Can you tap maple trees on public land in Michigan?

The DNR's foraging page says "Maple trees (and other trees) may not be tapped for syrup production on public lands," and that maple sap "may only be harvested from private lands." The rule behind it applies to all land owned or controlled by the DNR: it is unlawful to "destroy, damage, or remove a tree," with an exception only for picking mushrooms, berries and edible fruits or nuts for personal use (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.922(h)). We found no permit, lease or bid program for sugaring on Michigan state forests.

The same state land use rule (R 299.922(h)) covers state parks, recreation areas and state game areas, because it applies to all land "owned or under the control of the department." DNR's statement that trees may not be tapped on public lands makes no exception for parks or wildlife areas.

Ottawa National Forest: yes, with a permit. The forest's page says "Tap permits are $2.00 per tap with a minimum of $20 per permit"; commercial sugaring needs additional permitting. Call ahead (the Bessemer, Watersmeet and Kenton offices were issuing permits), bring a map and the township/range/section of where you'll tap, and allow a day or two for approval. Under a personal-use permit you can leave a tap and bucket on the tree but no other equipment in the woods. Its tap guideline: one tap for trees 10–17 inches in diameter, two for 18–24 inches, three for 25 inches and up. Hiawatha and Huron-Manistee National Forests: their permit pages don't mention maple sap, so tapping there is not confirmed either way — the default federal rule prohibits damaging or removing any tree or forest product without authorization (36 CFR 261.6), so ask the district office before drilling.

Forests in Michigan: Ottawa National Forest, Hiawatha National Forest, Huron-Manistee National Forests

Town, county and roadside trees

County, township, city and village land — including parks and street trees — needs a license from the public body that owns it. Michigan's damage statute makes anyone who injures trees "on the lands or commons of any city, township, village, or other public corporation without license to do so" liable for three times the actual damages (MCL 600.2919). We found no statewide program for tapping local public land (local programs were not surveyed).

Private land you don't own

Get the owner's permission. The statute doesn't mention tapping by name, but anyone who "despoils or injures any trees on another's lands" without the owner's permission owes three times the actual damages — reduced to single damages if the trespass was casual and involuntary (MCL 600.2919). UVM Extension's annotated sugarbush lease is a workable template for a written agreement.

Lease rates seen in the sources: No Michigan-specific survey was opened. For scale: the Ottawa National Forest charges $2.00 per tap for a personal-use permit; UVM Extension's 2019 survey of northeastern producers found private rents most commonly $1.00–$1.24 per tap per year ("Maple Rental Rates," January 2020).