If you start thinking about Christmastime the day after Halloween, you’re apparently on the same page as the Bureau of Land Management, which began offering holiday tree-cutting permits Monday.
Non-commercial permits to cut pinyon pine, juniper and fir trees from federal land in Utah are now available online — at forestproducts.blm.gov — or in person at BLM offices during regular business hours, excluding federal holidays.
The BLM reported that thousands of Utahns get their Christmas or holiday trees this way, and people should buy their permits early, before the BLM runs out.
The agency also offered some safety tips for those who plan to cut down their own trees:
• Go early in the season, because winter weather in the mountains can be unpredictable.
• Be prepared for slick and snow-packed roads. Carry snow chains. In many locations, using a four-wheel drive vehicle or snow machine is recommended.
• Stay on designated roads and trails, and respect private property boundaries.
• Let someone know where you plan to go and approximately when you plan to return.
• What you should bring: A cellphone; additional warm clothing; gloves and boots; a container of hot liquid; water, lunch or a snack; a flashlight; shovel; first-aid kit; matches; an ax or handsaw; and a rope to secure your tree.
More information about BLM Utah tree-cutting permits, including updates, is available at: www.blm.gov/utah/tree-permits.
Permits are available at the following BLM field offices, listed by district. (If you don’t know which office is nearest to you, use BLM Utah’s administrative boundary map, at https://go.usa.gov/xeqwc.)
West Desert District
• Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Blvd., Salt Lake City • Cost: $10 each, limit of two per household; juniper and pinyon pine. Call (801) 977-4300, or email utslmail@blm.gov. (The Salt Lake office also sells tree-cutting permits for the Fillmore Field Office and BLM-managed lands in Elko County, Nevada. Permits for Elko County are $4 each, with a limit of 10 per household, and are only available in person.)
• Fillmore Field Office, 95 E. 500 North, Fillmore • Cost: $10 each, limit of three per household; juniper and pinyon pine. Call (435) 743-3100, or email utfmmail@blm.gov.
Color Country District
• Cedar City Field Office, 176 E. D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City • Cost: $10 each, limit of two per household; juniper, pinyon pine and white fir. Call (435) 865-3000, or email blm_ut_cedar_city@blm.gov. (Permits for the St. George Field Office are sold from Cedar City.)
• Richfield Field Office, 150 E. 900 North, Richfield, or Henry Mountains Field Station, 380 S. 100 West, Hanksville • Cost: $10 each, limit of two per household; pinyon pine and juniper. Call (435) 896-1500, or email utrfmail@blm.gov.
Canyon Country District
• Moab Field Office, 82 E. Dogwood, Moab • Cost: $10 each, limit of two per household; pinyon pine. Call (435) 259-2100.
• Monticello Field Office, 365 N. Main, Monticello • Cost: $10 each, limit of two per household; pinyon pine and juniper. Call (435) 587-1500
Green River District
• Price Field Office, 125 S 600 West, Price • Cost: $10 each, limit of five per household; pinyon pine and juniper. (435) 636-3600, or email utprmail@blm.gov.
• Vernal Field Office, 170 S. 500 East, Vernal • Cost: $10 each, limit of one permit per household; pinyon pine and juniper. Call (435) 781-4400, or email utvnmail@blm.gov.
Paria River District
• Paria River District, 669 S. Highway 89 A, Kanab • Cost: $10 each, limit of two per household; juniper and pinyon pine. Call (435) 644-1200, or email utknmail@blm.gov.