‘Tis the Season For
Christmas Tree Permits
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November 15, 2011 |
Christmas tree permits are now available from
the Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management. Here’s what you need to know about
the tree permits (tags):
• Christmas tree tags are $5 each.
• A family may purchase up to three tags.
• Christmas tree tags can be used to cut trees
on: National Forest lands in northern Idaho and
Montana; on Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
lands administered by the Coeur d’Alene District
Office in northern Idaho; and by the Missoula,
Butte and Dillon field offices in western
Montana.
The Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District offers a
“permit by mail” system. Simply print and
complete the form, include a check or money
order, and mail. Tree tags will be mailed the
next working day after receipt of application.
Form and instructions are located here.
Please observe these rules when cutting
Christmas trees:
• Know where you are! Call local agency offices
to check current travel conditions before you
go. Forest visitor maps and information are
available at Forest Service and BLM offices.
National Forest maps also are available online
at:
www.fs.fed.us/recreation/nationalforeststore/
• Cut your tree at least 200 feet from main
roads, campgrounds, recreation sites, and the
Deception Creek and Priest Lake Experimental
Forests. No cutting is allowed within these
areas or within Wilderness, Wilderness Study
Areas, National Recreation Areas and recreation
sites; English Point on the Coeur d’Alene River
Ranger District; or within the Wallace Forest
Conservation Area.
• Cut your tree at least 100 yards from streams.
Select your tree from thickets or overstocked
areas. Do not remove trees from active timber
sale areas, plantations, or other sparsely
stocked areas. Leave isolated trees and single
growing trees.
• Cut only one tree per tag. Attach the
fluorescent tree tag to your tree before putting
it into your vehicle.
• Don’t cut large trees just to get the top! Cut
the stem off below the lowest live limb or 8
inches above the ground, whichever is lower.
Keep discarded tree limbs and tree sections out
of roads and ditches.
• On back roads, we encourage you to cut trees
that are growing within the road prism (from the
top of the cut bank to the bottom of the fill
slope) of little-used roads. This helps to keep
roads open and safe for travel.
• Be prepared for cold weather and snow! Dress
warmly, carry extra food and hot drinks, and
always let someone know your travel plans
including destination and expected time of
arrival back home. Start your tree hunting
adventure early in the day while there’s still
plenty of daylight. Be sure to carry tire chains
as most backcountry roads are not plowed. Cell
phone coverage also is limited in many areas.
Members of the public may purchase Christmas
tree tags at any of our offices. Addresses,
telephone numbers, and office hours are
available on our
Christmas Tree Permit page. |
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Questions or comments? Click
here to
email! |
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