DECEMBER 14, 2011

Only 546 Christmas tree permits available from commercial vendors

Many Forest Services offices also selling Christmas tree permits

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – Christmas tree permits are still available for people who want to cut their own tree from a National Forests in Arizona. The cost for a Christmas tree permit is $15 and they are available from commercial businesses across Arizona, and from some Forest Service offices. There are just 546 permits still available from commercial vendors, and more than 4800 permits have been sold since October 15.  Each permit is for a specified cutting area on a National Forest, and some cutting areas offer a very limited number of permits and have sold out already.  

Christmas tree permit seekers are encouraged to view the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests website for the status of remaining permits by vendor and cutting area, and to view maps of the location of each cutting area. The website address is http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/asnf/christmastreepermit2011 or call the Christmas tree hotline for more information, the number is 928-333-6267.

Permits for these cutting areas remain available from numerous commercial vendors:
Area 3 Kaibab – 68 Christmas Tree Permits available  
Area 6 Alpine/Springerville – 476 Christmas Tree Permits available

Commercial vendors have sold out of permits in these cutting areas:
Area 1 Black Mesa
Area 2 Lakeside
Area 4 Prescott
Area 5 Payson
Area 7 Coconino

In addition to commercial business locations, many National Forest offices are selling Christmas tree permits over-the-counter.  Contact the National Forest for information on which offices are offering over-the-counter Christmas tree permits.  Most Forest Service offices are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Please contact each specific office to find out their business hours.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests - Alpine Ranger District, in Alpine 928-339-5000; Clifton Ranger District, in Clifton 928-687-8600; Lakeside Ranger District, in Lakeside 928-368-2100; Springerville Ranger District, in Springerville 928-333-6200; and Black Mesa Ranger District, in Overgaard 928-535-7300 – NOTE In addition to weekday hours, Black Mesa Ranger District is also opening on December 10-11 and 17-18 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Coconino National Forest – Mogollon Rim Ranger District, in Happy Jack 928-477-2255; and Red Rock Ranger District and Visitor Center, in Sedona 928-203-7500 – NOTE Red Rock Visitor Center is open from 8:00am-5:00pm every day except Christmas Day.

Kaibab National Forest -  Williams Ranger District, in Williams 928-635-5600; Tusayan Ranger District, south rim of Grand Canyon 928-638-2443; and North Kaibab Ranger District, in Fredonia 928-643-7395.

Prescott National Forest  - Sold Out!

Tonto National Forest – Payson Ranger District, in Payson 928-474-7900

General Rules for Christmas tree permits:
• Each Christmas tree permit is $15.
• One Christmas tree permit allowed per household — for individual use only.
• Trees must be cut in designated cutting-areas.
• Trees may be cut between November 19 and December 25.
• There are no refunds on Christmas tree permits.

DECEMBER 14, 2011

AZGFD Commission sets 23,383 permits for elk

PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved the 2012 hunt seasons for elk and pronghorn antelope during its Dec. 3 meeting in Phoenix, paving the way for hunters to start applying once they have the pertinent information available online in mid December.

The Game and Fish Commission set 23,383 hunt permit-tags for elk (down 1,035 from last year). The commission also set 788 hunt permit-tags for pronghorn antelope (down 21).
Don’t forget that the hunt-permit application deadline for elk and antelope is 7 p.m. MST Feb. 14 at all seven department offices – postmarks don’t count.

The department anticipates having elk and antelope regulations posted online by mid December. Once that is done, hunters can begin submitting applications.

The printed elk and antelope regulations for 2012 will be mailed to license dealers at the end of December and should be available the first week of January.

Keep in mind that the online application process is back and is expected to be available in December, but it may not be available right when the regulations are posted. The department will send out a notification about when the online application process will be available to submit applications for elk and antelope.

Hunters applying manually via the paper applications will want to jot down this date: Jan. 20, which ends the correction period. During the correction period, if you make a mistake on your submitted application, the department will make three attempts within a 24-hour period to notify you by telephone (if a phone number is provided), and give you a chance to correct the mistake.