General Information
The Arizona National Forests’ Christmas Tree-cutting
tag program is administered by:
Christmas Tree Program
c/o Tonto National Forest
2324 E. McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85006
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto
Christmas Tree Hotline: (602) 225-5258
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Program Rules
Arizona National Forests’ Christmas Tree-cutting tag requirements:
- The cost of a tree-cutting permit is $15.
- Only one tree per household – individual use only.
- This program is not available for churches, schools,
companies, or other organizations.
- Trees must be cut in designated cutting-area only.
- Trees may be cut between November 21 and December 24.
- Instructions are provided in each tag information package,
should be carefully read – and adhered to.
All Sales Are Final!
No refunds will be made for issued tags, even if weather conditions prevent tag holder from reaching
designated cutting area.
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Christmas Tree-cutting Instructions
Please be sure to carry your tag with you and attach
it to the tree as soon as it is cut. You may only cut the tree species
specified on your tag, and only in the area designated on your tag and
map. Your tag expires at midnight on December 24, 2008. No refunds will
be made, even if weather conditions prevent you from reaching your cutting
area and cutting your tree.
Cut the tree as close to the ground as possible leaving a
stump no more than 6 inches high. The tree must not exceed 10 feet in total
height. Do not cut the top off of a tree. Remember, a tree standing in the
woods looks smaller than it will in your home. Please remove all trash and
litter resulting from your cutting activities. Scatter any slash left behind
making sure your slash piles are less than 2 feet deep.
Please cut your tree out of sight of any road and
only on national forest land. Vehicle use in some areas may be restricted to
driving only on established forest roads. Please consult the cutting area
map you have been given.
Boughs and branches trimmed from your tagged tree
may be taken along with your tree for decorations. Do not cut branches from
any other trees.
Please be sure that everyone in your party reads the
safety precautions in this message prior to leaving home. In the past,
there have been some very serious accidents resulting from failures to
heed one or more of these safety measures.
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Safety Precautions
Always notify friends or relatives where you intend to
go and when you expect to return. Be prepared for bad weather, including
muddy or snowy roads. At a minimum, we suggest you take the following
items with you:
- Maps
- Compass
- Whistle
- Tire chains
- Shovel
- First-aid kit
- Matches or flares
- Tow chain
- Warm clothing
- Extra food and water
- Flashlight
- Blankets
- A full tank of gas
Plan to leave the cutting area before nightfall.
Remember, winter storms can occur suddenly. If you notice a storm is
brewing, start home as soon as possible. If you get caught in the
storm, be cautious and stay on the main roads – avoid shortcuts.
Stay dry and avoid overexertion. If you get stranded, stay with your
group and your vehicle. Keep a window cracked while using your car
heater.
Be aware that you are not the only forest user in
the woods this time of year. You may encounter other recreation users,
firewood cutters, loggers, or hunters. Please consider wearing an
article of brightly colored, highly visible clothing while walking in
the woods. Also, park your vehicle off the road, so you do not
interfere with other traffic.
Enjoy yourself and have a happy Holiday season!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many trees are available for sale through the Sale by Vendor Program with Big 5 Corporation this year?
| Area |
Forest Name |
Area Name |
Tree Species |
Tags |
| 1 |
Apache-Sitgreaves |
Chevlon/ Heber |
Any Species |
2500 |
| 2 |
Apache-Sitgreaves |
Lakeside |
Any Species |
100 |
| 3 |
Kaibab |
Tusayan |
Pinon/ Juniper |
1000 |
| 4 |
Prescott |
Prescott |
Any Species |
225 |
| 5 |
Tonto |
Payson |
Pinon/ Juniper |
300 |
| 6 |
Apache-Sitgreaves |
Alpine/ Springerville |
Any Species |
2000 |
| 7 |
Coconino |
Coconino |
Fir |
250 |
Do juniper trees make good Christmas trees?
The Tusayan Ranger District on the Kaibab National
Forest has a large supply of beautiful, single-stemmed junipers, just
the right size for Christmas trees, and they are easily accessible.
Tusayan is two miles from the south entrance of the Grand Canyon.
Families might want to take a little trip north and see some snow
on the way.
Christmas Tree Tags for juniper trees are also offered by the
Apache-Sitgreaves, Prescott, and Tonto National Forests. Too
many trees growing too close together cause forest health to
deteriorate. Cutting juniper trees benefits the resource by
reducing encroachment into meadows and providing thinning where
there are too many trees.
