Firewood Permit Information

Reference the official Forest Service Website and Map for the latest information, https://www.fs.usda.gov/

It is your responsibility to fill out your firewood permit properly. Failure to do so violates the terms and conditions of your permit and may result in fines, penalties, and further prosecution.

Note: Due to the pandemic, personal firewood cutting will be free to the general public from April 1 through June 1, 2020, on the Custer Gallatin National Forest. No permit will be required during this time.

How to Validate Your Permit:

1. Fill out the date and time BEFORE you start cutting. Note the quantity removed prior to transporting the firewood.
2. Fill out the permit each time you collect or transport firewood.
3. Always have the permit with you when collecting or transporting firewood.

Fire Precautions

• Saw: Ensure exhaust system is in good repair and uses a screen-type spark arrester of 0.023” mesh or less, qualified under US Forest Service standards.
• Shovel: Long-handled, round point with an 8-inch blade.
• Fire extinguisher: A fully charged, operable fire extinguisher with pressurized chemicals, with a minimum capacity of eight (8) ounces.
• Critical Fire Danger: Restrictions may prohibit fuelwood cutting during high-risk periods. Smoking is also prohibited during these times. Contact the local Ranger Station for current fire restrictions.

Fire Prevention Safety Tips

• Keep your saw away from cigarettes or open flames when adjusting or fueling.
• Allow your saw to cool for at least 5 minutes before refueling.
• Use a safety can for gasoline, and ensure no spillage.
• Move the saw away from the fueling spot and ensure it's clean from oil and sawdust before starting.
• Keep an 8-ounce fire extinguisher and a size “0” or larger shovel within reach in the cutting area.

Report Fires to: Bozeman Interagency Fire Dispatch Office (406)624-3830

Riparian Areas and Streams

The Custer Gallatin National Forest features riparian no-harvest buffers. It's your duty to recognize when you're near a stream or in a no-harvest zone. Several agencies collaborate to conserve and restore these zones. Restrict your firewood cutting to 150' from water bodies. Trees and other vegetation play a crucial role in these areas; help us protect them.

Wildlife Trees

Always inspect before cutting. Standing dead trees are essential for various wildlife, offering food, perches, and shelter.

Whitebark Pine and Timber Sales

Cutting whitebark pine in the Custer Gallatin National Forest is forbidden. These trees, whether alive, dead, or fallen, are critical for both wildlife habitat and watershed protection. If uncertain about a tree's type, look for needles: whitebark pines have five per bundle, whereas lodgepole pines have two.

Additionally, avoid cutting in active timber sales. The buyer owns all timber within the boundary, and cutting here is prohibited.

Estimating Firewood Quantity

How Do I Estimate the Number of Cords on My Load? • Firewood is commonly measured in cords. A standard cord is the amount of tightly piled wood in a stack, 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long. • 1 cord = 128 cubic feet - approximately 2,700 lbs. • To calculate the number of cords in a stack of wood, multiply the piles height by its width, and then by stick length (all in feet), then divide by 128.

Travel Management

Areas shown in red on the following maps generally depict major travel corridors, special use areas, recreational areas, and timber sales. If in question about cutting in direct proximity to these areas, please contact the district office or avoid them within reason.