In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, 

family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases 

apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or 

write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@

usda.gov . 

FIREWOOD SYNOPSIS

Rules and Regulations for Firewood Collecting

CONTENTS

Rules pages 1-3

Permit

Locations back page

REPORT

illegal woodcutting 

and illegal off-road 

travel!

Call your local Ranger 

District for details. 

REPORT wildfire

Call 911 or 

Central Oregon 

Interagency Dispatch 

Center (COIDC) 

541-416-6800 

or 800-314-2560

Additional firewood cutting areas may open after publication of yearly maps.

Contact a Ranger District office regarding the availability of additional areas and to obtain a map of those areas. 

You are required to have the specific USDA Forest Service map noting the location of additional areas in your 

possession when cutting or removing wood.

Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests

Crooked River National Grassland

Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

for the greatest good
Page 2

Rules and Regulations

Enforcement Authority:

36 CFR 261.6 Subpart A

1) Permittee must be present and have in their possession:

Permit

Synopsis - rules and regulations

Firewood unit maps

Load tags

Required Fire equipment: 

Spark arrester 0.023” or less on chain saw.

Shovel - long handled, round point, 8” blade

(size 0).

 Fire extinguisher with a pressurized chemical

of no less than 8 ounce capacity by weight.

2) The current year’s load tag must be validated by completely 

removing the month and day that you are removing the firewood. 

The validated tag must be highly visible at the back of the load, 

and displayed prior to moving the vehicle. Previous year’s tags 

are not valid. One tag is required for every 1/2 cord of firewood, 

or any portion thereof. 

3) Each household may purchase up to 8 cords of personaluse firewood annually. Cost is $10.00 per cord; minimum 

purchase of two cords per permit. 

4) Fill out Product Removal Record on your signed permit. 

5) Woodcutting is prohibited in all posted timber sales, 

contract areas, developed campgrounds, old growth areas, 

research natural areas, riparian areas*, wilderness areas and 

all other areas posted closed to woodcutting. *(Riparian areas 

are defined as land within 300 feet of water such as springs, 

streams, wet meadows, floodplains and overflow channels; 

or within 150 feet. of these features on the Ochoco National 

Forest) 

6) Do not cut trees (standing and/or down) marked with paint, 

signs, wildlife tags, blazes or with any evidence of wildlife 

habitation such as nests or cavities. 

7) Open and closed dates, species authorized for removal, 

and other restrictions may vary by map, see each cutting area 

map for specific information about firewood cutting. 

8) Woodcutting is authorized for dead trees only, or as 

specified on woodcutting maps. Some areas do not allow the 

cutting of standing dead trees. Be familiar with the map of 

your cutting area.

9) Where cutting of standing trees is allowed, stump heights 

may not exceed 12 inches. Maximum length of wood allowed 

to be transported is 6 feet. Remove all wood down to 3 inches 

in diameter for less waste. 

In addition to General and Other Conditions listed on your permit, violation of the following rules 

can result in fines and/or suspension of firewood cutting privileges.

10) Protect all green trees and other vegetation during falling 

and removal activities. Live trees and other vegetation may 

not be cut to create access to firewood.

11) The only power equipment authorized for use are: 

chainsaws, winches and hydraulic splitters, unless otherwise 

prohibited in specific cutting areas.

12) Woodcutting activity is permitted only within designated 

firewood area boundaries as specified on woodcutting map. 

13) Cut and scatter limbs and tops so they lie no more than 

12” from the ground. This reduces potential for wildfire. Remove all slash from roads and ditches. 

14) Woodcutters must comply with all road closures, 

seasonal road closures, and 

transport firewood in vehicles 

less than 26,000 lbs GVW.

`

Watch for the following 

signs:

Know Where You Are & 

Where You Are Cutting

Leaving

Firewood 

Cutting Area

Entering

Firewood 

Cutting Area

Sensitive Forest 

Resource Area

Woodcutting is 

NOT Authorized 

Behind This sign

Timber 

Sale Area

NO Firewood

Cutting Allowed

Entering Newberry 

National Volcanic 

Monument

FOREST PRODUCT 

REMOVAL AND 

OHV/ATV USE IS 

PROHIBITED

for the greatest good
Page 3

To report a wildfi re call 911 or 

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center 541-416-6800 or 800-314-2560

Woodcutter 

Fire Safety Requirements

All Precaution Levels Require: 

ALL power equipment be in good repair with a screen type 

spark-arrester of 0.023” or less and qualifi ed under USDA/USDI 

Federal standards. 

and always keep both of the following tools with you:

Shovel: Long-handled round point with an 8” blade (Size 0) 

 in possession of operator. 

Fire Extinguisher: Pressurized chemical of not less than 

 8 ounce capacity by weight.

You must know and comply with the current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL).

