Lansing, MI -(AmmoLand.com)- The beginning of April marked the start of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ 2016 fuelwood season.
The personal-use permits can be purchased any time now through Dec. 31, 2016, in person or by mail. The permits are good for 90 days from the date of purchase.
The mail-in order forms are available online at the DNR’s website, www.michigan.gov/fuelwood.
Debbie Begalle, acting DNR Forest Resources Division chief, reminds people who are looking for alternative home-heating options that fuelwood permits are a good value for those willing to put in some work to gather wood.
“We keep our permits affordable and easy to access for the folks who rely on using wood to heat their homes,” she said.
Permits cost $20 and are for use on designated state forest land in the northern two-thirds of the state and allow for collection of up to five standard cords of wood per household. Fuelwood collected with the permit can be used for personal use only and cannot be resold or traded.
Begalle suggests people contact their local DNR office to determine what areas are available this year for wood collection, then follow up with a visit to the site before purchasing a permit.
“The quantity and quality of dead and down wood varies by location,” she said. “We only sell one permit per household, so we really encourage people to visit potential collection areas before purchasing a permit to ensure wood is available.”
The DNR issues between 2,500 and 3,500 each year.
For further information on how and where to purchase a personal-use fuelwood permit, contact a local DNR office or visit www.michigan.gov/fuelwood.
About the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.
For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.