Forest offers permits for Christmas trees

Personal-use Christmas tree permits from the Flathead National Forest are available for $3 each from Forest Service offices in Kalispell, Hungry Horse, Bigfork and Whitefish.

Each permit is valid for one tree and there is a maximum of two permits per household. Commercial permits are not available.

The Forest Service urges permit holders to select trees that are three to four inches or less at the stump.

The stump should be cut as close to the ground as possible; tree tops should not be cut, and live limbs should not be left on the stump because they will not grow and will only take growing space from remaining trees in the area.

Permit holders are asked to choose a tree that is growing with other trees in a cluster, because the forest benefits by thinning tree clusters, allowing remaining trees to grow better.

Trees should not be cut in campgrounds or developed recreation areas.

The Christmas tree permit is only for national forest lands, so permit holders are asked to check land ownerships before entering an area for a tree.

For more information about cutting Christmas trees on the Flathead National Forest, contact the Flathead Supervisor's Office at 758-5208; the Hungry Horse/Glacier View and Spotted Bear ranger station at 387-3800; the Swan Lake Ranger Station at 837-7500; or the Tally Lake Ranger Station at 863-5400.