Call the toll-free 24-hour recorded message line at: 1-800-523-4737

or Visit the Central Oregon Fire website at: 

www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fi re/ifpl

Level I:

Stay in the area for one hour after power equipment has been shut off to watch for fi re 

starts and carry equipment listed below. 

Level II: 

Shut down all power equipment at 1:00 PM and stay in the area for one hour after power 

equipment has been shut off to watch for fi re starts. Carry equipment listed below.

Level III and IV: All woodcutting activity is prohibited.

Remember 

Faulty spark arresters 

cause wildfi res! Maintain 

your saw screen and keep 

your saw in good working 

order.

Parking on vegetation 

causes wildfi res! Park in 

cleared areas away from 

brush and grass.

Careless smoking causes 

wildfi res! Use your ashtray.

Wildfi res are expensive!

Don’t be the cause of one.

Scan this QR code with your 

smartphone to be directed 

to the Central Oregon Fire 

information website.

INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION LEVELS
Page 4

1. Measure your load of wood to determine how many 

tags are necessary

ONE CORD = (4 feet) x (4 feet) x (8 feet) = 128 cubic feet

 

Full size pickup truck

1/2 cord or less = 1 tag

Full-size pickup with rails 

1 cord = 2 tags

Shortbed pickup truck 

1/2 cord or less = 1 tag

height x width x length

Attach one current year’s load tag for each 1/2 cord or portion thereof (see #2 on page 3).

Fill out the product removal record on the permit.

2. Properly validate your load tags

This permit requires you to completely remove the current day and month tabs from each load tag needed 

on the day you are removing the firewood. The color of the tag is different from year to year.

Securely attach all required load tags to the back of your load in a highly visible location.

Validate & Use Load Tags Correctly

AUG

28

89

10

11

12131415161718192021222324252627293031

JANFEB

MAR

APRMAY

JUN

JUL

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

1234567 

Completely remove the day and month on each load tag 

as required by your permit or contract 0000001

USDA

Forest 

Service

USDI

Bureau of Land

Management
Page 5

Toadflax Spotted knapweed

Toadflax is a 

highly competitive 

perennial 

with yellow 

flowers similar to 

snapdragons. 

Spotted 

Knapweed

is a deep rooted 

perennial. Purple to 

pink flowers bloom 

June - October.

NOXIOUS WEEDS devour 4,600 acres of 

public land doing millions of dollars worth of 

damage in the west each year. 

Also known as exotics and invasive plants, 

noxious weeds:

REDUCE forage diversity and quality for 

wildlife and livestock

REDUCE nesting for animals

CHOKE OUT native plant life

CAN INCREASE wildfire frequency

YOU Can Help By...

Washing your vehicle prior to entering 

Public Lands - especially the tires, 

undercarriage, muffler, etc to remove any 

noxious weed seeds that you may have 

picked up along roadways.

Properly disposing of garden waste.

(no dumping on Public Lands!). 

Be aware and don’t transport loose soil 

and plant parts.

Toadflax and Spotted Knapweed are just two of many noxious weeds 

threatening healthy plant communities in Central Oregon. For an extensive 

weed list and additional information go to: 

www.deschutes.org/weeds

With the help of many volunteers, public land managers organize weed 

pulls, clip seed heads, put biocontrol agents (natural insect enemies) onto 

weed populations, arrange for herbicide spraying on certain sites, and 

participate in local weed boards and partnerships. 

Need more information or want to join the battle against noxious 

weeds? 

Contact the Invasive Plant Program Manager for the Deschutes 

National Forest, Ochoco National Forest and the Crooked River 

National Grassland for more information.

Prevent the spread of

NOXIOUS WEEDS
Page 6

Wildlife and Snags

A northern saw-whet owl calls this snag home near 

PineMountain. USDA Forest Service, Deschutes 

National Forest.

Dead and dying trees provide food and shelter 

for many wild animals. As a tree dies, each stage 

of decomposition plays a vital role in the feeding, 

breeding, or housing of wildlife. 

Cavities can be used by wildlife at any time of the 

year, with most use occurring during the spring 

and summer when animals that utilize these 

cavities are breeding and rearing young. During 

late summer and fall these cavities can be used 

by wildlife to escape the elements and afford 

protection from rain, snow, and wind. 

Even if a cavity is vacant, it may serve as a home 

later. Before taking a standing dead tree for 

firewood, please examine the tree for wildlife use, 

and if there is significant use, please consider 

leaving it for wildlife.

Protected areas under the log Do not cut trees with wildlife tree tags.

are used as nesting and thermal 

cover by small mammals.

The spaces between loose bark and wood 

are used as hiding and thermal cover by 

invertabrates and small vertebrates, such 

as the Pacific treefrog.

Elevated areas are used as 

lookouts and feeding sites.

The trunk provides a food source for 

woodpeckers, particularly pileated 

woodpeckers

Limbs are used as perches, and if 

hollow, as nest cavities.

