More Montanans have been heading into the state’s national forests each winter to partake in one of the state’s do-it-yourself holiday traditions: cutting their own Christmas trees.
U.S. Forest Service data shows that the number of recreational Christmas tree permits issued across Montana’s national forests rose from 21,550 in 2016 to 28,878 in 2024, an increase of 34 percent.
That data covers the seven national forests that are entirely or mostly in Montana: Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Bitterroot, Flathead, Custer Gallatin, Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai and Lolo.
The data doesn’t include permits for holiday trees harvested on Bureau of Land Management land or land owned by the state of Montana. It also doesn’t reflect trees harvested without permits.
Households may purchase up to three $5 permits, each allowing the harvest of one tree for personal use.
The Custer Gallatin National Forest, much of which is between Yellowstone National Park and Bozeman, consistently recorded the highest number of permits, with more than 11,500 issued in 2024 alone. Over the nine-year period analyzed, the forest made up more than 40 percent of all the Christmas tree permits issued.
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, centered around Helena and White Sulphur Springs, was the second largest contributor in 2024. With 5,397 permits, it accounted for roughly 20% of all the permits issued last year.
The Flathead National Forest, located near rapidly growing Kalispell, saw its permits nearly double from 2016 to 2024. Lolo National Forest, around Missoula, has also seen more permits issued in recent years, with 4,289 in 2024.
Forest Service officials say recreational Christmas tree cutting is closely managed and can benefit forest health when done in designated areas.
Removing small-diameter trees reduces competition for water, sunlight and nutrients, allowing the remaining trees to grow larger and healthier, said Chiara Cipriano, a public affairs officer with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Those larger trees are more resistant to wildfire and tend to survive longer, benefitting wildlife and the overall ecosystem.
As such, while cutting a Christmas tree on public land is a seasonal outing for many Montana families — it’s also one that also plays a role in forest management.
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