Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests
Thunder Basin National Grassland

USDA Forest Service
Medicine Bow-Routt
National Forests,
Thunder Basin
National Grassland
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070
307-745-2300

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
307-745-2307

News Release

USDA Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
Medicine Bow & Routt National Forests, Thunder Basin National Grassland

Contact: Wendy Holden 970-870-1870

Christmas Tree Permits Are Available Now

(Steamboat Springs) – November 20, 2007 - - Christmas tree permits are available at all Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest offices in Colorado and Wyoming for $10.00 each. Each permit allows for the cutting of one tree on National Forest System Lands. There is a limit of five permits per household. Trees must be for personal use, not for resale. The permit must be clearly displayed around the stem of the tree before leaving the cutting area.
Some areas of the Forest are closed to tree cutting or may be difficult to access, so please contact the local Forest Service office for specific site information, including the status of roads. Visitors to the Yampa Ranger District are reminded that the Bear River Corridor, within 300 yards of Forest Road 900 is off limits for tree cutting. For suggested areas please contact the Yampa Ranger District. Visitors to the Hahns Peak/Bear’s Ears District are reminded that cutting is prohibited in the Fish Creek Falls area and within the boundaries of the Steamboat Ski Area. The Forest Service would like to emphasize that Wilderness areas are off limits to cutting on all Forest Service districts including the Flat Tops, Mount Zirkel, Rawah, Neota, and Never Summer.

Weather conditions can change quickly, so please be prepared.
Dress for winter conditions and have your vehicle equipped with adequate tires, chains and a shovel. Some reminders when cutting your tree include:
· Trees may not be cut within 100 feet of roads or within 200 feet of campgrounds, picnic areas, scenic pullouts, administrative sites, timber sale areas or designated Wilderness areas.
· Choose a tree that is growing with other trees in a cluster. Do not choose the “perfect” tree that stands alone. The forest environment benefits by thinning the clusters and allowing the strong trees to remain and provide for a healthy genetic source for the future forest.
· Maximum tree height is 20 feet.
· Cut tree six inches or less above the ground, or below the lowest living branch, whichever is lower. If one living branch is left on the stump, the tree will continue to grow, although it will probably become deformed and encourage disease.
· If boughs are wanted, please choose a taller tree than needed (maximum 20 feet) and use the lower branches for boughs. Please do not cut boughs from other living trees.
Tree cutting regulations have been established to maintain a healthy forest environment. For more information, contact your local Forest Service office.

Hahns Peak-Bears Ears District Office Mon – Fri 8-5
925 Weiss Drive
Steamboat Springs, CO
(970) 879-1870

BLM – Little Snake Resource Area Office Mon – Fri 7:45-4:30
455 Emerson St.
Craig, CO.
970-826-5000

Yampa District Office Mon – Fri 8 - 5 _
300 Roselawn Street
Yampa, CO
(970) 638-4516

Parks District Office Mon – Fri 8:00-4:30_
100 Main Street
Walden, CO
(970) 723-8204
or
2103 E. Park Avenue Mon – Fri 8 - 4:30 ­
Kremmling, CO 80459
(970) 724-3000

 

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Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests Thunder Basin National Grassland

2468 Jackson Street, Wyoming 82070-6535

www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr