Christmas tree permit sales to begin this week for 3 Arizona national forests

PHOENIX — The holiday season may still be a few months away but Christmas tree permit sales begin this week for three Arizona national forests.

Christmas tree permits can be bought online starting Thursday for the Prescott, Kaibab and Apache-Sitgreaves national forests.

Permits go on sale starting Nov. 9 for the Tonto and Coconino national forests.

“For every tree that is found, cut and carried home as a holiday fixture, a new story is created,” USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in a press release.

“These stories become the precious memories that create traditions worth carrying on for generations and further connect families with their local forests.”

Each permit costs $15 per tree with the exception of the Prescott National Forest which costs $20.

The Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves, Tonto and Prescott national forests allow only one tree per customer, while the Kaibab National Forest allows up to five trees per customer.

Dates available to cut down a tree also vary.

People can cut down their Christmas tree beginning Oct. 14 in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, followed by Prescott (Nov. 1), Kaibab (Nov. 9), Coconino (Nov. 16) and Tonto (Nov. 20).

The available time to cut down a tree at each of the national forests ends on Dec. 31.

Forest officials advise people to read the need-to-know information on each of the websites as some forests have limitations on the size of the tree or where a tree can be cut.

People should also be aware of weather conditions before going out and bring a map as GPS may be unreliable in some areas.

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