Permits

Firewood in the forest

Firewood cutting cleans up dead wood, reduces the potential for wildfires, and avoids the waste of a valuable resource. It’s also an effective way to cut down on your heating bill and get exercise. But it can also cause unwanted impacts if it’s done wrong. To cut firewood on the forest, you’ll need to obtain a permit before heading out. 

How much does a firewood permit cost?

Personal firewood permits are free and allow you to cut up to 12 cords per year. You are required to have a permit with you while gathering firewood. The free permits are available at any of our Forest Service offices. 

Where can I cut wood?

You can cut dead trees on most of the forest. However, a few exclusions apply. You can’t cut within timber sale areas (marked with signs or painted trees), on private property, in campgrounds or recreation areas, or within 150 feet of water. 

Wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, recommended wilderness, research natural areas, or other area closed to firewood cutting like Thompson Park, south of Butte are also excluded. Check with the local ranger station for current closures. Also, be sure you’re not cutting wood within the designated right-of-ways of any major highways or interstates. 

Make sure to read your permit for all the details. Here are a few of the highlights: 

• Vehicles can travel one vehicle length of distance off an authorized travel route.
• Pile slash away from roads, power lines, telephone lines, ditches, and stream courses.
• Six feet is the maximum length of firewood that can be transported out of the forest. If you wish to remove wood that is longer than six feet, you’ll need written approval that is site specific and has specific dates allowing the removal.
• Don’t cut marked trees.
• Firewood gathering is prohibited within 150 feet of any stream, pond, lake, marsh, or wet area, unless otherwise designated.

What’s a cord?

Firewood is commonly measured in cords. A standard cord is the amount of tightly piled wood in a stack 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, which is 128 cubic feet.

Fire season

When fire danger is particularly high, wood cutting may be limited to certain times of day or prohibited altogether. It’s up to you to know about current restrictions. Check our website for the current fire danger and restrictions or call a Forest Service office if you’re not sure.

 Where do I get a permit?

Christmas tree permits for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest are typically available from mid-November through December on recreation.gov, and at our district offices in Butte, Dillon, Ennis, Philipsburg, and Wisdom. You can purchase up to three permits, with each costing $5. 

 Where to cut your tree

Your permit allows you to harvest a tree in most areas of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, with a few exceptions. Cutting is prohibited in wilderness areas, designated recreation sites, plantation areas, and active timber sale areas. We ask that you don’t cut trees visible from major roads, in well used areas, or within 150-feet of streams and creeks.

Selecting a tree

From something that fits in the corner to going full Clark Griswold, choosing the right tree is a personal choice. But there are rules for which species and what size you’re allowed to cut. Whitebark pine are an endangered species and are prohibited from cutting for any reason. 

The maximum height of a tree you can harvest is 12 feet, and the maximum stump height that you can leave is six inches. Cutting the top off of a tree is prohibited. When you’re ready to take your tree, cut any remaining branches form the stump and scatter them.   

Transporting your tree

Make sure that your permit is attached to the tree and visible. Tie or strap the tree securely to your vehicle, with the trunk facing forwards to protect branches from wind. If you’re planning on traveling long distance at high speeds, consider wrapping the tree in an old blanket or tarp to further protect it. 

Harvesting mushrooms 

Free for personal use with a limit. 

Research before you go

Most of the edible mushrooms in the forest have toxic near-twins. It’s important to learn how to identify both edible and poisonous varieties before you go out foraging, and essential before you consume. Taking a field guide with you can cut down on a lot of uncertainty. Remember, identify before you eat. 

Types of mushrooms

The most commonly harvested mushrooms in the forest are morels, identified by their deeply pocked caps and dense, rubbery external texture. Morels most commonly fruit in late spring and early summer and do so prolifically in the years after an area has been burned by wildfire. Other mushrooms like chanterelles, oysters, and chicken of the woods may be found in specific locations and fruit at various times during spring and summer. 

How to harvest

When harvesting a mushroom, cut the stem before plucking, rather than pulling the entire body out of the earth. This allows the mushroom to regenerate in the future. It’s important to note that in areas recently burned by fire, significant hazards may exist. Weakened trees, hazard trees, and snags can fall easily and often with even minimal winds. 

Mushroom permits

Mushrooms are considered a forest product and a permit is required to harvest them based on the quantity to gather. You can get a free permit at any of our local district offices in Butte, Dillon, Ennis, Philipsburg, Wisdom, and Wise River. Any mushrooms harvested for personal use must be sliced in half lengthwise from stem to cap and resale is prohibited.

Incidental use

Incidental use allows an individual to have up to one gallon of mushrooms in their possession, with a limit of five gallons per season. No permit is required for incidental use. 

Personal use

A free permit is required if you harvest more than five gallons (12.5 lbs.) in a season. The maximum amount of mushrooms you can gather for personal use in a season is 20 gallons (50 lbs.). You’re not allowed to have more than five gallons in possession at one time.

How to get a free mineral material collection use permit.

Many homeowners work to transform their yards using rock as a form of decorative landscaping material. If you’re looking to save money and do it yourself, National Forests have a variety of rock materials available for free collection. However, there are a few things you need to know before you collect your landscaping rocks.

Permits are free, but required

You will be required to obtain a free use permit before collecting rock. Stop in at your local Forest Service office to obtain your free use permit and for information related to good areas to collect landscaping rock. 

How much can you get? 

Your permit will allow you to collect up to two short tons per year for personal landscape rock collection. This is approximately four pickup loads.

Only collect by hand

Rock collection is only allowed by handpicking and must cause minimal disturbance to the ground, other resources, and environment. No motorized equipment is allowed for collecting. While collecting, be courteous to other visitors by keeping the roadways clear. Park up to one vehicle length off roads.

Leave cultural artifacts alone

It is illegal to collect archaeological artifacts, such as arrowheads, old bottles, and other historic artifacts on National Forest lands. Petrified wood is not considered landscape rock and if you wish to collect it, then please discuss this with the District Ranger of the area you are interested in prior to collection.

Areas where collecting rocks is prohibited

Collecting rock is not allowed in Wild and Scenic River corridors, historical or archeological sites, campgrounds, wilderness areas, administrative sites, or areas “withdrawn” from mineral entry.

Classified as a small timber sale, call your district office to enquire about a permit.