Plan Ahead

Special use authorizations provide use of National Forest System (NFS) lands for a wide variety of activities. Authorizations are issued to commercial and non-commercial operations which provide use of and access to these lands. Permits are also issued for private, non-exclusive use. Depending on the complexity of the proposal, obtaining a special use authorization can sometimes be a lengthy process. In order to facilitate this process, coordinate early with the Forest on where you would like to operate.

Each year, the Forest Service receives request from individuals and business applications for authorization for use of National Forest System (NFS) land for such activities as water transmission, agriculture, outfitting and guiding, telecommunication, research, photography/video productions, granting of road and utility rights-of-ways, and recreational events.

The Forest carefully reviews each proposal to determine how the request affects the public's use of NFS land.  Normally, NFS land is not made available if the overall needs of the individual or business can be met on non-federal lands. Today, our growing population has created a demand for a variety of uses of these federal lands. Often these diverse needs require specific approval. The Forest Service provides services that support our national policy and federal land laws. The Agency's special-uses program authorizes uses on NFS land that provide a benefit to the general public and protect public and natural resources values.

Special use permits are required when asking for special privileges on National Forest land. The Kootenai National Forest (KNF) has a process and guidelines for issuing Temporary Outfitting and Guiding Special Use Permits and Recreation Event Special Use Permits. More information...

Application Process

Recreation Event Applications must be submitted 30 days in advance of the planned event. Please submit your request using form FS-2700-3c and any supporting documentation to carrie.croucher@usda.gov or mail to Kootenai National Forest 31374 US Hwy 2 Libby, MT 59923.

Consideration of recreation event application for use in a specific area for a specific activity is at the sole discretion of the District Ranger of each administrative unit of the Kootenai National Forest.  

---

APPLICATIONS FOR TEMPORARY OUTFITTER AND GUIDE PERMITS

ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME

 

---

Outfitter/Guides

Outfitting and guiding services include but are not limited to hunts, fishing, rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, guiding, packing, biking and hiking tours. A permit is required when the outfitting/guiding operation is conducted on NFS lands or waters.  More information... 

Photography and Filming

A permit is required for the use of motion picture, videotaping, sound-recording, or any other type of moving image or audio recording equipment on NFS lands that involves the advertisement of a product or service, the creation of a product for sale, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props. More information...

Recreation Event Permits

Recreation events are commercial activities requiring temporary, authorized uses of NFS land. Examples of recreation events include, but are not limited to, animal, bicycle, motocross, or triathlon races; jeep rallies; dog trials; fishing contests; rendezvous; rodeos; adventure games; youth treks; wagon trains; concerts; and other similar events. A permit is required for these types of events, regardless of the number of people involved in the activity.  More information... 

Non Commercial Group Use Permits

Noncommercial group uses are any activity conducted on NFS lands in which (a) no entry or participation fee is charged, and (b) the primary purpose of the activity is not the sale of a good or service. Some examples are: club or family recreation outings, reunions, and weddings.

A permit is required for all noncommercial group uses involving 75 or more people, either as participants or spectators. More Information...

Application Forms*

*Unless noted, these forms are in non-fillable PDF format and must be printed before filling them out. To obtain hard-copies of the forms, please contact Carrie Croucher at carrie.croucher@usda.gov or (406) 283-7628