Christmas tree permits now available, Nov. 10

BLM release – SW Oregon– For many families, venturing out onto public lands to cut a Christmas tree is an annual holiday tradition! Beginning November 9, 2020, tree permits will be available for purchase online through recreation.gov, and via phone or in person at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Medford, Grants Pass, and Coos Bay offices. The public should contact their local BLM or U.S. Forest Service office prior to visiting in person to purchase a Christmas tree permit. For those who wish to purchase their permit from a local business, vendors across southwest Oregon will begin selling Christmas tree permits on November 23rd, with the current list of vendors available on the Rogue River Sisikiyou National Forest’s website. Regretfully, the public cannot purchase Christmas tree permits at Forest Service Ranger District offices this year. Those offices include Prospect, Star Ranger Station, Cave Junction, Gold Beach and Wild Rivers. 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 $5.00 per tree and are nonrefundable. There is a limit of five tree permits per household, and the permits may be used only on those lands open to Christmas tree harvesting that are administered by the RRSNF, and the Bureau of Land Management Medford and Coos Bay Districts. Free printable maps that identify these areas are provided at the time of permit purchase in-person, on recreation.gov, as well as for home printing on the RRSNF website. Those wishing to use digital maps and navigation systems can download the free maps to use on the mapping app, Avenza. Maps will also be available at the Coos Bay District Office. Please contact the Coos Bay District Office at 541-756-0100 for additional information. Happy tree hunting from the RRSNF and the Bureau of Land Management Medford and Coos Bay Districts!