Having never been "in country" already when a fire ban was declared, how does that work for travelers who may not have contact with the outside? My son is in since Sunday when there was a "camp fire grate" limitation, but no outright ban. They did bring a stove.

Woodweller: "Having never been "in country" already when a fire ban was declared, how does that work for travelers who may not have contact with the outside? My son is in since Sunday when there was a "camp fire grate" limitation, but no outright ban. They did bring a stove."

They have to be notified by a USFS Ranger is my understanding. Otherwise- they are free to do what the regulations were when they entered. That's my understanding. Someone please correct me if I'am mistaken.

My understand is aligned with Whitewolf - that you can follow the rules in place when you entered unless notified by Rangers who will mark it on your permit. There is a good chance, however that they may hear about it from other paddlers on the water or on portages. If I were in and was told a ban had been put in place by someone who seemed credible, I would follow it.

WhiteWolf: "

Woodweller: "Having never been "in country" already when a fire ban was declared, how does that work for travelers who may not have contact with the outside? My son is in since Sunday when there was a "camp fire grate" limitation, but no outright ban. They did bring a stove."

They have to be notified by a USFS Ranger is my understanding. Otherwise- they are free to do what the regulations were when they entered. That's my understanding. Someone please correct me if I'am mistaken."

This is my understanding as well.

If there is a fire ban in place when you enter, the FS office or Cooperator will note the ban on your permit. You are bound by that ban unless notified by a FS ranger while in the Wilderness.

If you encounter an FS ranger while in the wilderness, they can also notify you of a fire ban and most likely will note the ban on your permit as they check the permit.

I have had both happen while on a trip. A fire ban was lifted and a fire ban was placed on our permit.

This is a little off the question. . . but two years ago during the fire ban one of our group noticed a drone flying over out camp site early in the morning, then moving to other camp sites. Does the forest service use drones to check on compliance with fire bans?

No and drones are illegal in the bwca. The forest service does use drones outside wilderness areas, The forest service lost a $$80,000.00 drone off the Echo Trail, last month. They were using it to watch a fire they started.

ockycamper: "... Does the forest service use drones to check on compliance with fire bans?"

The chip on your credit card has a smoke detector that the Forest Service uses during fire bans...

I talked to my son yesterday. They bailed a day early as when they got to the Annie Lake portage into Ogish, the fire was cooking to their northeast. They paddled the length of Ogish with wet bandanas over their faces, eventually camped on Alpine and paddled back out through Sea Gull yesterday. This is a photo of what they found at the end of the portage. Hope the link works.

Spice Lake Fire from Annie-Ogish portage 6/13/2023

bobbernumber3: "

ockycamper: "... Does the forest service use drones to check on compliance with fire bans?"

The chip on your credit card has a smoke detector that the Forest Service uses during fire bans..."

Was a serious question. We are aware drones are banned. The concensus in the group was that the forest service uses them.

But you can always use your credit card at home for a smoke detector

ockycamper: "...Was a serious question. We are aware drones are banned. The concensus in the group was that the forest service uses them....."

I can't speak with authority on this, but believe from a number of things I've read in many places that FS employees are for the most part subject to the same rules everyone else is in the BWCAW. I believe that to even send a motor boat into a non-motorized area or land one of the Beavers in the BWCAW even for a medical issue, they have to get some sort of authorization from one of the higher-ups. Given that, I find it highly unlikely they would get any sort of waiver approved to fly a drone around to spy on you so they would not have to paddle over, introduce themselves, and see for themselves.

I bet the only rule they do not have to follow like us is that when two rangers go in for a patrol, they probably not have to go to recreation.gov and pull a permit.

ockycamper: "This is a little off the question. . . but two years ago during the fire ban one of our group noticed a drone flying over out camp site early in the morning, then moving to other camp sites. Does the forest service use drones to check on compliance with fire bans?"

The only drones over the bwca are the border patrols as I understand.

Woodweller: "I talked to my son yesterday. They bailed a day early as when they got to the Annie Lake portage into Ogish, the fire was cooking to their northeast. They paddled the length of Ogish with wet bandanas over their faces, eventually camped on Alpine and paddled back out through Sea Gull yesterday. This is a photo of what they found at the end of the portage. Hope the link works.


Spice Lake Fire from Annie-Ogish portage 6/13/2023 "

Wow they got a front row seat.

Being one that works closely with drones in the USG, Adam is correct. But on the northern border there are far less flights than the southern border for obvious reasons.

The drones that the Border Patrol uses in Minnesota are Predator drones that fly at 25,000 feet. They also have a wingspan longer than the forest service dhc2 beaver.

Subsistencer: "The drones that the Border Patrol uses in Minnesota are Predator drones that fly at 25,000 feet. They also have a wingspan longer than the forest service dhc2 beaver."

Are you saying the drone ocky saw was not likely a Border Patrol drone?

bobbernumber3: "

Subsistencer: "The drones that the Border Patrol uses in Minnesota are Predator drones that fly at 25,000 feet. They also have a wingspan longer than the forest service dhc2 beaver."

Are you saying the drone ocky saw was not likely a Border Patrol drone?"

Without seeing the drone or a picture no one could say 100%. My thought would be it is a fellow camper.

A quick google search yield several drone videos over the bwca.

Subsistencer: "

bobbernumber3: "

Subsistencer: "The drones that the Border Patrol uses in Minnesota are Predator drones that fly at 25,000 feet. They also have a wingspan longer than the forest service dhc2 beaver."

Are you saying the drone ocky saw was not likely a Border Patrol drone?"

Without seeing the drone or a picture no one could say 100%. My thought would be it is a fellow camper.


A quick google search yield several drone videos over the bwca."

Should bring a shotgun with