With the current federal government shut down and closure of U.S. Forest Service information desks, citizens can go online to learn about regulations for and to secure a firewood cutting permit for standing dead or down trees.

With a permit, citizens can access firewood cutting for personal use only from the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests in areas open for harvesting. The cost is $5 per cord with a limit of four cords.

A printed physical permit must be in the permittee’s possession and kept readily available while harvesting and transporting products.

More information is online at Epermits.fs2c.usda.gov including a list of specific regulations found via the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest link.

The Forest Service website notes “it is your responsibility to know where you are harvesting at all times,” and boundaries are not always marked clearly. 

Some of the harvesting rules include: cut only unmarked standing dead or down trees; do not collect firewood from active timber sale areas; stumps must be left close to the ground at no more than 12 inches high; and do not cut trees showing any evidence of wildlife present.

Firewood cannot be cut within 100 feet of developed areas including campgrounds, picnic areas, recreation sites and other buildings or from within 150 feet of streams or lake shorelines.

Resulting slash must be removed from the area and scattered in the surrounding landscape. An approved, working spark arrester system is required on a chainsaw. No mechanical equipment is allowed to cut, yard or load firewood such as yarders, skidders, winches, dozers, ATVs and UTVs.