rockm

"The little hope I have comes from people getting permission to hunt animals. If they give permission to hunt animals there should be some way of getting permission to collect trees. From my point of view, the collected trees have a better chance of surviving than any hunted animals, even if it is in my hands"

Hunting is not plant collecting. Hunting is alot more common, more familiar and regulated. It supported by fees if you hunt on government land.

Collecting plants, has, unfortunately, gotten a bad reputation in some areas, particularly in Florida. Collectors of rare wild species, like orchids, ginseng, sago palm, even mushrooms, have sometimes been irresponsible and have limited the opportunities. Read "The Orchid Thief" for a glimpse into what rare plant collecting has done down that way.

It's possible to get permission, but it ain't going to be easy.