Christmas tree-cutting permits sold for BLM, NFS land

The Bureau of Land Management's Carson City Field Office, and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest's Carson Ranger District will sell Christmas tree permits beginning on Nov. 19 and ending Dec. 21 at a variety of locations across western Nevada and eastern California.

All stations will be closed on Thanksgiving.

The agencies conduct Christmas tree sales to thin small trees in overstocked areas and provide recreational experiences for residents. Some cutting areas may not be accessible after snowfall so it is advisable to cut trees early in the season.

The nonrefundable permits from both agencies are valid through Christmas.

In all, 3,500 permits will be available from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for $10 each in designated cutting areas for white fir, Jeffrey pine and incense cedar trees. There is a limit of two trees per household.

Piñon trees will be available from BLM for $5 each, primarily on forested BLM lands in the Pinenut Mountains between Carson City and Yerington, the Clan Alpine and Desatoya Mountains east of Fallon and the Excelsior Mountains southeast of Hawthorne.

Maps and directions are available with permit purchase. There is a limit of two permits per household, although you may purchase permits for another household.

This year, the BLM has provided two special Christmas tree areas in the Pine Nut Mountains south of Dayton. Thousands of good-quality young piñons will be removed from these units to restore important sage grouse habitat.

The BLM will allow commercial tree cutting in these two areas to anyone for retail sale or organizations for fundraising.

The two-tree limit will not apply in these units this year.

Both the Interagency Information Center in Reno and the BLM-Carson City Field Office will accept phone credit card orders, or check/credit card mail orders.