Contact Information

Email Address

Office Location

1760 Roundhouse Road (Office)
1700 Roundhouse Road (Shop)
Spooner, WI 54801

Map to the Forestry Office and Shop

Phone Number

(715) 635-4490

Fax Number

(715) 388-7947

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Staff

Forest Administrator:
Mike Peterson

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Assistant Forest Administrator:
Duran Bjorklund

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Forester:
Derrick (Matt) Graham

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Recreation Coordinator:
Brandon Shutt

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Recreation Officer:
Drew Knoop

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Forestry Technicians:
Jeremy Erickson
Alex Maas

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Natural Resources Technician:
Sam Clair

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Administrative Assistant:
Shauna Lindstrom

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WDNR Liaison Forester:
Adam Nelson

 

Special Permits and Ordinances

County Owned Land Ordinance

Permits can be obtained by visiting the Forestry Office or through our Online Reservation system. (Not available for disability permits.)

Firewood:

The county offers firewood permits for dead and down wood in designated areas. Permits are valid for 1 year and up to ten standard cords of wood.

Boughs:

Permits to harvest balsam boughs from trees taller than 12 feet and from the lower third of the tree are available.

Christmas Trees:

A permit to harvest 1 Christmas tree per household, or 3 trees per non-profit organization are available.

Dispersed Camping:

Permits are available for dispersed camping (outside a designated campground) with a ten or lesser facility. Permits are issued for a minimum of 2 nights.  Campers may reserve consecutive permits for up to 14 days.

Disability Permits:

Disabled persons holding a valid Class A disability permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are eligible to apply for a permit to operate a motor vehicle on roads designated as closed to motor vehicle travel. These permits are generally made valid from a point of entry to a specific location (from a gate to a deer stand for example). Contact the Forestry Department for more information.

County Owned Land Ordinance

The County Forest is governed by the County Owned Lands Ordinance, which was adopted by County Board. The following is a summary of commonly violated ordinances:

Motor vehicle use:

(please refer to the section on the Road and Access Plan for more information)

  1. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle unless on a trail designated open by Forestry Committee Cross-country (off trail) travel is prohibited.
  2. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle on a trail designated closed with a sign, gate, or earthen berm.
  3. Two wheel-motorized travel is prohibited (dirt bikes, mini-bikes, motorcycles).
  4. The use of ATV’s is prohibited from April 1 through the first Friday before Memorial Weekend, or when DNR fire danger is listed as very high or higher.
Tree stands, blinds, etc.
  1. No person shall build, occupy, or use any elevated platform unless the structure and/or steps do not damage the tree. Damage includes the use of nails or screw in tree steps.
  2. Elevated platforms may be left overnight for a period of not more than nine days provided the stand is labeled with the users name and address, or DNR customer ID number at any time it is left unattended. In addition, the elevated platform must be a ladder type, lock on, or self climbing.
  3. Blinds may only be built with natural, dead, non-manufactured vegetation from on site. Commercial or hand made blinds are permitted provided they are removed at the end of hunting hours each day.
Camping
  1. Camping on the County Forest, outside of a campground, is permitted only with a tent or lesser facility and with a permit. A call to the Forestry Office prior to camping giving us location and length of stay constitutes permission.
  2. Camping with a mobile home or camper is permitted during the normal 9-day gun season provided you are camped within 200 feet of a town road, and have a permit.
  3. It is illegal to ignite a fire on County Forest within the Townships of Casey, Chicog, Minong or Springbrook. These are dry, sandy areas prone to forest fires.
  4. Overnight camping is not allowed at any County boat landing or picnic area.

For full text of County Forest Owned Lands Ordinance view (Chapter 50).