All the fresh-cut Christmas trees may be sold out in Ketchikan, but there’s another option. Those still hoping to put one up can harvest their own.
The U.S. Forest Service released guidelines for harvesting a Christmas tree in the Tongass National Forest late last month. There are no permits required or regulations on tree species or size requirements. But there are some guidelines.
There is a limit of one tree per family, and trees can’t be used for commercial purposes.
Trees also can’t be cut from any developed Forest Service recreation sites. Cutting is prohibited within 330 feet of a bald eagle nest or within 100 feet of a road or salmon stream. Trees should be cut as close to the ground as possible and large trees can’t be topped. In other words, you can’t cut off the top of a large tree to put your presents under and leave the rest. The Forest Service said that trees should not be harvested from muskegs as regeneration in these areas is difficult.
Harvest is allowed only in designated areas of the National Forest, and not from private property. A link to maps and additional guidelines is posted with this report on our website, www.krbd.org.
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Link to Motor Vehicle Use Map to confirm land ownership: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5430063
Local ranger districts to contact for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices
