Forest Products

Personal Use Firewood Permits

Attn:  Fee Waived Personal Use Firewood Permits, call to obtain free permit

Firewood permits can be purchased by calling your local Ranger District office. A permit will be mailed or arrangement made for in-person appointment.

Ashland Ranger District: 406-784-2344
Bozeman Ranger District: 406-522-2520
Beartooth Ranger District, Red Lodge: 406-446-2103
Gardiner Ranger District: 406-848-7375
Hebgen Lake Ranger District, West Yellowstone: 406-823-6961
Sioux Ranger District, Camp Crook, SD: 605-797-4432
Yellowstone Ranger District Livingston: 406-222-1892

Restrictions

  • 4 cord minimum, 12 cord maximum
  • Dead down trees and logs as well as standing dead trees unless reserved from cutting
  • 6 foot maximum length
  • Recommended firewood collection is between May and October
  • Chainsaws must be equipped with approved spark arrestor screen
  • During fire season (May 1 – Sept 30) all vehicles on NFS (National Forest System) lands must be equipped with a baffled muffler, serviceable tailpipe and should contain operable fire extinguisher (2.5 lb capacity, 4BC rating).
  • On site when collecting firewood:  Shovel (45 inches long with minimum 6 inch blade), fire extinguisher (liquid/8 ounce capacity or dry chemical/ 1 lb capacity).
  • Permits are good for all forests within Montana and Northern Idaho.  Keep your permit handy while gathering/transporting firewood. 

Holiday Tree Permits

Sales are primarily online during the holiday season: Mid-October through December 31st, by going to Recreation.gov and navigating to the Custer Gallatin National Forest Christmas Tree Permit.

Price

$5 per tree, with a $2.50 per transaction/online service processing fee.

Restrictions

  • Limit three permits per household.
  • Permits are good Forest-wide, except at developed recreation sites (cabins, campgrounds, picnic areas, national natural landmarks or trailheads) or wilderness and riparian areas to protect the resource, or active timber sales.  
  • Stump height: 6 inches maximum (please help low stump, once snow melts tree stumps can cause harm, eyesores or tripping hazards). 
  • Do not remove the top of the tree, cut down the entire tree.  Max tree height - approximately 12 feet. 
  • No cutting of 5 needle pines (i.e. 5 needles in one cluster)

Personal Use Post and Pole Permits 

Personal Use Post and Pole permits will be sold on a first come, first served basis in the spring. The location of the post and pole units will be given each year along with the authorized time for removal.

Available through Beartooth, Bozeman and Yellowstone Ranger Districts (Livingston office) or Musselshell Ranger District (Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Harlowton, MT) 

Landscape Rock and Petrified Wood Collection Permits

Price

Permit required (no charge).  Please contact respective ranger district for additional information.

Restrictions

  • 20 cubic inches (approx. 3” x 3” x 2”) of petrified wood per person, per calendar year.
  • Collection only within the boundaries of the Gallatin Petrified Forest Special Management Zone.
  • Expires December 31 of the year issued.
  • Landscape Rock personal use permits are free and limited to 1 ton per person, unless otherwise specified.


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