Scenario: I am the designated "trip leader" (no alternates) on a single day use permit that covers multiple boats. All boats will enter the wilderness at the same time, together. This is technically a motor permit, but I don't think that matters in this case.

Question: Once in, can the boats go their separate ways, with each boat possessing its "stub" from the permit? Can one group break off and portage elsewhere? If it's OK for the group to split up, do they need to all meet back up at a set time so they can exit together?

Thoughts much appreciated. I know groups can't split up from one permit into multiple campsites, but can't find info on day use groups splitting up.

Am also interested in the correct answer and wonder if the answer changes if the permit is for overnight use?

Aren't day use permits free? If you plan to split into two groups, just get two permits. It's not like it costs anything anyway. Other than tracking park usage, day-use permits are probably used to have some idea of where to look for people in the event of an emergency or evacuation, so there would be merit in day-trippers being accurate with their permits.

For overnight permits, I'd think splitting-up wouldn't be a big deal at all since you'd all have to be making or returning to the same camp at the end of the day anyhow--there's only so far you can split away from each other in a day given that.

Day motor permits are neither free nor unlimited. You have a point about day paddle.

As for overnight motor or paddle I have read it’s fine for the group to split up but not OK to occupy more than one site, which like you said keeps everyone relatively close by out of necessity.

I don’t see any rules we’d be breaking if splitting the group into several boats and scattering around the area, even though we may end up miles apart at times. Like if I’m at the tip of back bay on basswood and my buddy is still back on the other side of prairie portage and gets stopped by a ranger, will he be ok if he has the stub from being an additional boat on my permit?

Unless rules have changed, you should need to provide a name for each permit stub. You also used to stay within sight of each other. Now, your idea of portaging into other lakes....with a motorboat? If you are planning to tow a canoe along for the purpose of portaging into another lake then the canoe is considered a watercraft within your 4 watercraft limit and, I believe you would need to bring along a self issue paddle permit for the purpose of paddling into another lake.

Things may have changed in the past few years.

Thanks Mocha— the “within sight” thing is news to me and exactly why I posted my question. Be curious if I could actually track that rule down.

Towing a canoe along and portaging into smaller non motor lakes does not require an additional self-issued permit from every conversation I’ve had. Since I already have an entry permit it’d be bureaucratic nonsense to require a second permit.

I know this is a weird question but worth exploring I think. Can I fish crappies in a shallow bay miles away from my buddy trolling the deepest laker hole, both on the same day motor permit?

Finding nothing much online, I emailed the visitor services team at the Superior National Forest. They replied:

"...day use motor permits would allow for up to four boats within one permit to travel independently of each other within the parameters of the specific entry point/permit as long as each of the boats (as you mentioned) carries either the permit or permit stub for reference. Within your example, this would also include a stub for the canoe being portaged to XXXX Lake in addition to the other three motorized watercraft. Thus, there would be four boats in total under the permit as you outlined it (three motorized and one canoe)."
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So, no mention of needing to stay within sight of the other boats -- free to roam separately. They also confirmed that the group leader would have to be last one to exit the wilderness at the end of the day. The permit ends when he exits the wilderness, so those staying behind at that time would technically be present without a valid permit.

This was a good discussion. Sometimes we think we are acting consistently with the rules but the assumptions went unquestioned.