Christmas tree permits now available

By Jomay Steen, Journal staff | Tuesday, November 11, 2008

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For those who want long-lasting memories of selecting their own holiday pine from the forest, Black Hills Forest Service officials have opened the annual permit sale to cut a tree fresh from the national forest. This year, a person can buy up to five permits for the festive Christmas centerpiece.

Dave Johnson of Rapid City has been going into the forest for years with his wife and three daughters to find the perfect tree for Christmas.

"The first year that I did it, I took a chainsaw," he said with a laugh. "It was a bit of overkill."

From now until Dec. 21, tree tags will be sold at area Black Hills Forest Service offices in western South Dakota and northeast Wyoming. The adhesive tag must be attached to each tree before removing trees from the woods. Citations will be issued for possessing an untagged Christmas tree.

Trees are for personal use only and cannot be resold. There are no refunds for uncut trees or unused permits. Trees may not be cut in developed recreation sites or Forest Service administrative sites, active timber sales, the Black Hills Experimental Forest near Rochford, Black Elk Wilderness, the Beaver Park area near Sturgis or within Spearfish Canyon.

Johnson and his family generally ask Forest Service officials about the best places to find the perfect white spruce, ponderosa pine and western juniper when buying the tags. Maps are available at the forest supervisor's office at Custer, some are for sale. Johnson takes notes of where to find particular tree species, he buys his tree tag and then starts his family's adventure.

For this trip, Johnson generally takes along a handsaw or a small pruning saw that is used for trimming shrubs, clothesline rope to tie the tree to the car or pickup and a good pair of hand-pruning shears.

The Forest Services has set a maximum height of cut trees at 20 feet, but the Johnsons often look over the 3- to 10-feet tall trees. The entire tree must be cut, and any unused branches must be cut so they lie flat on the ground with a stump no more than six inches high.

Once their tree is cut and trimmed, one of his children attaches the adhesive tag to a branch, they tie it into the pickup box and they are on their way home.

"These trees aren't that heavy. You can toss it over your shoulder and carry it back to the truck," he said.

Forest officials suggest trees should be placed in water as soon as possible to help keep needles fresh. Once indoors, trees should be placed away from stoves, heaters or heating ducts. After Christmas, used trees should be disposed of properly as yard waste. Forest Service officials ask that people not dump used trees on national forest land.

"It's a fun time and a good family event. The kids actually look forward to it," Johnson said.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.

If You Go

What: Black Hills Forest Christmas Tree permit tags

When: Sold from now to Dec. 21, permits expire Dec. 26

Cost: $10 per Christmas tree, limited to five trees per person

Where: Black Hills National Forest

Other: Permits are available at Forest Service district offices, select private businesses or by mail from the Forest Supervisor's Office, 1019 N. Fifth St., Custer, SD 57730. Enclose a check or money order in the amount of $10 for each tree, up to a maximum of five trees per person. The Forest Service will mail permit tags and cutting instructions.

Firewood permits also are available at the district offices and cost $5 for a cord of wood.

For a list of locations, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/.