails, although harvesters are asked to consider aesthetics and safety.

Balsam boughs are the only types of boughs that can be harvested. If you only need a small number of boughs for your personal use, a Free Use Permit can typically be issued. Contact your local District Office for more information. Balsam bough permits are not sold at the Supervisor’s Office. Permits for balsam boughs are usually issued September 21 into early winter.

Cost: $80.00 for up to 2 tons of material. Additional material may be purchased with a new permit for $40.00 per ton. Transportation authorization tags are issued in denominations of 200 pounds/tag.

Other Conditions:

1. The permit is valid for the permittee and their immediate family (including: spouse, children, and guardian children of any age living at family residence and parents of permittee). Persons that are non-family members may be allowed to help permittee gather boughs. These persons must be accompanied by the permittee and be within shouting distance of the permittee at all times while gathering. The forest products gathered by these persons must also be transported in the permittee’s vehicle listed on the permit and the permittee must be in the vehicle during transport of the special forest products.
2. Permit and Transport Authorization Tags must accompany the permittee or individual(s) authorized to gather under the permit. Transport Authorization Tags must be filled out in ink and attached to boughs for every 200 pounds of boughs.
3. The permittee is encouraged not to harvest more than one-third of each branch in order to continue regrowth. Only remove branches from the lower half of the tree. If essentially all of a branch will be removed, flush cutting the branch close to the tree as required.
4. Collecting is prohibited within 50 feet of the cleared area of a paved or two lane gravel road and within 50 feet of the cleared portion of a designated hiking or ski trail.
5. No live trees may be felled for bough collection.
6. Prior to collecting in active timber sales, you must have written permission from the nearest Ranger District and a bough permit.
7. Use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and two or four wheel drive trucks are not allowed off of Forest Roads, except with written permission from the Ranger District where the gathering is occurring.

Q: Can I gather these products anywhere on the Forest?

A: You may gather plants and other products for personal use on all national forest land except: federally designated wilderness areas, research natural areas, developed recreation areas, Forest Service administrative areas, the Argonne Experimental Forest, within 100 feet of a lake or pond, and within 100 feet of hiking trails that are within one-half mile of developed campgrounds. It’s important to know where you are and to be sure that you are not harvesting on private land. Please also be mindful of aesthetics and safety if you gather along roads or trails.

Q: Are there certain Forest products I can't gather?

A: Yes. Any plants found on the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List (pdf) for the Chequamegon-Nicolet are not available for collection under a Forest Products Removal or Free Use Permit. Click on the links for additional gathering restrictions as they apply to holiday trees, boughs, and firewood.

Q: How can I tell if I'm on National Forest land when I'm gathering forest products?

A: You can't in most cases. Wisconsin does not require landowners to post their land. It's important for you to know where you are, since private property is scattered throughout the forest. Maps with a variety of scales may be purchased at any District Office.

The following maps show areas where personal and/or commercial harvesting is prohibited.

• Eagle River-Florence Ranger District (pdf)
• Great Divide Ranger District (pdf)
• Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (pdf)
• Medford-Park Falls Ranger District (pdf)
• Washburn Ranger District (pdf)

You can also use the following QR codesto easily find the maps in the Avenza app.