Title: Harvest Permits on State Land
Alternate Title:
Description: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Subject: Animals
Creation Date: 2/29/2024 2:15:55 PM
Modification Date: 8/28/2024 8:12:20 AM
Agency Name: Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Agency Description:
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the state's natural resources, hunting, fishing, state forests, state parks, lakes, rivers, streams, boating and water safety, trails, snowmobiling, skiing, education, enforcement, wildlife management, lands and minerals.
Agency Phone: 651-296-6157
888-646-6367
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Agency Address: Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Dept. of
500 Lafayette Rd.
St. Paul
MN 55155
Division Name: DNR Information / License Center
Division URL: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/contact/index.html
Division Description:
Division Phone: 651-296-6157
888-646-6367
DNR License Center -Licenses may be purchased anytime by phone at 888-665-4236
Division Fax: Division URL: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/contact/index.html
Audience: Hold
Application URL:
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:
Review Harvesting on state forest lands
No permit needed to collect:
- small amounts of berries, mushrooms, or cones from a state forest, Wildlife Management Area or Aquatic Management Area for personal use, such as the amount you or your household may consume within the week.
- dead fuelwood for fires while recreating in a state forest.
- antler sheds.
You need a permit to do the following in state forests:
- Cut or remove any trees or plants for any reason. (birch bark, birch sticks, trees and shrubs)
- Remove wood from state land boundaries.
- Collect a large amount of berries, mushrooms, or dead fuelwood for personal use or sale.
- Tap trees for maple syrup for personal use or sale.
- Harvest Christmas trees, decorative tops, or boughs
- Harvest decorative forest products, such as birch sticks, spruces tops, boughs, etc.
How to get a foraging or harvesting state forest permit
To get your permit, visit the DNR Forestry office closest to the state forest where you want to harvest. It is important that the local forestry office approves where you want to forage or harvest to ensure your safety, along with sustainability of the resource. Active timber sales, hunting seasons, road projects, potential for over harvesting in an area, impact to the surrounding forest, and other activities need to be considered before a permit can be issued.
The minimum permit fee is $25. The permit fee varies depending on the species and volume desired.
What you’ll need to know or have when you apply for a permit:
- The specific location where you want to harvest.
- Payment via check or money order. Cash and credit cards are not accepted.
- Valid identification, along with the legal names of anyone else in your household who wants to harvest on the same permit.
- Estimated harvest volume
- How long you want you want to harvest the species or item. Permits can be written for up to one year depending on plant or tree species.
If you wish to harvest materials or specimens from a state forest for scientific research purposes, please submit a research application so that we may direct you to the appropriate permits for your work.
For more information, contact your local DNR Forestry office. You cannot acquire a permit from the downtown St. Paul DNR headquarters.
Harvest Christmas trees, decorative tops, or boughs in state forests
- Make sure you call ahead and inquire about the process with the local DNR Forestry office.
- You must know the location where you want to cut a tree before getting a permit.
- It may take a few days to process your permit. Please plan accordingly.
- DNR offices are closed on Thanksgiving Day and the day after, plus weekends.
- Payment by check or money order is accepted. No credit cards. No cash.
- Wild, naturally-grown Christmas trees might be a bit spindly or sparse. They are not groomed or shaped—like the trees you can buy at a tree farm or lot.
- State forests from Hinckley to Aitkin and further north have balsam fir or white spruce, which are often desired for Christmas trees. Sand Dunes and Rum River state forests, while close to the Twin Cities, do not have suitable Christmas trees.
For more information, contact your local DNR Forestry office.
Rules:
Statutes:
Forms:
For more information, contact your local DNR Forestry office
Fees:
Period of Issuance:
Length of Determination:
Other Info:
Activity: Animals
Wildlife Exhibit
License Detail URL:
Harvest permits on state lands
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