We’ve almost made it past Thanksgiving and around the bend onto Christmas, and that means it is legally, morally and socially acceptable to put up a Christmas tree.
Living in Jefferson County, residents have the opportunity to skip the line and cut down a pine of their own in two different national forests for this year’s Christmas tree: the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
“The Christmas tree permit provides local communities a fun way to create adventures and family traditions on their local forest,” Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Supervisor Emily Platt said in a Nov. 16 press release.
Christmas tree permits for the 2022 season went on sale Nov. 10 and are valid through Dec. 31. Those interested in harvesting a tree can do so by purchasing their permit for $5 online at www.recreation.gov/tree-permits or at a local ranger district office.
Fourth-graders, or children 9 to 10 years old can use their Every Kid Outdoors pass to redeem a free Christmas tree permit. Every Kid Outdoor passes can be obtained for free at www.everykidoutdoors.gov.
This year’s Christmas centerpieces must be no taller than 12 feet tall and a species other than a five-needle pine. When cutting your tree down, leave no more than six inches of stump behind.
Yuletide lumberjacks are also restricted from chopping down trees on private land, in wilderness areas, at designated recreation sites, previously thinned areas, at active timber sites or at existing tree plantations. Trees visible from major roads or within 150 feet of streams, creeks and other well-used areas are also off-limits.
