WESTERN WYOMING – The Bridger- Teton National Forest is selling Christmas tree permits from any of the Bridger-Teton National Forest District Offices which include the Kemmerer, Big Piney, Pinedale, Greys River in Afton, Jackson and Blackrock ranger stations and the interagency visitor center on Cache Street in Jackson.

A permit is required to cut Christmas trees or firewood on the forest. Christmas trees up to 20 feet in height require a $15 permit. This year there is one permit and one price for trees up to the 20-foot limit. Permits for cutting evergreen boughs can be purchased at 20 cents per pound at a $20 minimum.

Firewood permits are still available on the forest for personal use for a price of $7 per cord with a five-cord minimum purchase. When gathering firewood, permits allow for the harvest of downed or standing dead wood only. All wood gathered must be kept to a length of 8 feet or less.

Cutting or removal of forest products is prohibited in campgrounds, summer home sites, administrative sites such as guard stations, ski areas, Cache Creek Canyon near Jackson, the Snake River Canyon, designated wilderness or wilderness study areas and elk feed grounds.

These permit fees are used for funding projects through the National Forest Foundation including funding the salaries of Timber and forest health specialists, reducing residual slash build-up from firewood cutting, and maintaining popular firewood cutting roads. The majority of the revenue collected for these permits remains on the forest for the continued operation, visitor services, maps and law enforcement while issuing and enforcing Christmas tree permits.

“It is important to provide families an opportunity to get out into the woods and cut their own Christmas tree,” said Forest Supervisor Tricia O’Connor. “A unified price for Christmas trees will provide the public greater flexibility in finding the right-size tree for their home. We look forward to continuing to offer this traditional recreational opportunity on the Bridger-Teton National Forest.”

The Bridger-Teton would like to remind everyone that you must have the permit in your possession at the time of cutting any Forest Service product. Additionally, everyone is asked to follow the travel restrictions that are in place on the forest. Motor vehicle use maps are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/btnf/.