Harvest your Christmas tree in a state forest

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds Wisconsinites that they can harvest a holiday tree from a northern state forest.

Trees can be cut down in the Brule River, Flambeau River, Governor Earl Peshtigo River, Governor Knowles and Northern Highland-American Legion state forests. Details are available on the DNR website.

Holiday tree cutting is not offered at other DNR properties. However, some county forests allow non-commercial harvest of holiday trees, as does the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Contact the property where you’d like to cut a holiday tree before venturing out so that you know harvesting guidelines.

Members of the public can get a permit to harvest a personal-use holiday tree at the state forest property headquarters. The price may vary slightly from property to property, but the average cost is $5 per tree. Fresh evergreen boughs may also be harvested with a permit for non-commercial forest products.

Balsam firs, known for their beautiful fragrance and dark green needles, are among the most sought-after species as a holiday tree. Various types of pines also find their way home with visitors.

'We know people enjoy our northern state forests throughout the year, and the opportunity to find that special holiday tree or bring home some fresh-scented evergreen boughs provides another great reason to visit these properties,' said Teague Prichard, Wisconsin DNR state lands specialist.

Before heading into the woods with a saw and permit in hand, the DNR reminds visitors that harvesting is prohibited within 100 feet or visual distance of roads, trails and water, and there is no harvesting from campgrounds or day-use areas. Trees must be cut at ground level with a maximum height of 30 feet, and the trees taken from state forests cannot be resold.

Find more information about holiday tree-cutting permits on the DNR's Forest Products Permits webpage at dnr.wisconsin.gov/ topic/timbersales / dnrmanagedlandsnoncommercial.