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Christmas tree permits available starting Thursday By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Nov 08, 2022 02:50 PM A A The Howe family of Ashland with their freshly cut Christmas tree. [Mail Tribune / file photo] The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will start offering Christmas tree permits Thursday for $5 each. For many families, venturing out onto public lands to cut their own tree is an annual holiday tradition, officials said. The federal agencies offer several ways for people to get a tree permit starting Thursday: More than 20 Rogue Valley stores and agencies will sell the permits, including hardware stores, Grange Co-op locations, ranger district stations and outdoors stores. For a list of locations, their phone numbers and operating hours, see www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1072027.pdf. The Forest Service and BLM recommend that people call ahead to make sure permits are in stock. Forest Service Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase online at recreation.gov. Visitors will need to use a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction, and adhere to the rules included with the permit. BLM-issued Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase online at forestproducts.blm.gov. As part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative, fourth-grade students are entitled to one free Christmas tree permit with a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass. Free permits can be obtained through recreation.gov, or in-person at a Forest Service office. The fourth-grader must present a pass to get a free permit. In-person sales will be available at many Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management offices. Call individual agency offices to confirm availability and to check office hours. Each permit allows the cutting of one personal-use Christmas tree, and a permit is required for each individual tree visitors wish to take home. Permits for Christmas trees are $5 per tree and are nonrefundable. There is a limit of five tree permits per household, and the permits may be used only on lands open to Christmas tree harvesting on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Medford District BLM lands. Free maps that identify areas for tree cutting are provided at the time of permit purchase on recreation.gov, and are also available for home printing or downloading via the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest at www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/rogue-siskiyou/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5327574&width=full . More information, including tree-hunting tips, guidelines for where people may cut their trees, and safety tips, can also be found on the website.