Wasatch Front and Utah families who want to cut their own Christmas trees may have missed the chance to snag a permit on U.S. Forest Service lands.
But there are plenty of permits for mostly juniper and pinyon pines being offered by the Bureau of Land Management.
Permits are available through Dec. 22 for $10. There is a limit of two per household.
The closest place for Wasatch Front residents to buy permits is at the Salt Lake Field Office of the BLM at 2370 S. Decker Lake Blvd.
For information on Cedar City tree cutting, call that office at 435-865-3000. In addition to juniper and pinyon pine, white fir trees are available there.
For information on the Richfield area, call 435-896-3000. Permits are available out of the Henry Mountains (435-542-3461); St. George (435-688-3200); Kanab (435-644-1200); Moab (435-259-2100); Monticello (435-587-1500); Price (435-636-3600), and Vernal (435-781-4400).
The agency suggests that tree cutters be prepared for winter weather conditions on dirt roads and trails and that they respect private property boundaries.
In some cases, a snowmobile or four-wheel drive vehicle will be needed.
The agency suggests carrying a cell phone, additional warm clothing, gloves, boots, a container of a hot liquid beverage, water and a lunch or snack.
And don’t forget to carry an axe, saw or chain saw to cut your tree.