Christmas Tree Permit Sales to Begin Nov. 24

Release Date: Nov 10, 2014

Silver City, N.M.; Nov. 10, 2014 – Christmastree permits will go on sale at Gila National Forest offices starting Monday, Nov. 24, 2014.

This year, the public can start purchasing the permits four days earlier than normal. By providing the additional service, families can obtain the permit and cut their Christmas tree during the Thanksgiving holiday along with any visiting family or friends and avoid the after Thanksgiving Day rush. 

 

Permits sell for $5.00 each with a limit of one permit per household, or free permits are available for the aromatic piñon trees. Any tree species up to 10’ high may be cut. 

 

A Christmas tree tag, an information sheet on cutting regulations, and maps of designated cutting sites are included with the permits. To protect forest resources, tree cutting activities are not allowed within wilderness areas, riparian (river and stream) areas, and within 200 feet of paved roads and developed recreation sites.

 

It is advisable for harvesters to check with local Ranger Districts for road and weather conditions prior to traveling on the forest. During this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable with rain or snowstorms making dirt roads muddy, snow packed, or impassable. Forest users are also asked to respect forest and private lands, dispose of litter in trash cans or “pack it out”, and close all forest gates after passing through them. 

 

For further information on Christmas tree cutting, please call 575-388-8201 or contact one of the Gila National Forest offices at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/about-forest/offices.