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Post and Pole Cutting Permits
This program provides people the opportunity to cut and haul post and pole materials for their own personal use, whether it is for building corrals, fences, or using them to landscape the yard.
Permits may be available at ranger district offices. Please check with the individual district office to find out when permits are available and if they sell on a specific day of the week. When requesting a permit, please have at least a 4-mile area in mind as your permit area. When individual districts have designated areas for personal-use post and pole removal, maps of the post and pole areas are provided with the permit.
The price per linear foot is $.03. The minimum permit purchase price is $20.01.
The maximum amount allowed to be cut per address per year is 3000 linear feet.
Example to estimate cost
100 ten-foot poles equal 1,000 linear feet.
1,000 linear feet at $.03 per linear foot would cost $30.00
Size and diameter limitations
Live or dead lodgepole pine may be removed with the permit. Posts may be up to eight inches in diameter at the widest end but must be less than eight feet long. Maximum cut diameter limit of poles is six inches at the widest end. The height of the remaining stump must not exceed eight inches. Logs larger than six inches in diameter on the large end may not be hauled in lengths over eight feet. Smaller material has no length restrictions.
Cutting season
The post and pole cutting season begins on May 1 and closes November 30.
*Post and Pole permits are only valid and good for 14-days from the date of purchase*
Equipment and access
All vehicles are restricted to established roads. Tractors, ATV, jammers, etc., are not allowed. Pickup bumper winches may be used as long as the leading end is suspended or hand carried to the road. Do not cut trees that have been marked with paint or tags.
Information needed on the permit
To purchase a permit the following information will be requested: name, mailing address, driver's license number, vehicle information (year, make, model, color, and license plate number of vehicle being used to haul poles), in addition to linear foot amount and area where you plan to harvest.