Local News

For many families, venturing out onto public lands to cut a Christmas tree is annual holiday tradition.

The process of obtaining permits differs a bit by agency, but families are able to cut Christmas trees on US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management lands using a permit from either agency.

Permits for Christmas trees are $5 per tree, with a limit of five tree permits per household. The permits can only be used on those lands open to Christmas tree harvesting that are administered by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest or Medford District of the BLM.

There are a number of options by which the public can obtain permits. They can be purchased at Forest Service and BLM offices, with the exception of the Wild Rivers Ranger District Office in Cave Junction.

Forest Service-issued Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at "recreation.gov." To purchase a permit, visit the site and search for Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Christmas Tree Permits. They are $5 per tree with a $2.50 processing fee added on per order.

Many local businesses across southwest Oregon are selling Christmas tree permits. The current vendor list is available on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest website at "tinyurl.com/4krdamye." Call the vendor first to see if they're available.

Free printable maps that identify tree harvesting areas are provided at the time of permit purchase on "recreation.gov" as well as for home printing on the Forest website at "tinyurl.com/pxew72em."