SILVER CITY, NM – Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase at Gila National Forest offices starting Monday, Nov. 23 and continuing until Dec. 24, 2015. Permits sell for $5.00 each with a limit of one permit per household. Free permits are available for the aromatic pinon trees. Any tree species up to 10 feet may be cut.
As part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative, fourth graders may receive a free Christmas tree permit upon presenting a valid Fourth Grade Pass. The fourth grader must be present at time of receiving the Christmas tree permit. For more information about this initiative and how to obtain a pass, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov.
A Christmas tree tag, an information sheet on cutting regulations and maps of designated cutting sites are provided to the customer. To protect forest resources, tree cutting activities are not allowed within wilderness areas, riparian (river and stream) areas and within 200 feet of paved roads and developed recreation sites.
It is advisable to check with local ranger districts for road and weather conditions prior to traveling on the forest. During this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable with rain or snowstorms making dirt roads muddy, snow packed or impassable. Forest users are also asked to respect forest and private lands, dispose of litter in trash cans or “Pack it Out” and close all forest gates after passing through them.
For further information on Christmas tree cutting, please call 575-388-8201 or contact one of the Gila National Forest offices at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/about-forest/offices.