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What to Know About Harvesting a Christmas Tree on State or Federal Forest Land

By Katie Thoresen

After Thanksgiving, many people set their sights on the next big holiday of the season: Christmas.

The U.S. Forest Service encourages people to harvest their Christmas Tree responsibly.

The National Forest says this tradition helps maintain a healthy forest.

Christmas tree permits are a unique opportunity for people to help maintain healthy forest conditions by thinning densely populated stands of small diameter trees which are the perfect size for a Christmas tree.

National Forests

Christmas Tree Permits are available through Recreation.gov. It costs $5 per tree.

Fourth Graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit.

A couple guidelines to follow:

- Make sure the tree you plan to harvest is on Forest Service land and not neighboring private land.

- There’s no cutting in designated wilderness areas.

- You can’t harvest a tree from a plantation or one in an active timber sale area.

- You also can’t cut down a tree within 100 feet of a lake or pond.

There’s a full list of guidelines when you get your permit.

Click here to see more...

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