My wife and I also camped in Itasca State Park recently, Sept 28,29 &30. We inquired ahead of time about the wood. I also asked if I could bring birch bark to start fires. No to both questions for obvious reasons that I support. You can however bring kiln dried lumber scraps. I also purchased firewood at the park registration station. $4 a bundle. The lable on the firewood said it came from Sunset Firewood, DNR Approved Hardwood Firewood Bundle. .75 cubic feet., Originated in Crow Wing County, MN. Sunset Firewood Company: 3128 Lilac St., Jenkins, MN. I don't know the difference between their birch bark and mine as I only live a few miles from them. If you drive through Jenkins on Hwy 371 N., you will see pallets of this special DNR approved birch, on the west side of the highway. Knowing the DNR in the Brainerd area, one of their employees probably had a take in it. Corruption thrives in the Brainerd DNR offices.

Do you actually believe that some desk jockey in St. Paul checks the firewood producers for our state parks. Try the closest DNR offices. Why would I suggest corruption: Ask the local DNR wildlife manager. Ask the local little birdie manager in the Brainerd DNR office. They, among others can tell you why I suggest corruption at the Brainerd DNR offices. They were challenged before to bring the big wigs here from St Paul for a public meeting. The meeting was held at the DNR offices in Brainerd and certain people with certain knowledge were told that if they showed up, DNR enforcement would kick them out of the meeting. Do you need to know more about corruption at the Brainerd DNR offices. The Brainerd Lakes/Crow Wing County area is in dire need of public hearings open to all DNR subjects without limitations including time restraints, held in a public facility with local legislators present to monitor. And that doesn't mean Larry Howes since he is in bed with the DNR. And don't play games with the citizens and have the meetings start at 8pm in the evening. There are enough DNR problems in this area to last all day. Maybe even a meeting in southern Crow Wing County and another in Northern Crow Wing County, to facilitate the citizens. The local DNR people will work overtime to see that this letter doesn't get to those that need to know in St. Paul. If you think otherwise, you have a lot to learn about our local DNR or you have a vested interest.

If you don't know what your talking about, you should probably keep quiet, Captron. First of all, I did bring my own kiln dried scrap lumber. When it was gone, I bought firewood from the park. And you're not going to have a "huge" good old fashioned fire with the small wood they sell at the park. You could burn a whole $4 bundle and still not get a hot dog roasted. And the DNR is not out to get us. They've already got us and are squeezing harder all the time. They take care of themselves and screw the citizens. The DNR in the Brainerd office have forgotten a long time ago, where their paychecks come from. Also, their leadership in St Paul follows the same path. There are also indications that Bemidji and Grand Rapids DNR offices also conduct business in a screw the citizen manner. No, not every one that works their is bad but the majority of the leadership is corrupt. I hope these clowns are going to retire sometime in the next two years because Mark Dayton won't be around after that, and the ---- will hit the fan after that. In case you didn't know, the previous DNR commissioner made a statement ("These people have such an organized group, I couldn't begin to clean it up"). They are out of control. I have what it takes to handle that but it might take a couple of years yet. To the DNR violators in the Brainerd office, I WON'T GO AWAY. Don't choke on your wild rice. And criminal activity can be pursued after you retire. Come clean now and save yourself the trouble later. Stealing from the state is against the law.