Since over 80 percent of Nevada is Public Lands, there are many opportunities to take advantage of the resources available in these areas, such as; wildlife, Pine Nuts, Christmas Trees and firewood.
As winter approaches many people will be collecting firewood to help keep their winter fuel bills down.
However, before you go out and start chopping down trees you need to check the Bureau of Land Management’s, and/or the Nevada Division of Forestry regulations.
Nevada Forest Products
• Christmas Trees:There is nothing better than having a fresh-cut Christmas tree. It is a great family activity and harvesting Christmas trees is also usually good for the forest as each time one is cut you are helping the forest from becoming overcrowded which also reduces forest fire severity. Christmas tree cutting permits or contracts on public lands in Nevada are also offered to both the general public and commercial harvesters. The most common species allowed for harvest are pinyon pine and Utah juniper.
• To harvest a Christmas tree on U.S. Forest Service property, call the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest State office at 775-331-6444 or the Humboldt-Toiyabe Las Vegas District Office 702-515-5000. To harvest a Christmas tree on Bureau of Land Management property call: 775-885-6000.
• For commercial harvesting of Christmas trees on private lands, please call Nevada Division of Forestry at 775-684-2500 and ask to speak with a Resource Management Officer. See NRS 527 for more information.
• Firewood: Wood cutting permits/contracts on public lands in Nevada are offered to both the general public and commercial harvesters. The public may harvest deadwood (standing or down) from most unrestricted public lands, while greenwood harvest is mostly limited to designated areas.
• Pinyon Pine Nuts: The collection of pinyon pine nuts hits the top of the list for many Nevadan’s traditions. Almost all public lands are open to the general public for pinyon pine nut collection.
• Posts: Both line and corner posts permits are offered for sale. Utah juniper makes an excellent post and depending on the soils it is set in, has a fairly long service life. Harvest areas vary from designated areas only to district-wide.
• Wildings (live transplants): Numerous native species (excluding threatened or endangered) are allowed to be collected throughout the state.
• Campfire wood: Those camping on public lands are allowed to collect campfire wood from the local surrounding area to be used at their camping location, with no cost or permit being required.
Wood cutting permits/contracts on public lands in Nevada are offered to both the general public and commercial harvesters. Minimum product pricing is $5 per cord for pinyon pine, Utah juniper and aspen; while mountain mahogany is $10 per cord. Each District or Field Office may have varying price schedules and regulations on where cutting or collection may be allowed.
The public may harvest deadwood (standing or down) from most unrestricted public lands, while greenwood harvest is mostly limited to designated areas. Commercial harvesters mainly have designated areas to work in, and if there is no competition for the product, are able to negotiate a sale. Otherwise, if there is product competition they will have the opportunity to competitively bid for a contract.
Those camping on public lands are allowed to collect campfire wood from the local surrounding area to be used at their camping location, with no cost or permit being required.
Note: You will need to check if there are any restrictions on open fires due to wildfire conditions. Also, the BLM highly discourages transporting firewood from one area to another, especially from state to state, as this practice is a mode of transporting forest insects that can have serious effects to the forested area the wood is brought to.
The collection of pinyon pine nuts hits the top of the list for many Nevadan’s traditions. Families (each household) may collect up to 25 pounds each year with no cost or permit being required. If a family intends to collect more than 25 pounds in any given year, a permit is required for the additional nuts. Almost all public lands are open to the general public for pinyon pine nut collection.
The minimum price for pine nuts is $0.25 per pound. All pine nuts that are intended for resale require a permit/contract. BLM Nevada has designated commercial sale areas which are advertised for sale each year in August.
The following are some tips if you are planning to purchase fire would this year:
• If firewood is advertised and sold as “seasoned,” it must have a moisture content of less than 50 percent. “Unseasoned” wood will only produce two-thirds of the heat of “seasoned” wood.
• If the firewood is advertised and sold as a certain type of wood, the load should contain at least 90 percent of that species. Hardwoods have the most heat value, while soft woods have less.
• Non-packaged firewood may be sold by the cord or by fractions of a cord. One cord, when properly stacked, should be 8 feet long by 4 feet high and 4 feet wide (128 cubic feet). The volume of a pickup bed is not equal to a cord.
In addition, if non-packaged firewood is purchased, it is a good idea to asked for a delivery ticket or sales invoice from the seller that includes contact information and the terms and conditions of the sale.
Remember, before collecting any forest products contact the nearest BLM or Forestry departments for regulations in your area. Bureau of Land Management Forest and Wood Product Permits: https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands/forest-product-permits
Nevada Division of Forestry Permits: http://forestry.nv.gov/tree-permits/
