IDAHO — Starting Wednesday, the Bureau of Land Management will be issuing Christmas tree permits, allowing the public to go into the BLM public lands and get up to three Christmas in southwestern Idaho.
You can get a permit at the BLM Owyhee and Four Rivers field offices for $10 (offices open 8:00a-4:30p Monday thru Friday), or online at forestproducts.blm.gov. Permits are only valid for lands managed by Owyhee or Four Rivers Field offices.
Permits for the Payette National Forest will go on sale on Saturday, November 18 at local forest service offices or online. Fourth graders participating in the "Every Kid Outdoors" program are eligible for a free permit after completing the application process.
When cutting your own trees, be mindful of the rules:
- Do not cut within 50ft. of a dry stream or within 100 ft. of a live stream or shoreline.
- Do not cut within 300ft of a designated Scenic Byway.
- Do not cut trees on BLM lands designated as Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas (WSA), or Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).
- Cutting trees over 20ft. tall is prohibited.
Helpful tips:
- Bring the right tools, such as a saw and a shovel, so the tree can be cut to within 6” of the ground’s surface.
- Take along emergency equipment, plenty of food and water, and try to use a 4-wheel drive vehicle if you are planning to travel in snow country.
- According to Idaho state law, any vehicle carrying a load that extends more than 4 feet past the tailgate, must display a red or florescent orange flag tied on the end of the load to caution other drivers.
Permits are available through December.
