A recent audit of the Christmas tree-cutting program for the Arizona national forests has resulted in several significant procedural changes that you should be aware of:
1. Print application distribution is delayed because of procedural change requirements; however, online applications for printing & mailing is available on the Tonto National Forest website fs.fed.us/r3/tonto beginning Sep. 4th.
2. Print applications will be delivered to local libraries & other key locations as soon as application re-printing is completed (sometime after Sep 14th).
3. Customers are asked to not pay for their tag application in advance. If your application's chosen in the tree-cutting lottery, applicants will be sent a notice & can then mail in their checks for a tag & cutting-area map.
Applications for tags to cut a Christmas tree on 1 of 4 Arizona national forests are available to print from the Tonto National Forest's web page: fs.fed.us/r3/tonto, starting Sept. 4th. Printed applications will also be available sometime after Sept. 14th at Forest Service offices in Arizona & at other locations throughout the Phoenix metro area. A full list of these locations is available on the Tonto webpage.
The drawing & processing of applications will begin Oct. 9th. Notices will be mailed to all successful & unsuccessful applicants no later than Oct. 19th. The notice will request that tag winners should send a check or money order for $10 to the program office in order to receive a tag with a detailed map for the cutting area. Tag winners must make payment no later than Nov. 1st. Unclaimed tags will be sold as a 1st-come-1st-serve basis starting Nov. 13th.
A random drawing's used to issue permits due to the demand for Christmas trees exceeding the supply of available permits. This year only 3,950 trees are available. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 1st to receive consideration. Any applications postmarked after that will not be accepted & will be returned. Hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.
Applicants may select up to 5 tree-cutting areas in order of preference. Chances of receiving a tag will increase based on the number of tree-cutting areas selected.
Some cutting area locations may require greater travel time. Changing weather & road conditions during the cutting period of Nov. 9th - Dec. 24th may also affect selections. A general map of cutting area locations with information about tree species & number of permits available in each cutting area is included with each application.
The Apache-Sitgreaves NF has all species available in their tree-cutting areas. The Kaibab NF has 1 cutting area available for piñon or juniper. The entire Prescott NF is available for any tree species. The Tonto NF has 1 cutting area available around Payson for piñon or juniper.
The Coconino NF will not be participating in the program this year due to pine bark beetle tree mortality.
Pick up an application at any Forest Service office or at public libraries in Anthem, Apache Junction, Buckeye, Cave Creek, Chandler, Glendale, Phoenix, Mesa, Peoria, Tempe, Scottsdale or in the Maricopa Co. Public Library system beginning sometime after Sept. 14th. For more info about the program, call the Christmas Tree Hotline: (602) 225-5258.
Some 2007 Christmas Tree Application Locations:
Libraries:
Apache Junction:
Apache Junction Library
1177 North Idaho Road
Apache Junction, AZ 85219
480-474-8555
Avondale:
Avondale Public Library
328 West Western Avenue
Avondale, AZ 85323
623-932-2189
Buckeye:
Buckeye Public Library
310 North 6th Street
Buckeye, AZ 85326-2439
623-386-2778
Cave Creek:
Desert Foothills Library
38443 North Schoolhouse Road
Cave Creek, AZ 85331-8647
480-488-2286
Chandler:
Chandler Public Libraries
22 South Delaware
Chandler, AZ 85225
480-782-2816 (MaryBeth Gardner)
Chandler Public Library-Sunshine Branch
4930 West Ray Road
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-782-2842
Glendale:
Glendale Public Libraries
5959 West Brown Street
Glendale, AZ 85302
623-930-3530
Mesa:
Mesa Public Libraries
64 East 1st Street
Mesa, AZ 85201
480-644-2207
Dobson Ranch Branch Library
2425 South Dobson Road
Mesa, AZ 85202
480-644-3441
Red Mountain Branch Library
635 No. Power Road
Mesa, AZ 85205
480-644-3184
Peoria:
Peoria Public Library
8401 West Monroe Street
Peoria, AZ 85345
623-773-7555
Phoenix:
Cesar Chavez Branch Library
3645 W. Baseline Road
Phoenix, AZ 85339
Cholla Branch Library
10050 Metro Parkway East
Phoenix, AZ 85051
Desert Sage Branch Library
7602 West Encanto Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ 85035
602-262-7939
Ironwood Branch Library
4333 East Chandler Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ 85048
Ocotillo Branch Library
102 West Southern Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85041
602-262-7939
Tonto National Forest:
Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office
2324 East McDowell Road
Phoenix, AZ 85006-2440
(602) 225-5200
fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml
Cave Creek Ranger District
40202 North Cave Creek Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
480-595-3300
Globe Ranger District
7680 South Six Shooter Canyon Road
Globe, AZ 85501
928-402-6200
Mesa Ranger District
5140 East Ingram Street
Mesa, AZ 85205
480-610-3300
Payson Ranger District
1009 East Hwy. 260
Payson, AZ 85541
928-474-7900
Pleasant Valley Ranger District
FS Road 63
P.O. Box 450
Young, AZ 85554
928-462-4300
Tonto Basin Ranger District
Highway 188
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
928-467-3200
Other Forests:
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
30 South Chiricahua Drive
P.O. Box 640
Springerville, AZ 85938
928-333-4301
fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/
Coconino National Forest
1824 South Thompson Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-527-3600
fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/
Coronado National Forest
300 West Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-388-8300
fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/
Kaibab National Forest
800 South 6th Street
Williams, AZ 86046
928-635-8200
fs.fed.us/r3/kai/
Prescott National Forest
344 South Cortez Street
Prescott, AZ 86303-4398
928-443-8000
fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/
Other Participating Offices:
Arizona Game & Fish Office
2222 West Greenway
Phoenix, AZ 85023
602-942-3000
BLM Phoenix Field Office
21605 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
623-580-5500
Maricopa Co. Dept. of Transportation
2901 West Durango Street
Phoenix, AZ 85009
National Park Service
3115 North 3rd Avenue, #101
Phoenix, AZ 85013
602-794-3804