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AR15.COM
1/19/2026 8:55:14 PM EDT
I'm gonna do it next summer. How's that work? I know you get a permit for a certain amount of wood.

How many trips can you make to bring it out? There's no way I can bring out two cords in my truck. How do they check on you?

What wood can you take- standing dying trees, marked trees, down and dead?
87% of the time, any question starting with "Why..." is answered with "Money."

I am so tempted to lay down the melancholy burden of sanity...
1/20/2026 8:58:06 PM EDT
[#1]

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I usually cut on Boise National Forest land. 4 cord minimum purchase (I think) but it's only $20 total so you can take any amount you want up to the 4 cords. I think you can buy more than 4 cords but I never have.


The permit includes a map of where you can cut and where you can't and the rules you have to follow.

You can take standing dead or on the ground, just no live trees and nothing within 300 feet of a stream. There's more risk to falling a tree but I find the wood is usually in better condition compared to what's on the ground.

Used to come with colored tags each worth a 1/4 cord and you'd punch out the date on the appropriate number of tags and attach to your wood.

I think last time I went they did away with that and you just keep a written log of how much you are taking out each trip. No limit on how many trips you take, just don't take more than you're permitted for and have the paperwork with you.

In all my years I've never been stopped or checked but could happen if you run across a Forest Service LEO (there aren't many of them around) or another cop who's bored.

I buy my permits at the local store near where I cut the wood. State land has a similar process but I've never done it other than as a kid with my dad years ago.
2/26/2026 2:52:06 AM EDT
[#2]
Buy some land and take whatever you want.
2/26/2026 10:33:11 AM EDT
[#3]
If you're cutting in national forest, then you'll reach out to your local USFS office, or maybe you can do it online if there isnt an office nearby... it was free due to COVID when I was doing it last, but before that it was $5 a cord.

They should give you a paper log that you track how much wood youre hauling out and on what date. Youre supposed to fill it out before driving out.

Only supposed to cut standing deadwood, or downed trees.
Where I was cutting, it was fairly steep, and I typically ended up having to pack wood 50-100' up hill because anything close to the road was already harvested.
"Byte My Shiny Metal Brass"
2/26/2026 4:54:36 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Originally Posted By BMSMB:
If you're cutting in national forest, then you'll reach out to your local USFS office, or maybe you can do it online if there isnt an office nearby... it was free due to COVID when I was doing it last, but before that it was $5 a cord.

They should give you a paper log that you track how much wood youre hauling out and on what date. Youre supposed to fill it out before driving out.

Only supposed to cut standing deadwood, or downed trees.
Where I was cutting, it was fairly steep, and I typically ended up having to pack wood 50-100' up hill because anything close to the road was already harvested.
View Quote


Will they/can they tell you where they've been cutting standing trees? I see some videos of a guy who was cutting some pretty substantial logs right next to the road.
87% of the time, any question starting with "Why..." is answered with "Money."

I am so tempted to lay down the melancholy burden of sanity...
3/7/2026 12:18:14 PM EDT
[#5]
I never saw them just leave trees that they'd cut down... I dont know if I ever saw them cutting down trees either though
"Byte My Shiny Metal Brass"
3/12/2026 5:08:52 PM EDT
[#6]
If anybody in N Idaho needs firewood I have recently cut down a few big pines and firs that had beetles in them. I burned the tops and down about 10-20' ft to get the larva. The bottom of the trees are still good, but have not had time to burn them.
3/12/2026 7:34:25 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Originally Posted By BMSMB:
I never saw them just leave trees that they'd cut down... I dont know if I ever saw them cutting down trees either though
View Quote


I heard that there were a lot of down trees in the fire zones. They hadn't burned but they died because of the fire.
87% of the time, any question starting with "Why..." is answered with "Money."

I am so tempted to lay down the melancholy burden of sanity...

"...and if you can't wait for dawn you can always light a fire."

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