The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ State Forest Nursery is seeking individuals to collect black spruce cones this winter. The DNR uses the gathered cones to directly seed public lands and grow seedlings at the State Forest Nursery, which is near Akeley. In 2025, the DNR reforested nearly 1,200 acres of state land using almost 70,000 black spruce seedlings and 40 pounds of black spruce seed – which is the equivalent of roughly 25 million seeds.
“Collecting tree seeds and cones isn’t easy work. It often means hiking through the woods in cold weather, identifying the right trees, and gathering cones for several hours,” said Sarah Ebert, DNR State Forest Nursery manager. “But for Minnesotans who enjoy being outdoors, it’s a great way to play a hands-on role in restoring and replanting forests across the state.”
The DNR pays collectors $200 per bushel for clean, closed, ripe, black spruce cones. Of note, collecting seeds and cones from yard trees is not recommended. Many yard trees are cultivars or nonnative varieties. Also, the DNR doesn’t accept cones from non-native species such as blue or Norway spruce, or open cones collected from the ground with stems, leaves and debris. Individuals should contact their local DNR Forestry office before collecting to confirm if black spruce cones are currently needed and to arrange drop-off.
Knowing how to correctly identify black spruce is an important part of successful cone collection, and the DNR encourages collectors to review identification tips and photos online before heading out. Some characteristics to look for are short, pointed, four-sided needles approximately one-half inch long and cones that are small and purplish black in color.
Black spruce is found primarily in northern Minnesota, and seed drop-off stations are located at Forestry offices in Baudette, Grygla, Wannaska, Bemidji, Cloquet, Deer River, Hibbing, International Falls, Littlefork, Orr, Tower, Two Harbors, Warroad and the State Forest Nursery. For an list of all cone collection offices, see the map on the DNR website.
Collectors can find additional identification tips, current prices, collection guidelines, and drop-off locations on the DNR’s seed and cone collection webpage.