Oregon
$5 Christmas tree permits for Oregon’s national forests on sale now
The holiday season is right around the corner, which means the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree is on.
For those looking to bring home a real tree at an unbeatable price, $5 permits are now available for all Oregon national forests.
Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at recreation.gov. On the website, just search for the name of the national forest, like Willamette National Forest, and “Christmas tree permit.”
Permits are $5 each (with an added $2.50 processing fee charged by the website). Each permit allows the cutting of one Christmas tree. Households can purchase a maximum of five permits.
Some local businesses and some but not all U.S. Forest Service offices will also sell the permits in person.
Where should you go to get a Christmas from a national forest in Oregon?
The closest national forests depend on your location. For Salem or Eugene, you could head east to Willamette National Forest or west to Siuslaw National Forest. If you’re coming from Portland, the closest option is probably Mount Hood National Forest.
There are Christmas tree hunting maps open to download when you get a permit on Recreation.gov.
Things to know during your Christmas tree hunt
Here are some things to remember for a successful Christmas tree hunt.
Remember the rules: Each national forest has specific guidelines on which trees can be cut down and taken, so be sure to check out the forest’s rules online before cutting your tree.
In general:
- Do not cut on private land, wilderness areas, research natural areas, scenic areas, or areas with rare, threatened or endangered plants.
- Do not cut trees within 300 feet of campgrounds or administrative sites.
- Do not cut trees within 50 feet of trails and paved roads.
- Do not cut trees within 200 feet of highways.
- Do not cut trees within 100 feet of streams or lakes.
Know the size of the tree you can cut: Each forest has limitations on the size of the tree you can cut and the species of trees that are permitted.
In general:
- Tree height: 15 feet maximum
- Stump height: 6 inches maximum
- Take the whole tree. Do not remove the top of the tree; cut down the entire tree
- If snow is on the ground, remove it from around the stump so you can accurately measure the stump and tree height.
- Do not cut the following tree species: whitebark pine, Pacific yew, western white pine.
Prepare for the weather: Be sure to dress appropriately as you’ll be hunting in the forest. Snow and ice conditions can also make traveling on the forest roads very dangerous. Make sure your vehicle is equipped to handle road conditions.
Know what tree you want: Noble, Pacific silver, Douglas and grand firs are typically the varieties you’re allowed to harvest and are best for a tree, so you want to be able to identify the trees. Many of the most sought-after firs only grow above 3,500 feet in Oregon.
Sno-park permits: If you’re headed to the higher mountains and snow, you’ll need a permit if you park at a sno-park, which are plowed and feature marked routes out into the forest.
When you get home
After you find your perfect tree, keep your tree fresh and safe with these reminders.
Cut and water your tree: Once you get your tree home, cut half an inch off the stump to help with water uptake, and make sure to water your tree daily. Well-watered trees keep their scent longer.
Get the right tree stand: Use a sturdy tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water. Make sure you refill the container daily, as an average tree may consume 1 to 4 quarts of water daily.
Place your tree away from heat sources: Do not place your Christmas tree within 3 feet of any heat source, like a radiator. Live tree fires outnumber artificial tree fires by 3-1.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social
Oregon lawmakers have a new roadmap for tackling racism as a public health issue, and it’s packed with more than 100 recommendations for the 2027 legislative session.
According to KGW8, the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office released the four-year report this week, built on input from more than 200 Oregonians of color and developed alongside the Oregon Health Authority. It digs into how Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color face unequal access to stable jobs, education, health care, and housing — the everyday conditions that shape locals’ lives.
“This is an opportunity for state government to earn trust with communities of color who have been historically excluded,” said executive director of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office, Jeff Selby, per the outlet. “The report process is a model for community engagement, as we all work together toward meaningful outcomes in community.”
State Rep. Travis Nelson said the findings have already shaped legislation, with several bills signed into law over the past two sessions covering topics like culturally specific health services and school staffing diversity. One concrete example: After residents flagged that Spanish-speaking applicants were passing the DMV’s written driving test at a rate of roughly 21%, versus 51% for English speakers, organizers connected the DMV with community groups to address the gap.
The report dates back to 2021, when Oregon lawmakers formally declared racism a public health crisis. “Racism in Oregon has left a legacy of trauma from one generation to the next, impacting Oregon tribes, Black and indigenous communities and people of color through a cumulative effect,” a section of the declaration reads.
A separate report from the Commonwealth Fund found Oregon has more severe racial and ethnic health disparities than its neighbors in the West, with Native American, Black, and Hispanic residents lagging behind white and Asian American residents on access, quality, and outcomes. Researchers warned that federal changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act since 2025 could make those gaps worse, not better.
The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office says the goal now is turning research into real policy before lawmakers reconvene — and building trust with communities that have historically been left out of the process.
The full report can be seen here.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former Oregon corrections officer received a lifetime hunting ban on Wednesday after pleading guilty to several poaching-related charges.
Christopher Mason, 49, of Umatilla, was sentenced in two separate court cases to 24 months of probation and 300 hours of community service. He was also fined over $114,000 and was required to forfeit his firearms.
Oregon State Police said they began investigating Mason in 2024 after receiving information that he had been poaching big game animals.
“In February 2025, OSP served a search warrant, and multiple big game animals and firearms were seized as evidence. Sixty-seven criminal charges were referred for prosecution,” officials said. “The charges spanned multiple counties.”
Mason pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful take of buck deer and three counts of unlawful take of black bear on June 18. In a separate case on June 26, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, unlawful possession of a silencer, unlawful possession of multiple wildlife and unlawful take of mule deer.
“This is another example of serial poaching which rises to the level of felony conduct based solely on the repeated poaching conduct and impact of one individual on Oregon’s game mammals,” prosecutor Jay Hall said. “The conduct across the several counties amounts to one of the highest damage amounts done to Oregon wildlife by any singular actor.”
SEATTLE — With national firefighting resources already stretched to their limits, statewide fire restrictions remain in effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Washington and Oregon, with some local regions also implementing additional emergency closures.
As the Independence Day holiday weekend approaches, officials warned that people responsible for starting wildfires could face up to $100,000 in fines, 12 months in prison, and liability for all firefighting suppression costs.
SEE ALSO | Washington braces for earlier wildfire season due to low snowpack: ‘Worse than normal’
“There are serious consequences for starting a wildfire, including fines and possibly imprisonment, which we hope everyone can avoid through careful choices,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “We have already experienced excruciating loss this season. I cannot stress the gravity of the situation enough. Please help protect our firefighters and communities.”
Officials urged visitors to research their destinations in advance, noting that local restrictions can determine when power tools may be used, what kinds of stoves or campfires are allowed, and what safety equipment is required.
The BLM said the following items remain strictly prohibited on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington: fireworks and sky lanterns; exploding or metallic targets; tracer or incendiary devices; and steel component ammunition, including core or jacket.
“Lighting a firework or leaving a smoldering campfire creates significant wildland fire risk. Under the right conditions, they easily start wildfires,” said Kim Prill, BLM Oregon/Washington acting state director. “Don’t risk it. Let’s work together to prevent every wildfire possible.”
More information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures is available HERE.
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