Christmas tree permits are available for sale at all seven Ranger District offices and numerous vendors across the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Forest Service offices in Bozeman, West Yellowstone, Livingston, Gardiner, Big Timber, Red Lodge, Billings, Ashland, MT and Camp Crook, SD will have permits available from 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday for $5.00 each, with a limit of three permits per household. Permits are sold in person and cash, check, debit and credit are accepted. Permits are also available at these local community businesses: in Belgrade at Town & Country and True Value, in Bozeman at Owenhouse Ace Hardware (downtown W. Main St. stores) and Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, in Four Corners at Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, in Big Sky at Ace Hardware and Conoco Big Sky, in West Yellowstone at Corner Cenex, and in Livingston at Ace Hardware and True Value.
A permit can also be purchased for gathering personal-use boughs. Permits, maps, forest road access updates and tree species identification guides are available at each ranger district office. In support of Every Kid in a Park program, the Forest Service will offer one free Christmas tree cutting permit to each fourth grader who presents a valid Every Kid in a Park pass. Fourth graders can get an Every Kid in the Park Pass by visiting everykidinapark.gov and completing the “Get Your Pass” section. Once complete, the child can bring the pass to any Custer Gallatin National Forest District Office (not available at vendors) for their Christmas tree permit. “Cutting a Christmas tree is a great, family fun tradition for many,” said Marna Daley, Public Affairs Officer for the Custer Gallatin National Forest. “Dress in layers for changing weather conditions and enjoy spending time outdoors with friends and family. Don’t forget to bring a strapping method for securing the tree.”
Those with a permit may cut a Christmas tree anywhere on the Custer Gallatin National Forest except in campgrounds, trailheads, designated wilderness areas, developed recreation sites, posted timber sale units, recently planted locations and administrative sites. Permits are also valid for any national forest in the Northern Region, which includes all of Montana, northern Idaho and portions of North and South Dakota. General guidelines for cutting a tree include the following: No tree cutting is allowed within 50 feet of any stream, lake, or wetland; Only trees 15 feet tall or less may be cut; Cut your tree as close to the ground as possible and below the lowest live limb. A remaining stump height of 6 inches or less is ideal; After cutting your tree, attach the purchased permit to a lower limb near the trunk for transporting home; “Topping” trees, or cutting the top off trees, deforms any future growth and leaves a visual eyesore.
Take the entire tree or choose another one; Trees help protect watersheds, provide habitat for wildlife, and contribute to beautiful scenery. Keep these values in mind when selecting a tree. For more information, please contact any Custer Gallatin National Forest office or for general forest information visit online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin/home. •