State forest firewood in CT

[Dalmatian90]

Took these pictures this spring, just got to getting them off the memory card.

Conn DEP issues 2 and 4 cord Firewood Permits @ $30/cord. DEP Foresters mark the trees and assign lots to be cut.

Photos came out of Pachaug State Forest,

An unimproved road like this isn't usually open to the cars/trucks, they're used for access to firewood / timber sales and as snow mobile trails. A few in Pachaug are also open to motorcycles.

Sign marking the lot

And the blue-blazed trees designated for cutting.

I think this I was on "Trail 2", I was in that area anyway -- this section of the forest long as I can remember has always been "scraggily" for lack of a better word. I know it was hit hard by the gypsy moths during the last big outbreak in the 80s. Good chance of poor soils and forest fire damage too.

Much of Pachaug was bought around 1935 by the U.S. Resettlement Administration whose original mission was buying out farmers on poor lands and relocating them to planned communities. Within a couple years the RA was changed into a less socialist program and became the Farm Security Administration that focused on farm loan programs.

 

[fishercat]

been meaning to look into that program.

is it during a particular season?

can you split it there or do they need to be removed as logs?

i can give you a hand soon when i slow down.

 

[Dalmatian90]

I haven't done the program myself. That was a lot I saw out on a Sunday drive. Keep thinking about doing applying for 2 cords, help take a bit of pressure off my own woodlot.

Permits are valid for a time frame they put on them, no hauling out during muddy times, cut down the tops so they're not a brushy mess. From what I've seen, the lots seemed to be marked about mid-April as mud season ends and seem to be cut out by summer.

 

[Valkyrie Rider]

I'll have to look into that!

I see SOOOOO much 1/2 fallen, broken, and dead wood laying and rotting in state owned land around this area it makes me sick. Not to mention over crowded woods that could be selectively thinned!

 

[Racerboy832]

I read somewhere they do that by me in New Fairfield. The state ranger at Squantz pond told me about it. Then again i'm just looking for a reason to drive in the state forest legally.

 

[Marc]

How do they check that you only remove the amount of wood allowed by your permit?

 

[Upidstay]

I know they run out pretty quickly. I applied for one early this pring and they were all gone. They only award so many permits per year, and ALOT more people are burning wood, so they tend to go pretty fast.

 

[jburlingham]

I know they run out pretty quickly. I applied for one early this pring and they were all gone. They only award so many permits per year, and ALOT more people are burning wood, so they tend to go pretty fast.

In my area they go quick, they have 6 different zones, indicated by letter a-f.
I applied in the 2nd week of Feb and they were already out in the zone I applied for, My app will be in on Jan 1 this year.

 

[WoodchuckPaddy]

In my area they go quick, they have 6 different zones, indicated by letter a-f.
I applied in the 2nd week of Feb and they were already out in the zone I applied for, My app will be in on Jan 1 this year.

Burlingham,

Jan. first still no guarantee...but worth a try. These permits are hard to get, especially in Middlesex/Cockaponsett. I would hand deliver on 01/01/10 to get a good position in line. Get to know your forest ranger and be nice to him/her...

I sent mine last year on the first and wound up something like 78th in line.
I didn't get one 'cause I had other fuelwood foaraging oppurtunities...

Good luck!

 

[WoodchuckPaddy]

How do they check that you only remove the amount of wood allowed by your permit?

They don't really...

 

[WoodchuckPaddy]

is it during a particular season?

can you split it there or do they need to be removed as logs?



i can give you a hand soon when i slow down.

Not a particular season that I am aware of, however there is a time limit that you have to remove the wood once the permit is issued. I don't know how rigid they are about inforcine it. In my case, I could use a 5 cord permit, but couldn't possibly remove that within a month (stated on permit) on my schedule.

You can split there. No real rules that I am aware of besides take out your garbage and don't be an *ss...

 

[jburlingham]

Burlingham,

Jan. first still no guarantee...but worth a try. These permits are hard to get, especially in Middlesex/Cockaponsett. I would hand deliver on 01/01/10 to get a good position in line. Get to know your forest ranger and be nice to him/her...

I sent mine last year on the first and wound up something like 78th in line.
I didn't get one 'cause I had other fuelwood foaraging oppurtunities...

Good luck!

I had actually put in for NL County hoping to get something in Nehantic, I spent last year as a hard core forager, luckily I had an inside scoop on weather downed trees.

 

[A. Stanton]

Dal,
I know everyone has a story and here's mine. I use to work with a guy who had a permit to take fire wood from the state forest. Apparently he went a little off the reservation and got pinched for taking wood from a private land owner. Cutter beware.