Campfire wood

[D4 Army]

So did the forestry put some regulations on the firewood you can bring? can't find anything on it.

[IFallsRon]

I haven't seen any ban on firewood but it's probably a matter of time. The DNR prefers that you don't bring it to the state parks. We have a couple cabinet/window/woodwork places around here that put out trailers of scrap. Looks like we'll be burning some of that unless the parks make the price of wood more reasonable.

[Powerstroke]

Right on the DNR HSOforum they ahve a link that recommends against transporting firewood. I ahven't read it since we don't do the state park thing, but I would imagine they are doing everything they can to prevent people from bringing firewood from an unknown source. Just cause you "know the guy" doesn't mean he's totally legal in how he gets his firewood or how he cares for it. It may contain insects and disease that can damage other areas.

[Scott M]

Yep, there's some nasty bugs out there. Don't move firewood

[BLACKJACK]

I was just out looking at that HSOforum and also called the DNR information line. At this point they are not restricting firewood but are 'recommending' that you don't bring any. She also cockily said that there is a law pending in the legislature that will ban any outside firewood and that 'it will definately pass'. When I asked if they were considering reducing the price of firewood to encourage people to buy their wood she said no. When I mentioned that their wood is usually crummy, softwood and sometimes wet, she had no comment.

This whole thing torques me off. One of the reasons I like camping is to sit around a campfire!! It sounds great and wonderful, lets save the ash trees but since the emarald ash borer isn't even close to MN yet, why not just restrict firewood from out of state??!

Several years ago when the DNR decided to tighten up on dogs being on leashes at all times what we found was that it turned nice personable park rangers into reluctant cops and it gave the hardnose rangers a license to be (Contact Us Please). The same will happen with this firewood thing.

With the high price of gas and now this, looks like we'll be selling our camper.

[IFallsRon]

The price of campground firewood equals the rediculous fee to make a reservation.

[sparcebag]

I think everyone should boycot the state parks!There over populated (not Monson) over priced,over trampled,and yes the fire wood, what would a cord of that cost!? I think its a ripoff,try state forests,county parks,get the state to set reansonable prices!!

[vitalshot5]

But than again, How much does it cost to run a state park....especially since they are underfunded....I would much rather pay a little more for firewood and reservations than watch the state close them down.

[BLACKJACK]

I think when people stop going to the state parks because of the high gas prices, constant gouging on the fees, and now their wood ban, some of the park employees are going to see layoffs. Their wood ban is ridiculous!!! How about just banning wood from out of state or allowing debarked wood or even cutting the price of their wood to encourage people to buy it?

[Jackpine Rob]

I don't understand why people feel the need to drag their own firewood (and God only knows what kind of pests, diseases, etc.) all over the place. Limiting out-of-state firewood sounds like a compromise, but wood from southern Minnesota is a whole different critter from the Northwoods.

Non-native invasives are a big problem, and we should all be doing our best to prevent the spread of pests and disease.

[IFallsRon]

You know the hillbillies bring half a cord of wood so they can drink and talk loudly all night.

People aren't going to quit using state parks. You can't go to a private campground for $20 a night.

[D4 Army]

There's nothing wrong with drinking and talking all night. That's half the fun.

[Powerstroke]

Gies that make sme a hillbilly. If you want to find peace and quiet don't go to a state park. Its like the "hourly motel" of camp grounds. It invites all kinds and anyone can get in. Its kind of a knock on state parks, but all you need is a sticker and open space. If I'm looking for a quiet weekend of camping I donm't go to a state park where anyone with a tent or camper can stay the night with showers, running water and several toilets. I also like more than 1 tre between campsites. I still use state parks occasionally, but not for the ambiance.

[Jackpine Rob]

You wanna drink and talk all night, fine by me.

You wanna pull in and set up and be an absolute pain the butt all weekend, fine by me.

You wanna drag your firewood, or your crayfish, or your other stuff that can absolutely destroy the area you're visiting - - - STAY HOME.

Pretty simple.

The people living there didn't ask you to wreck their area. In fact, many probably welcomed you in. As a visitor, the least a guy can do is not to leave a trail of destruction in his wake.

We all understand that litter is bad. We all understand that vandalism is bad. Bringing in non-natives is bad too.

Pretty simple.

[Powerstroke]

I totally agree. Yes firewood is expensive and its because hard work is just that. SOme people would rather pay $3 for an hours worth of bad wood then take the time to cut their own. Now with all the exotics its gonna be even harder to safely bring firewood.

[D4 Army]

What if the wood you are bringing of from a nearby area.

