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Cutting your own Christmas tree?
Anyone on here do this as a tradition? We would like to take the boys up to cut a tree in the hills, but don't know the ins and outs, and much of the stuff my wife found online was very vague. Any suggestions?
Firewood and Christmas trees
cutting christmas tree
Most national forests allow users to harvest trees for personal use firewood and Christmas trees, but you must first have a Forest Service-issued permit and you must follow specific guidelines, which can vary from forest to forest.
Here are some general guidelines:
Contact the forest district office nearest you to obtain a permit for home firewood, Christmas tree and tree cutting instructions.
Wood or Christmas trees cannot be sold. Permits must be in your possession at all times while on the forest.
Contact each forest district office for specific dates, maps, times, and accessibility.
Before heading out, check the local forest for the latest warnings, such as fire or road closures.
Always check weather conditions for proper dress attire in the forests.
Tell someone you know where you are going and when you’ll return.
Check with local district offices before you cut dead or downed trees. Dead trees could provide animal habitat.
Stay away from areas along the sides of streams, rivers, lakes, and wet areas. Check with the ranger district for the proper distance.
Be aware of areas where trees may be weakened by storms, insect damage or fire.
Learn how to read a map and use a compass – and carry them both with you.
Additional guidelines for Christmas trees:
Most holiday tree permits are issued in November. Know your location, the weather, and your ability to traverse through snow.
Dress for the season. Always be prepared for the cold and snow, and start tree hunting early in the day to have plenty of daylight hours.
Bring emergency supplies, including water and food and a first-aid kit.
Remember to tell someone where you are going. Your cell phone may not work on many forests.
The tree you choose must be at least 200 feet from main roads, recreation sites and campgrounds, and stay away from areas along the sides of streams, rivers, lakes, and wet areas. Check with the ranger district for the proper distance.
Select a tree with a trunk six inches or less in diameter, and prepare to cut the tree no more than six inches above ground level.
Never cut a tall tree just for the top.
Select a tree from overstocked areas and thickets. Watch restricted areas. Cut only one tree per tag.
Attach your tree tag to harvested tree before placing in vehicle.
Bring a rope and tarp to move your tree from the harvest area to your vehicle.
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This is what piqued my children's interest lol.Originally Posted by CavSct1983
It's been a 40+ year tradition for us to cut a Christmas tree from our mountain property, but a couple times we've taken trees with Forest Service permits. It's a good experience to get out in the forest, watch wildlife and have a real life connection to the tree in the family room. I've also used it as a way to thin crowded clusters of trees for forest health. I almost always select a Sub-alpine Fir, but have taken a couple Douglas Fir and one Pinyon Pine from USFS land. Pinyons are more sappy, and remember that "firs are friendly, spruce are sharp", which refers to the soft fir or sharp spruce needles. I like the feel of soft fir branches, and easier for hanging lights and ornaments.
We have high ceilings so our decorated trees are 11-16 ft. high. Because we always have the tree next to a wall, it's okay to choose one that's a little sparse of branches on one side. Charlie Brown trees can look fine if placed right. Last year I salvaged a White Fir from the Grand Mesa that had recently blown down and took the top 12 ft. of a 30 ft. tree. It was perfect.
No advice but I will tell the story of my family's adventure last year....
My wife got a wild hair to go do that last year--after we got a couple feet of snow on the ground. We went out and looked twice, my daughter and me having lots of fun hiking through the snow, throwing snowballs, and scaring up squirrels (Mom was on a mission to get a tree). All the legal trees were too far away or on the wrong property. Anyway, after the second attempt, we decided to pick up a pizza and get out our old artificial tree. A good time was had by all.
We purchase a live tree and plant in yard in spring.
This year is a Colorado Blue Spruce a couple inches short of 6'.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
We used to cut our own when we were kids every year. Great memories.
I did this with a Blue Spruce about 20 years ago at my old house. I drive by there every now and then and the tree is a monster now.
The old saying is, "The best time to plant a tree is years ago. The second best time is today." I butchered that quote, but you get the idea.
I have been cutting my own tree for over 25 years, in the same area near Red Feathers.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/p...d=fsm91_058252
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