For some, the tree has been up since Thanksgiving, and for others, decking the halls has just gotten underway.

Team fake tree or real tree? 

Either way, cutting a Christmas tree is a memorable tradition to share with family and friends while helping to maintain a healthy forest. Venturing into the forest to cut a Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured December event carried on for generations, or you may just be learning the thrill and often stress of searching for the perfect holiday centerpiece.

Each tree that is found, cut and hauled home as a holiday fixture also contributes to the overall forest health. Christmas tree permits are a unique opportunity to help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees - the perfect size for a Christmas tree.

Here in Montana, a Christmas tree permit typically costs $5 per tree for Forest Service lands like the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests, with a limit of three per person. But the Bureau of Land Management recently dropped its price to $1 per tree through Jan. 31, 2026, as part of a special holiday program. State Trust Lands (DNRC) permits are generally $10. Recreation.gov is an easy place to purchase a permit, and fourth-grade students with an Every Kid Outdoors pass get one free.

Once you’ve obtained a permit and determined where you plan to harvest a Christmas tree, it’s important to follow some guidelines. Do not cut on private land, in wilderness areas, designated campgrounds or posted timber sales. People are encouraged to cut their Christmas tree from an overcrowded stand of trees. Refrain from cutting trees within 100 feet of main roads, streams or recreation sites. 

Now you're bundled up, unloaded the family, and the search has begun. Each forest has limitations on the size of the tree you can cut and the species of trees that are permitted. Here are some measurements to help you choose a tree that meets your permit's guidelines.

Tree Height: 12 feet maximum. Stump height: 6 inches maximum. Remove and scatter all limbs from the portion of the tree you leave behind. No cutting of five-needle pines. (i.e., 5 needles in one cluster). 

Take the whole tree. Yes, the big ones often have perfectly shaped, beautiful top halves that would look perfect for your living room, but do not remove the top of the tree; cut down the entire tree. If snow is on the ground, remove it from around the stump so you can accurately measure the stump and tree height.

Permits are good for all National Forest areas in the state of Montana, and you must display your permit in your vehicle while harvesting your trees.

Some local favorite trees you can cut and bring home here in Mineral County are: The Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), a popular, graceful Christmas tree known for its slender, pyramidal shape, blue-green to steel-blue needles, and a wonderfully fragrant scent.

The grand fir (Abies grandis) is also a sought-after Christmas tree recognized for its rich, sweet fragrance, dark, shiny needles with silvery undersides, and dense, feathery, full shape, offering great space for ornaments and good needle retention, making it an excellent choice for a fresh-cut. These fir trees are noted for their distinctive, pleasant scent, often described as the most fragrant Christmas tree, with flat needles that create a full, almost fluffy look.

Another festive fir is the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), an admired Christmas tree choice known for its beautiful, full shape, soft dark green needles, excellent needle retention, and sweet citrusy scent, though its softer branches require lighter ornaments.

If a family can compromise and agree on a tree, they all like, you’ve won half the battle. 

A funny Christmas tree story from a hunter. One fall, while out archery hunting, the man came across a beautiful tree he hoped to return for in December. He took out his orange marking ribbon and tied it on the tree, but when he came back a few months later, the tree was barren and ugly.  He had accidentally chosen Western larch, a deciduous conifer, which may appear a noble choice in early September while they are still green, but by late fall their needles turn brilliant yellow and eventually all fall off. Not the prettiest Christmas tree. 

The Superior Ranger Station office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., where permits are available for purchase.

To keep your tree fresh and green through the New Year, keep it watered every day. The tree may need watering more frequently at first, but it should slow down after about a week. Try to choose a tree stand with a large reservoir, and keep it filled with plain tap water. Don’t bother adding sugar, or bleach, aspirin, or whatever your great-grandmother put in there; cold, clean water is all the tree will need.