Christmas Tree's in Tonto

[Honger]

My brother-in-law and I managed to snag Christmas Tree permits in the Tonto National Forest. We've got a map showing us valid locations to hunt... and a link showing us what trees are allowed and of what size/spec.

My question...
Has anyone here done this before and have some pointers on good areas to go looking? It's a large area and I'm new to AZ. I don't exactly know where best to hunt for trees that are valid for this. Any advice, input, etc. is welcome. =)

 

[Living in the Past]

If it's like Coconino National Forest the included map with the permit pretty much lays out the tree cutting area. Forest service roads have a sign saying entering Christmas tree cutting area. Been a number of years since I got with my grown kids cutting trees.

 

[Honger]

I've got a map of the Tonto National Forest... nearly all of it. It denotes private and non-harvesting areas. The rest is fair game...

 

[Living in the Past]

I've got a map of the Tonto National Forest... nearly all of it. It denotes private and non-harvesting areas. The rest is fair game...

Think the first time I cut a Christmas Tree in Coconino National Forest was in 1972. Even back then was only in designated areas. I know good areas up on the rim for Fir and Blue Spruce. Not sure what access Tonto has to the rim but think some where like the rim that clouds dump moisture to get over will have the best trees.

 

[splitshot]

Thanks for the idea! With the forecast prices of trees this year, we may need to run up to Alpine this weekend.

 

[murf]

Remember that the trees look smaller outdoors than in your living room!!

 

[Living in the Past]

Remember that the trees look smaller outdoors than in your living room!!

I always carried a tape measure for just this reason. If cutting a Pinion i would play attention to the truck at the bottom. Many would be too big to put in the stand. Fir trees were no problem.

 

[splitshot]

Remember that the trees look smaller outdoors than in your living room!!

Great point. and check for squirrels!

 

[FlightMedic178]

My family and I have been doing this in the Tonto for the last 4 years. This year I had the best luck in this area

 

[GBinAZ]

Remember that the trees look smaller outdoors than in your living room!!

Its not going in our yard Russ, it's going in our living room!"

 

[Honger]

My family and I have been doing this in the Tonto for the last 4 years. This year I had the best luck in this area
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Do you basically just go and hunt? Is that where you’ve been going?

We were out there all day on Saturday... between Strawberry and Pine and we feel like we kinda had to settle. The kids still has a blast traipsing through the woods... but the Christmas Tree Hunt was not straightforward.

 

[TWILLY]

Do you basically just go and hunt? Is that where you’ve been going?

We were out there all day on Saturday... between Strawberry and Pine and we feel like we kinda had to settle. The kids still has a blast traipsing through the woods... but the Christmas Tree Hunt was not straightforward.

In areas not high or wet enough for fir or spruce, we've always cut pinyon instead of ponderosa pines--you can find them with a nice shape and their foliage is dense and strong to hang things from.

 

[Living in the Past]

In areas not high or wet enough for fir or spruce, we've always cut pinyon instead of ponderosa pines--you can find them with a nice shape and their foliage is dense and strong to hang things from.

Problem is you need to pay attention to the trunk on Pinions. Some are so wide won't fit in a tree stand. Even fresh cut trees need to have a base with water.

Next year if your still wanting to cut a tree not me up and will let you know how to get the permit for fir trees on top of the rim. Don't know if there is as many at the base of the rim. Not sure how high you can get up the rim from the bottom. The 300 road is pretty much limit to drop off the rim. It runs from SR-87 to SR-260. Cutting area is pretty much in the middle. Might be a are further east in Apache Sitgreaves National Forest.

 

[Honger]

We did manage a pretty nice fir tree... but if I took the photo from the other side you’d laugh.

Still, the kids had fun and we do have a tree...

Will be trying again next year for sure.

 

[Living in the Past]

That is the nature of the beast when you cut one in the forest. The area I use to go would have to hike a ways off the forest service road since the nice trees close to the road were already cut. Even then finding one nice on all sides is tough. Not like plantation trees that are all the same height and evenly spaced apart. Generally cutting these trees in a area with that has much taller trees and then other small trees close by. Some times easier to find a nice Pinion because they can be found in the scrubs mixed with Juniper tree and few tall trees around blocking sun light.

 

[splitshot]

Getting out with the kids.....
Nothing like the smell of a fresh tree, especially a spruce or pinion.

 

[FJ45Dude]

Tree hunting is always an adventure! Apache-Sitgreaves permits are some of my favorite.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

We did manage a pretty nice fir tree... but if I took the photo from the other side you’d laugh.

Still, the kids had fun and we do have a tree...

Will be trying again next year for sure.

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Brake cleaner in the living room? Man you have an accommodating

 

[Honger]

Tree hunting is always an adventure! Apache-Sitgreaves permits are some of my favorite.

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Epic photo!!!

 

[Honger]

Brake cleaner in the living room? Man you have an accommodating

Hahaha! Was curious if anyone else would pick that up... my dad gave me a hard time about it to.

But it's actually our scorpion spray... during warmer weather we go our every evening with a blacklight and that stuff and kill as many of the buggers as we find. Brakleen kills them nearly instantaneously.