With Thanksgiving behind us, it's officially Christmas tree cutting season in Vermont. If you thought the $5 choose-and-cut tree was a thing of the past, then the Green Mountain National Forest has a surprise for you.
"U.S. Forest Service officials in Vermont are encouraging the public to purchase Christmas tree removal permits should they be interested in a five-dollar tree for the holidays," a Forest Service press release states. And, if there is a fourth grader in your family, they are eligible for a free Christmas tree voucher through this year's Every Kid in a Park Initiative.
The release goes on to state, "This is a one-time opportunity to cut down a Christmas tree on national forest land during the 2015 holiday season."
The U.S. Forest Service stipulates these conditions:
- A “Christmas Tree Removal” permit must be purchased ($5.00) at one of the Forest Service offices located in Rutland, Middlebury, Manchester Center, or Rochester, Vermont.
- The permit must be attached to the tree before transporting it from the site where it was cut.
- The permit holder is responsible for knowing that the tree comes from Forest Service land. Maps are available when you purchase your permit.
- Trees over 20 feet tall are not designated for cutting by the Christmas tree permit.
- The height of the tree stump left after a tree has been cut should be six inches or less above the soil.
- Christmas trees shall not be cut in active timber sales, wilderness areas, campgrounds, picnic areas, or within 25 feet of any Forest Service, town, or state maintained road.
- Only one Christmas tree permit will be issued per household per year.
- Permits are not refundable.
- Trees obtained under the Christmas tree permit may not be resold.
The Green Mountain National Forest covers about 400,000 acres in Addison, Bennington, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties.