How does cutting a Christmas tree benefit the forest and forest resources?
When trees are crowded too close together, they
compete against each other for water and nutrients in the soil. If
we thin out overcrowded trees, the remaining trees can grow and
reach their full potential. Limited rainfall, porous soils, and
rugged topography in many parts of the Southwest Region are suitable
for savannah type vegetation. This means that only 1 to 2 dozen trees
should be growing on each acre of forest land. Fire suppression in
the last century has changed the ability of naturally occurring
fires to burn off excess forest growth. In many places we have 400
to 600 stems (trees) growing per acre. This overcrowding causes
problems.
Thinning out overgrown meadows benefits wildlife habitat, because
juniper and pine trees are mildly toxic when eaten by deer and elk.
Juniper and pine trees also produce toxins that kill the grass
growing beneath them. Removing excess juniper trees provides more
room for grass and deciduous shrubs to grow, thus providing
valuable, healthy forage for ungulates (cloven hoofed mammals).
Thinning out the forest also benefits the forest, habitat, and
wildlife by increasing ground water. A study done in Region 2
of the Forest Service showed that junipers, which are 8 inches
in diameter, can consume 13 gallons of ground water per day, if
it is available. This may dry up springs and can dry out the
soils, reducing the amount of water available to grow grass and shrubs.
When/Where will I be able to purchase my tag?
There are now 17 Big 5 Sporting Good locations where you will be able to buy your tag, shown below. This information will also be available through the media, our website, and the Christmas Tree Hotline.
Big 5 Sporting Goods vendor locations
Avondale (Goodyear):
(623)535-0384 - 1623 North Dysart Road, Avondale AZ 85323
Bullhead City:
(928)763-0608 - 1835 Highway 95, Bullhead AZ 86439
Chandler:
(480)821-9226 - 2050 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler AZ 85225
Flagstaff:
(928)214-0590 - 2775 Woodlands Village Blvd. Flagstaff AZ 86001
Glendale:
(602)548-5794 - 5490 West Bell Road, Suite A, Glendale AZ 85308
Kingman:
(928)692-4944 - 3320 North Stockton Hill Road, Bldg. F, Kingman, AZ 86401
Mesa:
(480)854-1889 - 2930 North Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215
Mesa (Gilbert):
(480)507-0137 - 1244 South Gilbert Road, Suite 101, Mesa AZ 85204
Phoenix (Bell Rd):
(602)863-1309 - 1919 West Bell Road, Phoenix AZ 85023
Phoenix (East):
(602)955-9601 - 3560 East Thomas Road, Phoenix AZ 85018
Phoenix (Paradise Valley):
(602)953-0305 - 4623 East Cactus Road, Phoenix AZ 85032
Phoenix (West):
(623)848-4800 - 7710 West Thomas Road, Phoenix AZ 85033
Prescott:
(928)759-0013 - 6106 Highway 69, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Show Low
(928)537-5551 - 4441 South White Mountain Road Suite #101, Show Low AZ 85901
South Scottsdale:
(480)941-4387 - 3330 Hayden Road, Scottsdale AZ 85251
Tucson (Speedway):
(520)296-3326 - 5695 East Speedway Blvd. Tucson AZ 85712
Yuma:
(928)726-2884 - 505 Catalina Dr., Yuma, AZ 85364
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Why can’t five families purchase tags together like in the old program?
The requirement that only one tag may be sold per customer is
determined by Forest Service regulations. The other forests which are independently
selling some of the tags over the counter are all following the same Forest
Service regulations (one tag per family).
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I understand that when I purchase a tag, I will receive a package with instructions.
True. Along with your tag, you will receive a map
showing your tag’s cutting area, tree-cutting instructions,
safety precaution reminders and a tree identification fact sheet.
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What if I lose my package (but have my tag).
Where can I find the information that was in my package?
We are posting all the same information on our website
which is contained in the information packet: tree identification fact
sheet, cutting-area maps, tree-cutting instructions and safety precaution
reminders. There is no way to replace your tag if you lose it.
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What will happen to me if I cut a tree without a tag?
You could be fined and your tree confiscated.
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What are the dates of permitted cutting (use of the tag)?
November 21 – December 24
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May a tree be obtained for a church,
school, company, or other organization?
Trees for such uses may be procurred from some local Apache-Sitgrave National Forest Offices.
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Where can I
obtain more information?
From the Christmas Tree Hotline at (602) 225-5258
or at www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto
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