Michigan residents interested in getting fuelwood for personal use such as home heating can now get a permit that allows wood collection on select state-managed land in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula.

Fuelwood permits, issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, cost $20 per household with a limit of one permit per household per year. A typical permit allows you to collect five standard cords of wood. A standard cord is a stack measuring 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet high.

Increased wood limit in emergency area

Due to the amount of wood on the ground in state forests after the historic ice storm March 30-31, people in the 12-county emergency area will be allowed to collect extra wood. Residents may collect up to 10 standard cords of wood this year in the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle. In these 12 counties, all permits purchased since the season opened April 1 are eligible for 10 cords of wood.

All wood must be collected from already dead and downed trees within 200 feet of the road. Permits are valid for 90 days after the date they are issued, but all expire Dec. 31 regardless of when they were purchased. There are three convenient ways to get a permit:

–­­Buy a permit online at mdnr-elicense.com.

–­­Purchase a permit in person. Permits are available at DNR customer service centers in the northern Lower Peninsula or Upper Peninsula. A few forestry field offices also will sell permits in person; call ahead to confirm business hours and availability. Collection in roadside areas within ice storm-affected counties may be authorized by unit managers at the available forestry field offices.  

–­­Mail a fuelwood application to the DNR office that manages the part of the state forest where you wish to collect wood.

A few rules are in place to ensure safe, sustainable wood collection:

–­­Do not drive vehicles off the road. You may use a wheelbarrow or handcart to carry wood to your vehicle.

–­­Gather wood only from already dead and downed trees; do not remove wood from trees that are/appear dead but are still standing.

–­­Have your permit with you while cutting wood and fill out the collection log before transporting any wood. Failure to do so could result in a citation.

Do not sell or trade firewood. It is for personal use only.

–­­Collect wood close to home. Moving firewood across the state can unintentionally increase the spread of invasive insects and disease.

Use extra caution in ice storm-damaged areas

Recent storms have caused significant tree damage in many parts of Michigan’s 12-county emergency area. If you gather wood, use caution and avoid areas where crews are working to clear downed trees or repair utilities. Some tips:

–­­Work safely. Storm-damaged trees may be unstable, and broken branches can fall without warning, even long after a storm.

–­­Take a careful look around the area before collecting wood and avoid working in high-risk areas with leaning or hanging debris.

–­­Work with another person and wear personal protective equipment such as a hardhat, leather gloves, chainsaw chaps and hearing protection.