Free wood at County or State Parks?

[iowawoodcutter]

Anybody have any luck with getting firewood at county or state parks? I know I have read a few threads about fuel wood permits at national forests. We have a county park near me (Scott County Park, just north of Davenport Iowa) that has lots of trees and I was thinking of asking if they have something similar. For the national forest fuel permits do you fell the trees, or do they just point you to downed ones, or just cut whatever you want to????

thanks
C

 

[sdaly]

I cut in the NF using fuelwood permits. Prices, availability, rules etc. vary by each forest so you need to check with your local NF ranger station. My local NF charges $10/cord and the trees are already felled and stacked, but I have heard some charge $5/cord, some you fell your own, it just varies. Check with your local ranger station.

 

[Joshlaugh]

It really depends on the park system. I work at a county park system here in Ohio and we do not let anyone remove wood from the park. It is really a shame since I fell so many trees and can't use them in my house.

 

[gink595]

I work at a county park system here in Ohio and we do not let anyone remove wood from the park. It is really a shame since I fell so many trees and can't use them in my house.

Is that because of the ash borer?

 

[wdchuck]

I've done it, black locust is on the invasive list, so the forestry guy tells ya where to go. Beyond that, the enforced rule is: dead/down only.

What makes it fun is, only the contracted timber folks get to drive in, individuals have to huff it out to the road. Bring your wheelbarrow and friends, it'll take all day to fill a pickup.

 

[Wood Scrounge]

ANyone know about PA?

I went to a state park near me in SE PA to ask about a permit and they looked at me like I was asking to eat babies. Does anyone know if any of the parks or state lands in PA allows this?

 

[Joshlaugh]

Is that because of the ash borer?


Not in my case. We keep about 20% of the park for recreation etc and the other 80% is preserved. So all those big trees that fall across the trail that I cut up are thrown farther back in the woods to break down naturally. At times it seems a waste to me.

Josh

 

[bowtechmadman]

Here in Michigan I get a permit for the Manistee Nat. Forest (b/c it's across the street from me) it's 25 bucks and I can take 5 full chords. They have a map that outlines what is allowed where, some areas dead and down only...some are dead only standing or down. Only able to use existing trails to access the wood...no trail breaking.

 

[DiscoInferno]

In the county parks here in MD you can take anything that's already been cut by the county for free, with 3 conditions:
1. No cutting in the park
2. No splitting in the park
3. No driving in the park.



And since they rarely cut the logs down to movable size, that's their friendly way of saying no. Luckily the supply of free wood from homeowners and tree services is plentiful here.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I went to a state park near me in SE PA to ask about a permit and they looked at me like I was asking to eat babies. Does anyone know if any of the parks or state lands in PA allows this?

If you didn't mind a 3 hour drive down to Dulles airport, I could bury you in good oak. Rent a 5 ton truck and make one trip.

Probably still wouldn't pay, with the price of fuel where it is!


It would probably work for you, Disco, if you were interested.

 

[DiscoInferno]

If you didn't mind a 3 hour drive down to Dulles airport, I could bury you in good oak. Rent a 5 ton truck and make one trip.

Probably still wouldn't pay, with the price of fuel where it is!


It would probably work for you, Disco, if you were interested.

That's still a bit far (30 mi) for a wee Ranger load, unfortunately. Appreciate the offer though. To date I've been able to get my fill within 10 miles or so.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Yeah, not good with the price of fuel. I stop by on my way somewhere else, so the only extra fuel cost is whatever the weight does to my mileage. I've got a Nissan, so it isn't a huge load on mine, either.

But then, it's usually dragging the back a bit when I pull out of there. A couple of 40" oak rounds and an assortment of smaller stuff will do that to a little half ton.

 

[Limestone]

I asked to remove 2 downed oaks from Allegany State Park in NY across from my land. They said they do not allow any wood to be removed at all anymore.