Comments on: Backcountry Christmas Tree Harvest

By: Josh Cullen

Josh Cullen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:03:57 +0000

Those ratty looking Engleman’s are a good choice, especially if you don’t want to bother getting a NFS product removal permit. Speaking from experience, it’s not recommended or in good taste to do this during the standard government working hours near popular access. Your tree costs will inflate to $75.00 plus a hefty $25.00 handling fee. Not sure whether you can include this as a deduction to federal taxable income at the end of the year.

By: David Aldous

David Aldous — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:50:11 +0000

Colorado blue spurces were not the most loved trees when I was working for a tree care service. They can be a real pain when they are no longer christmas tree sized, located between two buildings and need to come down. It is the only type of tree I’ve seen fall over by itself. Well there was a strong microburst (really I was nowhere near it with a saw). We had one summer where several trees fell over in microbursts and a large portion of them were blue spruces.
Apparently lots of people like them because they are everywhere. I’m not concerned as much any more because they aren’t scratching my forearms on a regular basis. I just don’t see myself planting any of them when I buy a house.
If you do have spruces at your house I strongly recommend against topping them. Topped spruces are some of the worst trees I’ve ever seen.
I hope the Dawson family enjoys their Chrismas tree and that everyone has a good and safe Christmas.
Dave

By: Mark Worley

Mark Worley — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:53:45 +0000

Picea pungens variety glauca shall not be touched!! Ha, that’s a laugh. That tree is ubiquitous throughout the West and much of the country, and I doubt it will be declining due to a few Christmas tree hunters. We had several of those at my Montana home. They are great, and I can see why people plant so darn many of them. Hope you enjoy your Engleman. Merry Christmas.