The root wad is used by flycatchers 

for perching, by grouse for dusting, 

and by juncos for nesting.
Page 7

Central Oregon Tree Descriptions

Lodgepole pine-two needle bundles 1-3” long, thin 

gray bark with no crevices.

Ponderosa pine-three needle 

bundles 5-10” long. Bark is 

much thicker than lodgepole 

and has crevices. 

juniper

western larch

fall-winter

Douglas-fir summer

Lodgepole pine bark is thin, flaky and gray 

with no crevices, except near the base of 

the tree. Prickly, egg-shaped cones, seldom 

longer than 2 inches, may remain closed on 

the tree for years. 

Ponderosa pine egg-shaped cones are 3-6 

inches long and each scale is tipped with a 

short, straight prickle, hence the nickname 

“prickly ponderosa.” The bark is much thicker 

than lodgepole pine bark and sheds jigsaw 

puzzle flakes. The bark on young trees is 

nearly black, while mature trees are yellow or 

orange in color. Bark crevices of older trees 

and cut branches have a pitchy smell similar 

to turpentine. 

Juniper needles are tiny, scalelike and scratchy to the touch. Juniper trees have 

bluish-white coated berries instead of cones. The bark is thin, reddish-brown and 

fibrous. 

White fir horizontal branches form a pointed, narrow crown. Flat, flexible needles 

extend in rows perpendicular to the stem. Needles are light bluish green with 

white lines above and are 1 to 2.5 inches long. Light gray bark is much thicker 

than lodgepole pine bark. Cones are greenish-yellow or purplish, 3-5 inches long, 

and cylindrical, growing upright from the topmost twigs. Cone scales have fine 

hairs and short concealed bracts. White fir produces a fragrant resin which rises 

in small blisters on the trunk.

Douglas-fir needles are 1 inch long with a blunt tip. They surround the twig like 

the bristles of a bottle brush and are soft to touch. Cones are 3-4 inches long. 

Pitchfork shaped bracts are longer than the scales and hang down. The bark 

has resin blisters when young and is reddish-brown with deep furrows when 

mature.

Western larch also called Tamarack is Oregon’s only native conifer that sheds its 

needles after they turn yellow in the late fall or winter. Spring needles are very light 

green and darken over the summer. Needles cluster on stout woody pegs. Whiskery 

cones are small and woody, 1-2 inches long with papery bracts that are longer than 

the scales. Bark is reddish-orange, furrowed and flakes off in irregular shaped pieces.

white fir
Have an Apple (IOS) or Android device?

Try the mobile PDF Maps app available from Avenza to use geospatial information to find your exact 

location on firewood maps. The PDF Maps app can read thousands of professionally made maps 

available through the Avenza map store. Spatially referenced PDFs allow you to view your location, 

record GPS movements, save locations and find specific places.

For more information, please visit Avenza’s website at http://www.avenza.com/pdf-maps

To download available maps, please visit, please visit Avenza’s website at http://www.pdfmaps.com/get-maps 

Use the PDF Maps App to search for the primary location of the firewood cutting area you are interested in. For example, you can enter “Deschutes National Forest”, or “Ochoco National Forest” or 

“Crooked River National Grassland”. Once the primary location is found, look for the name of the 

firewood cutting area you want to download under the heading of the primary location.

Firewood Cutting Season: 

The firewood cutting season is limited to the dates specified on unit maps. This seasonal restriction is in place 

to protect roads that are more likely to be saturated with water outside of the specified dates, to protect soils 

that could be damaged due to high soil moisture, and for wildlife preservation and resource protection. Central 

Oregon Firewood Cutting is limited, see cutting area map(s) for local restrictions and/or closures. 

DISCLAIMER: Electronic maps on the Avenza website are provided for your convenience 

only; they do not replace the actual maps that accompany your Firewood Synopsis. 

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of your firewood cutting permit, it is required for you to 

have the firewood permit and firewood synopsis in your possession while cutting or 

removing firewood. 

Woodcutting Permits 

are available at the following locations:

Deschutes National 

Forest

Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District

Deschutes NF Supervisor’s 

Office

63095 Deschutes Market Rd.

Bend, OR 97701

(541) 383-5300 or 

383-4000 

Ochoco National Forest

Lookout Mt. Ranger District

Paulina Ranger District

3160 NE 3rd St. 

Prineville, OR 97754

(541) 416-6500

Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM)

Prineville District

3050 NE 3rd St.

Prineville, OR 97754

(541) 416-6700

Crooked River National 

Grassland

274 SW 4th St

Madras, OR 97741

(541) 475-9272

Deschutes National 

Forest

Redmond Air Center

1740 SE Ochoco Way, 

Redmond, OR 97756

(541) 504-7200

Deschutes National 

Forest

Crescent Ranger Dist.

136471 Hwy 97 North

Crescent, OR 97733

(541) 433-3200

Deschutes National 

Forest

Sisters Ranger District

US-20 & S Pine St

Sisters, OR 97759

(541) 549-7700