Media Advisory

USDA Forest Service

Tonto National Forest

Christmas tree-cutting tags now sold out in four of seven cutting areas on Arizona national forests

PHOENIX, Arizona (October 20, 2009) –Forest Service officials announced today that their Arizona partners, Big 5 Sporting Goods stores, have sold the majority of the Christmas tree-cutting tags in four out of seven Christmas tree-cutting areas. Brisk sales began Oct. 10 at 17 select Big 5 Sporting Goods stores throughout Arizona. Of the 6,375 tags available for purchase, only 2,689 tags remain in three cutting areas.

“Tags for four cutting-areas on the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Prescott and Tonto national forests are all but sold out,” announced Candy Luhrsen, program manager. “Remaining tags include the following:

• Cutting Area 1 - Approximately 580 tags are still available for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Chevelon-Heber cutting area on the Black Mesa Ranger District.
• Cutting Area 6 - 1,782 tags are available for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Cutting area 6, which includes the Alpine and Springerville ranger districts, is a new cutting area this year. Any species of tree may be selected in this large area above the Mogollon Rim.
• Cutting Area 3 - Approximately 440 tags are available for the Kaibab National Forest Tusayan Ranger District.

It is strongly advised that you call ahead to your local Big 5 store to verify the availability of tags.”

“Working with Big 5 Sporting Goods has been a seamless and rewarding partnership” concluded Luhrsen. “It has been a pleasure to work with such dedicated and customer-service oriented professionals”. In addition to adding vendor outlets this year because of last year’s customer input, each of the select 17 Arizona stores displays a major vicinity map showing the tag areas to help customers select their cutting area.”

The Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, and Prescott national forests will also be selling tags over the counter. Each forest should be contacted directly for further information about their forest over-the-counter tag sales. The following are their contact telephone numbers:

• Apache-Sitgreaves NF: 928-333-4301
• Coconino NF: 928-527-3600
• Prescott NF: 928-443-8000

General rules:

• Tags are $15 each.
• Trees may be cut between November 21 and December 24.
• Only one tree-cutting tag per household – for individual use only.
• This program is not available for churches, schools, companies, or other organizations.
• Trees must be cut in designated cutting-area only.
• Instructions will be provided in each tag information package and should be carefully read – and followed.
• There are no refunds once a tag has been purchased.
• Customers are advised to check on local weather conditions in northern Arizona before departing to be properly prepared for inclement weather.

For more information about the program, please visit the Tonto National Forest webpage at www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto or call the Christmas Tree Hotline: (602) 225-5258.

Note: There are 17 Big 5 Sporting Good locations throughout Arizona where Christmas tree-cutting tags are available for purchase. The following stores have limited or no availability:

• Bullhead, Kingman and Yuma stores: Few, if any, remaining tags
• Chandler and Show Low stores: No Area 3 tags available

Big 5 Sporting Goods vendor locations for Christmas tree-cutting tags:

• 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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