- A permit can be obtained by visiting the Natural Resource Management office located in the Beltrami County Administration building.
- Permits are required for harvesting boughs on all County managed lands.
- Permits are $50 (minimum of 2 tons at $25 per ton).
- Maximum of 4 tons per bough permit.
- Permits are issued for no more than a 4 section area.
- No more than 2 permits per section will be issued.
- Bough permits are only valid in the assigned area indicated on the permit.
- All permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Permits will be sold on a "First Come, First Serve" basis.
Balsam Bough Permits
Sustainable Harvesting
- Harvest only trees taller than 7 feet.
- Harvest from the bottom 1/3 of the tree.
- Boughs up to 36 inches in length are acceptable.
- Harvested branch ends should be no larger than the diameter of a fat pencil.
- Leave a portion of each pruned branch for regeneration.
Why Balsam Fir?
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) has flat, fragrant needles that make attractive wreaths. It grows in the forested regions of Minnesota, northern portions of Wisconsin and Michigan, and throughout Canada. Boughs harvested from this tree species are used in 98 percent of the decorative wreaths manufactured in Minnesota and distributed nationwide for the holiday season.
In Minnesota, the balsam bough harvesting season begins in early October, after two or more hard frosts have "set" the needles on the branches. Harvesting season continues until early December.
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