Balsam Boughs

Balsam boughs are the only types of boughs that can be harvested. 

Do I Need a Permit?

Yes.  

• Permits are required for personal or commercial use.
• Keep your permit with you while harvesting boughs.
• The permit is valid for the permittee and their immediate family (including: spouse, children, and guardian children of any age living at family residence and parents of permittee). 

How Much Are Permits?

• $80 for two tons
• $40 per additional ton

Transportation authorization tags are issued in denominations of 200 pounds/tag.

What Can I Cut?

• The permittee is encouraged not to harvest more than one-third of each branch in order to continue regrowth.
• Only remove branches from the lower half of the tree.
• If essentially all of a branch will be removed, flush cutting the branch close to the tree as required.

Where and What Can't I Cut?

• Collecting is prohibited within 50 feet of the cleared area of a paved or two lane gravel road and within 50 feet of the cleared portion of a designated hiking or ski trail.
• No live trees may be felled for bough collection.
• Prior to collecting in active timber sales, you must have written permission from the nearest Ranger District and a bough permit.

Can I Bring Non-Family With Me?

Yes.

Persons that are non-family members may be allowed to help permittee gather boughs. These persons must be accompanied by the permittee and be within shouting distance of the permittee at all times while gathering. 

The forest products gathered by these persons must also be transported in the permittee’s vehicle listed on the permit and the permittee must be in the vehicle during transport of the special forest products.

Transporting Boughs

Permit and Transport Authorization Tags must accompany the permittee or individual(s) authorized to gather under the permit. Transport Authorization Tags must be filled out in ink and attached to boughs for every 200 pounds of boughs.

Use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and two or four wheel drive trucks are not allowed off of Forest Roads, except with written permission from the Ranger District where the gathering is occurring.