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Harvest Your Own Christmas Tree Permits Go On Sale In Idaho Forests

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Tis the season when Idahoans will be getting their Christmas trees. For some, that means a trip to the Boise or Payette National Forest; a holiday tradition in some families.

Permits to cut down Christmas trees in Idaho forests went on sale this weekend.

A Forest Service spokesman says about 4,000 people a year buy permits to cut Christmas trees in the Boise National Forest. Dave Olsen says those sales went up during the recession, thanks in part to the $10 dollar cost. The number of permits sold last year, though, was 3,200. In the last 20 years, 1999 was the year that saw the most tree permits sold for the forest at 5,125.

In the Payette National Forest, the government sells about 850 permits every year.

Each permit is good for one tree under 12 feet tall, with a limit of three permits per family. Each permit will work for both the Payette and Boise National Forests. The permits are for personal use only and are available at all forest district offices.

Olsen says if you’re planning on getting your own tree; remember that forest roads are not plowed. He says be prepared for winter driving conditions.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

Copyright 2014 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

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