Forest Products Permit Information

Forest Products are products or natural resources that are not the traditional timber and fiber products. Examples include such products as firewood, floral greenery, Christmas trees and boughs, mushrooms, transplants (trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants), cones, medicinal plants, cuttings, herbs, nuts, berries, decorative wood, and pitch.  Before you plan an activity on the Forest, please be sure to check whether or not you need a permit. 

As a rule free-use qualtities are defined as the amount consumable on site.  If you plan to use any material gathered for profit a commerial use permit will be required. 

Definitions and Examples of Special Forest Products

Permits

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Permits must be obtained for the collection of many forest products.  For most products, personal use permits are free. For other products, or for commercial use, a fee is charged. Failure to have a permit may result in a fine.

For most products, there are regulations covering when, how, and where collection is allowed. The intent of these regulations is to ensure continued availability and sustainability of our country’s forest resources.

• Firewood Cutting Permits
• Post and Pole Cutting Permits
• Free-Use and Commercial Mushroom Permits
• Christmas Tree Permits 
• Plant-a-Tree Certificates

Information Needed to Obtain Your Permit

• You must be 18 years of age and have a valid photo identification (state drivers license, state id, passport, green card, etc.)
• Information about the vehicle that will be used to harvest the product (license number, year, make, model, color)
• Your current address

When and Where to Buy a Permit

Please call ahead to check for the availability of the product you wish to harvest. Harvest may be restricted by quantity, method, location, season or time of year. Permits must be obtained in person at the ranger station in the district you will be collecting. Once you apply for the permit you will receive a map of sites you are allowed to collect in with collection rules and regulations.

• Supervisor's Office - Pendleton, OR
• Heppner Ranger District - Heppner, OR
• North Fork John Day Ranger District - Ukiah, OR
• Pomeroy Ranger District - Pomeroy, WA
• Walla Walla Ranger District - Walla Walla, WA

For more information regarding office locations or phone numbers click here.

Do Your Part

• Tred lightly while searching for forest products
• Harvest products in a caring and ecologically sound way
• Follow the terms and conditions on your permit
• Keep safety and potential hazards in mind when parking your vehicle or harvesting products
• Harvesting is prohibited in Botanical Areas, Research Natural Areas, Scenic Areas, and Wilderness Areas
• Please only harvest plants that are on the list of plants. Harvesting rare, threatened, or endangered plants is ILLEGAL.