I LOVE Christmas! I also love the smell of real pine filling the air of my home as I get prepared to decorate the tree.

We had real and fake Christmas trees growing up, but there is just something about a real tree that makes me get into the Holiday spirit. This year, we will venture out into the wild and pick the perfect tree and cut it down ourselves.

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Now before anyone does this, there are some rules to follow so you don't end up on Santa's Naughty List.

Do I need a permit to cut down my own Christmas tree?

Yes! You can easily purchase your permit for $5 (plus a small processing fee) at the website below.

TREE CUTTING PERMIT

Before you purchase your permit, you will need to know what specific forest you are going to be using to find this years Christmas centerpiece.

Custer Gallatin National Forest Christmas Tree Permit (near Bozeman)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Custer Gallatin National Forests of Montana and South Dakota

Bitterroot National Forest Christmas Tree (near Hamilton)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Bitterroot National Forest

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (near Glen)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Lolo National Forest (near Missoula)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Lolo National Forest

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (near Helena)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

Flathead National Forest (near Big Fork)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Flathead National Forest

Kootenai National Forest (near Libby)

PERMIT

This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within the Kootenai National Forest

There are height restrictions and also restrictions on the types of trees you are allowed to cut down. Make sure you read through the rules and guidelines before you just start chopping.

Happy Holidays and send pictures of your tree to our App!