WINNEMUCCA, NV - With colder weather approaching, people may start thinking about gathering firewood. Wood cutting permits are required to gather firewood from public lands. Permits for woodcutting in the Winnemucca District (see map), which includes Humboldt and Pershing Counties, as well as portions of Lander, Churchill, and Washoe Counties, are available at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd, Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. Also at the Pershing County Farm Service Agency, 110 American Blvd, Lovelock, NV 89419-5526. For firewood permits outside of Winnemucca District, please contact your respective BLM Field Office.
Pinyon and Juniper permits cost $5 per cord with a minimum two-cord purchase which are valid for 90 days from issuance or until fire restrictions go into effect, whichever date comes earlier. Woodcutting is authorized within the BLM Winnemucca District administered lands only, for dead or down Pinyon and Juniper only, and other tree species such as Aspen, Limber or Whitebark pine, Cottonwood, Choke Cherry, Mountain Mahogany and Alder are not authorized to be collected under this firewood permit. Within the Stillwater Range, only dead Pinyon trees - standing or down - may be cut, but live or dead Juniper trees may be cut. There are also live and dead Juniper harvest areas in the East Range and Sonoma Range. A map will be provided when permits are purchased, that depicts harvest areas and certain special use areas where firewood harvesting is prohibited. No resale or other commercial use of the wood is allowed.
To minimize the risk of starting a wildfire, woodcutters should have a shovel and extra water available, and all chainsaws must be equipped with functioning spark arrestors.
For more information, call Derek Messmer at the BLM Winnemucca Field Office at 775-623-1500.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
