Forest Products Permits

Firewood/Fuelwood Permits

Free permits can be obtained, in-person, at one of our offices located in Cadillac, Manistee, Baldwin, Mio or Oscoda. You can obtain a permit by contacting our offices by phone.

Firewood cutting permits are issued for the National Forest System lands (Federal), and only in areas designated for firewood cutting. To obtain a firewood cutting permit to collect on State land, contact the Michigan DNR.

To ensure firewood is cut on Federal Forest System lands, an interactive map is provided below as well as PDFs which  can be downloaded to any mobile device. Maps may also be picked up, or mailed, with the permit by contacting our offices. These maps are NOT the firewood permit - you must have a valid firewood permit to harvest firewood.

Cost

• Personal Use Permit: up to 8 cords per calendar year are available for free and can be used for cutting, manufacturing, handling, or other processing of firewood, but not for resale.
• Commercial (Charge) Permit: available for individuals who require more than 8 cords or want to harvest firewood to sell, may purchase a commercial firewood permit for 20 cords. The rate for commercial firewood permits is $60.

Notes

• When applying for a permit, the following information must be provided:
  • full name of applicant,
  • mailing address,
  • Year, Make, Model and color of vehicle and license plate number of the vehicle being used to harvest
• Once permits are signed and issued, they are valid for cutting through the calendar year.
• Firewood gathered on the Huron-Manistee National Forests intended to be moved to the Upper Peninsula, or out of state, must have a Compliance Agreement issued from the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  Costs/fines will be incurred for those violating this regulations.

Where and What Can I Cut:

• Live trees may NOT be cut.
• Cutting and gathering is allowed only on areas shown as open to cutting or gathering on the firewood maps.  You will receive this map when you purchase your permit.
• No cutting or gathering of dead and/or down wood will occur within 200 feet of any lake, pond, stream or river or within 200 feet of any recreation area.
• On portions of the Manistee National Forest (as shown on firewood cutting maps linked below), cutting and gathering from standing dead trees is authorized only between September 1 and April 30 for protection of the endangered Indiana Bat.
• Cutting and gathering are allowed as shown on the firewood cutting maps. 
• No cutting or gathering of dead and/or downed wood will occur within 200 feet of any lake, pond, stream, river or recreation area.
• On the Manistee National Forest, cutting and gathering of standing, dead trees are authorized in specific areas between September 1 and April 30 for protection of the endangered Indiana Bat.
• All dead and downed trees may be gathered.
• Standing dead trees may be cut only if they are within 200 feet of a legal public road.
• No harvesting of any dead trees identified by having paint marks or dead trees which have signage attached.
• Remember, live trees may NOT be cut.

Electronic copies of firewood maps below are geotagged and can be downloaded to mobile devices. 

Where and What Can I Drive:

• Roads are labeled for use and non-use on the interactive map below, and hard-copies are available at all of our offices. 
• Vehicles may not block or restrict use of Forest Roads or gates.
• The use of tractors, skidders, ORVs, or other motorized equipment is prohibited to skid or gather firewood.
• Vehicles may only use roads identified on the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map). Vehicles may not block or restrict use of Forest Roads; vehicles may pull or back off of Forest Roads a maximum of 25 feet or the length of the vehicle, whichever is less. 

Tree Size:

• All firewood products cut under this permit shall not exceed 6 (six) feet in length.
• Stumps will be cut no higher than 14 inches.
• Due to state law, firewood gathered on the Huron-Manistee National Forests can be moved, but not to the UP or out of state without a Compliance Agreement.  Compliance Agreements can be obtained from the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  Costs/fines will be incurred for those violating the regulations.
• A cord is 4 x 4 x 8

Firewood Maps

• Baldwin/White Cloud Fuelwood Maps
• Cadillac/Manistee Fuelwood Maps
• Mio Fuelwood Maps
• Huron Shores Fuelwood Maps
• Brittle Fire Fuelwood Map

On-line Firewood Maps

These electronic copies of firewood maps have been made available to you, so that you can make sure that where you want to cut is on the National Forest and that the area you want to cut is open to cutting.  PDF's are geotagged and can be downloaed to SmartPhones. 

These maps are NOT the firewood permit - you will still need to come into an office to get a firewood permit. 

Firewood Collection Closure Areas shows Federal land and areas that are currently designated as closed for firewood collection on the Huron-Manistee National Forests.