Cutting a tree on public land?

November 11, 2010 1:22 PM

I've always wanted to cut my own Christmas tree....on public land. Legally. How do I find out whether and where I can do this?

I understand that state forests and sometimes other public lands allow citizens to use their resources. For instance, a friend taps all the maple trees in a state forest near his home.

I live in Massachusetts but can easily get to Maine and New Hampshire. But even more general responses would be helpful. I've found it hard to navigate the websites of the various state agencies in a way that helps answer this question. Where should I be looking?

posted by Miko to Law & Government (11 answers total)

Find out which national forests are near you, and then call the USFS ranger stations for each. Ask them where you can obtain a permit to cut wood, and in which forest tracts cutting is allowed.

Out here, the tracts where cutting is allowed is often clearly marked on the roadside. Do make sure you get a permit from the USFS, though. I think they charge you based on how much wood you believe you'll take, so the fee should be nominal.

Another option is to call the BLM if they have any lands near you (but USFS is the one I'm more familiar with).
posted by mudpuppie at 1:26 PM on November 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

There is a state park in Colorado (Golden Gate State Park) that sells Christmas tree permits a few very specific dates. They are first come first serve kind of things. I would suggest calling the Ranger District office in your area or the area where you wish to get your tree and asking if they run a Christmas tree program. Ranger District offices (at least all the ones I have dealt with in CO) are very knowledgeable and helpful. I have also found the Forest Service/State Park websites to be confusing or unhelpful.
posted by rachums at 1:31 PM on November 11, 2010

I realize this is not really an answer to your question, but many private farms allow you to pick your own Christmas Tree and then cut it yourself. Something to consider which may be easier.

Massachusetts / Maine / New Hampshire
posted by zarq at 1:39 PM on November 11, 2010

Where I live, Mudpuppie's advice would be spot-on. If you don't have much USFS land near you, I'd also suggest calling other agencies that do manage large tracts of forest land -- BLM? State Forestry agencies?
posted by Forktine at 1:40 PM on November 11, 2010

Best answer: Did a quick glance for the national forests. Both White Mountain NF (New Hampshire) and Green Mountain NF (Vermont) allow for one Christmas Tree per year, permit is $5 and can be obtained at the ranger stations. They have various restrictions on size of the tree, distance from the road, tagging, etc.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:42 PM on November 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: many private farms allow you to pick your own Christmas Tree and then cut it yourself.

Thanks, I've done this many times and it is fun, but looking to have a different experience this time.
posted by Miko at 2:46 PM on November 11, 2010

Since the public land trees aren't clones, expect a Charlie Brown tree.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:03 PM on November 11, 2010

Other thing to keep in mind is that any area with power lines running through them have the base clear cut every 10 years or so. That way you'll know that even if you didn't cut down the tree, it was going to get chopped down sooner rather than later by someone else
posted by felspar at 6:07 PM on November 11, 2010

Thanks, I've done this many times and it is fun, but looking to have a different experience this time.

If you plan on doing this, a few tips:

1) Go find your perfect tree now while there is still light and not much snow.
2) Using a GPS to mark your tree's location is an excellent idea.
3) Bring along some flourescent tape to "mark" your tree. It's not official, but it tends to keep people from taking your tree.
4) Remember trees are heavy. Strolling in to cut it down is one thing, dragging it back up that "small" hill to the car is something else entirely.
5) Forest trees are often not sprayed, so check for an insect infestation before you bring it home.
posted by madajb at 6:39 PM on November 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Forest trees are often not sprayed, so check for an insect infestation before you bring it home.

The aphids that live on conifers are enormous. We had these extra ornaments on our tree one year, and have since bought a plastic tree in a box. Make sure you check the trunk pretty carefully before cutting your tree.
posted by maxwelton at 7:21 PM on November 11, 2010

Response by poster: For the thread's posterity, it looks the White Mountains NF has a fairly citizen-friendly approach to this. Here are some accounts of how people have found it working for them. I still have email inquiries out to the state forest agencies in the three states, and will wait to hear back. Their websites don't offer any easily findable information on this.

If we manage to pull this off I'll update again! Thanks, everyone!
posted by Miko at 6:17 AM on November 12, 2010