Take the Wood or Not

[sherman12]

During a recent camp at one of our favorite New York State Parks campground, Keuka Lake SP in the Finger Lakes region of NYS, I got admonished by my DW for taking the firewood left behind by the campers across from us when they vacated their site. I thought, why not, if not me, someone else will just grab it.

So, what do you do when camping and your neighbor leaves a pile of nice cut firewood behind, or, driving or walking the campground you see left behind wood. Take it, or, leave it for the next person? To me, it's like finding $10 or $20 on the ground.

[eye95]

Since they should not transport firewood more than a few miles, they likely left it behind for anyone else to use. I have done that myself.

As with the penny, “Leave some wood, take some wood.”

[okie dokie]

Sherman12,
In Arkansas I seen people cruising around camp in trucks picking up wood as campers left.
I did giggle a little when a couple Gentlemen picked up smoldering logs from camp fire ring.
Take a little or in their case take it all

[Reverse_snowbird]

Take it.
We had that happen at a private campground where moving firewood in the county was not allowed. The park couldn't resell the wood, so it was available to anyone who wanted it.

[Tapex]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

Take it.
We had that happen at a private campground where moving firewood in the county was not allowed. The park couldn't resell the wood, so it was available to anyone who wanted it.

The park couldn't resell the wood, so it was available to anyone who wanted it.

We've had parks tell us the same thing.
Taking notes in our campground journal for future reference.

[Draggo]

When my son was younger he used to like riding his bike around on Sunday morning (when we were staying for the rest of the week) with the Walkie Talkie and would call me to bring the truck when he would find some. Gave him something to do and gave us firewood for the week. I don't see anything wrong with using firewood someone left behind as long as you know they are really gone and not just going into town in their motorhome.

[D W]

IMHO, I didn't rent that site. I have no business on that site. I do not feel I'm entitled to anything left behind on that site. If that camper approached me and said they had firewood that they were leaving behind, and if I wanted it I could have it, well, that's a different story.

[ForestWalker]

As others have mentioned because of potential pests firewood should not be transported.

If you see firewood left behind be a good camper and help the environment by properly disposing of it.

BURN IT

[MtBiker]

We go to an event once a year where they have a rodeo a couple of weeks before. The rodeo people usually leave a few piles of wood around. As we tend to arrive early we hustle up a good pile of wood and build a big fire.
If someone wanders over and say's "nice fire" we hand them a beer. Win! Win!

[Iwritecode]

As a seasonal camper I'm often still at the CG long after most people have left on Sunday morning/afternoon. I'm of the mind that it doesn't matter who takes it, as long as it's put it to good use.

I've never seen wood that was left behind get used by the next person that uses that same site. It's always gone long before whether it's picked up by a fellow camper or one of the CG employees.

[MilCop4523]

I did that once... once.
the neighbors came over and grabbed them off my site stating that their friend had left it for them and they were reporting me to the campground administration for stealing pieces of firewood.
Unfortunately they took all of mine as well, thinking their friend had left it.
I generally take end cuts of 2x4s from my reclaimed lumber at home so when it has the stamp on some pieces it wasn't difficult to tell them they were actually stealing my stuff as well.


And that's why I don't pick up abandoned wood at campsites anymore.
I ask the people leaving if they mind my using it instead. if they say no - its not a big deal for the campground owner to recollect and resell.

[Brickie]

Originally Posted by D W

IMHO, I didn't rent that site. I have no business on that site. I do not feel I'm entitled to anything left behind on that site. If that camper approached me and said they had firewood that they were leaving behind, and if I wanted it I could have it, well, that's a different story.

My thoughts as well.

[Bama Rambler]

Around here most campgrounds have 'corrals' and the CG folks go around and collect the left wood and put it in the corrals for anybody to use. We usually leave a bit of local wood for the corral, but will certainly take some if we need it.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by ForestWalker

As others have mentioned because of potential pests firewood should not be transported.

If you see firewood left behind be a good camper and help the environment by properly disposing of it.

BURN IT

Where I camp you either bring your own wood or you don't have a campfire. Years ago there was always wood for sale as you were driving to the campground/recreation areas. Campground Hosts usually had wood for sale. This is rarely the case anymore and of course wood scavenging at the camping site is usually prohibited.

In the last few years many of the Forest Service campgrounds I go to have only a "roving host" that drops in long enough to put up the reserved signs and make sure everyone is registered. NO WOOD.

If I bring wood from home it gets burned. No pests survive the fire.

[eye95]

The pests don’t have to survive the fire. They only have to survive long enough to to escape before the fire.

When I stayed at Clay’s Resort and Camp, the part of the park where we were was called “Sunnyside” because every tree within a few hundred yards had been killed by some bug that had been brought in.

I don’t move wood more than about a mile.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Take it, burn it, don't transport it.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by sherman12

Take it, or, leave it for the next person?

You are that "next person."

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by D W

IMHO, I didn't rent that site. I have no business on that site. I do not feel I'm entitled to anything left behind on that site. If that camper approached me and said they had firewood that they were leaving behind, and if I wanted it I could have it, well, that's a different story.

My oh My!!


I guess my scruples leave a lot to be desired.

[BillyBass]

Take it .One yr we was the last campers to leave for the season for they gated it up. I went around and clean every site .I ended up with a whole truck load

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

The people that left the wood behind left it because they had no more use for it. And did not want to transport it. They left it with no expectations of future use. But rightfully assumed someone would benefit at the campground.


This is silly, sorry. Nothing to do with scruples or morality.