[hammock1260]

I went to a state park last weekend. We called about the wood. They said you could buy some close by and it wouldn't be a problem. They also said they can't stop you from bringing your own wood. There is no law that says you can't.

They did say if you bring it here to make sure you burn it all here and not to take any home with you.

The wood there is a riduclous price and my wife asked the state park where they buy there wood. Somewhere I forgot where but they get it for maybe a samll amount thinking maybe $1 a bundle and then they make a big profit off of it. I am sure it isn't much for them to buy it. I think all state parks in MN buy there wood from the same area.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

"The wood there is a riduclous price and my wife asked the state park where they buy there wood. Somewhere I forgot where but they get it for maybe a samll amount thinking maybe $1 a bundle and then they make a big profit off of it. I am sure it isn't much for them to buy it. I think all state parks in MN buy there wood from the same area."

So you don't know where they buy it or for how much but you say They are making a "Big profit". That's a pretty big assumption. Have you ever cut a tree down, cut it up, drug it out of the woods, split it and bundled it? I have, for my personal use. If I was to sell it I think I would ask MORE than what you are paying at the park. That's just what my time is worth.

[IFallsRon]

I'd guess that half of the wood that state parks sale is sawmill slabs. You can get a bundle of oak that's about 2/3 a cord for $50.

[jegerjack]

Quote:

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You know the hillbillies bring half a cord of wood so they can drink and talk loudly all night.

People aren't going to quit using state parks. You can't go to a private campground for $20 a night.

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I am with you... Those of you who think staying in a state park is about boozing and yelping at the moon need to get your head screwed on straight... I along with the rest of my family have been going to state parks for over 50 years and as time passes I see more and more yahoos that think the state park system is a freaking outdoor rock concert... Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy attitude adjustment just as much as the next guy but let’s have a little more courtesy to the rest of the campers... Oh, one more thing... It is unlawful for any person to consume intoxicating liquors, or to display liquor containers in public... That is directly from the DNR HSOforum... Sorry for the thread hijack, this touches a little close too home...

[troutlandr]

The SP system exists to preserve and to protect lands that would otherwise be unaffordable housing developments and condos. They are terribly underfunded and the money made off firwood helps keep the parks open and the preservation effort going.

I have been to many of the parks across the state and each region uses a different supplier for their wood. It is not all mill slabs. I have bought mill slabs, birch, oak, maple, cedar, and pine from various state parks. Each is different.

The suggestion to not bring in "outside" wood is a small effort to stop or slow the inevitable spread of invasives. You wouldn't bring zebra mussels to your favorite clean river of millfoil to your favorite pristine lake, would you? If you don't want to pay the fees or camp by the rules don't use the parks. Simple.

[Scott K]

The problem with state parks and people partying is that it is public property! And them loud mouth yahoos have just as much right to the park as the rest of us. And yes there are laws about alcohol in the parks, but they all tend to turn there heads on it. Alot of them noisey people are a good source of money for the parks.

The camp fire wood is very high priced, but it needs to be. They dont want bon fires 20 ft high in the park. They also are using that extra money to keep the park open and maintained for us. The wood isnt free, either is the labor to get it there into a bundle for you to burn.

There is other options out there, if you dont want to stay at the state parks and like what happens there, dont stay there! Buy your own land , cut your own wood, maintain your own lawn, pay taxes on it. Im sure that would be cheeper!

[jegerjack]

Quote:

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The problem with state parks and people partying is that it is public property! And them loud mouth yahoos have just as much right to the park as the rest of us. And yes there are laws about alcohol in the parks, but they all tend to turn there heads on it. Alot of them noisey people are a good source of money for the parks.

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Then I suppose you are the type of guy who does not mind loud mouth yahoos fishing right next to your boat on a big wide open lake... Yes they have a right to camp just like everyone else but there is something called common courtesy... Unfortunately I see less and less of that these days...

[Scott K]

j.j. dont get me the wrong way, I dont like it at all, I was just stating they have their rights also, and I didnt like it, and I did buy my own land to camp on, I love it! Its just not a very cheep route to take. But I do have peice and quiet, and it is alot of work to maintain. As for the boat thing, if Im sitting in a known hot hole, I expect people there, if Im just out sitting off to myself and someone else pulls up and is roudy, I will let them know about it.

[jegerjack]

No prob... The only thing I am saying is that that, state parks are not a place to party and be obnoxious... And to tell you the truth, the past few years it has not been as bad as I feared it was getting... The park rangers I think have gotten a lot more stricker on looking out for those things, I even see a cop or two drive through most of the parks I stay at... Unless you want to ruin the fun watch your drinking and partying, I am guessing most everyone here knows that already... I am guilty too of have a few cold ones at happy hour…