Fuelwood Permits Now Available

2015 fuelwood permits now available from the DNR  

April 1 marked the start of the Department of Natural Resources’ 2015 fuelwood season. The personal-use permits can be purchased any time now through Dec. 31, 2015, in person or by mail. The permits are good for 90 days from the date of purchase.

The mail-in order forms are available online at the DNR’s website,www.michigan.gov/fuelwood.

Bill O’Neill, DNR Forest Resources Division chief, reminds people who are looking for alternative home-heating options that the fuelwood permits are a good value for those willing to put in some work to gather wood. “The price hasn’t changed for years,” he said. “We want to keep our permits affordable and easy to access for the folks who rely on them each year.”

Permits cost $20 and are for use on designated state forest land in the northern two-thirds of the state and allow for collection of up to five standard cords of wood per household. Fuelwood collected with the permit can be used for personal use only and cannot be resold or traded.

O’Neill suggests people contact their local DNR office to determine what areas are available this year for wood collection, then follow up with a visit to the site before purchasing a permit.

“The quantity and quality of dead and down wood varies by location,” he said. “We only sell one permit per household, so we really encourage people to check out potential areas before purchasing a permit.”

The DNR has issued fuelwood permits for decades and issues between 2,500 and 3,500 each year.

For further information on how and where to purchase a personal-use fuelwood permit, contact a local DNR office or visitwww.michigan.gov/fuelwood.