Northern New Mexico families seeking the perfect Christmas tree can head to the closest national forest for a fragrant piñon, a fine fir or a stately spruce.

Carson National Forest began selling permits Friday for $5 per tree. Each person can buy up to three permits. By the end of the day, the main Carson office in Taos had already sold more than 30 tags. "I think this year people are taking advantage of the warmer weather," said spokeswoman Kathy DeLucas, noting the forest usually sells about 1,000 permits a year.

Christmas tree permits will be available from the Santa Fe National Forest beginning today. Permits are $10 for a tree up to 5 inches in diameter and 10 feet tall.

DeLucas said they hope people will be in the mood for Douglas or white fir this year. She said the firs "are like weeds. There are so many they are blocking the Ponderosa pine and aspen."

Traipsing around the forest in search of the perfect tree can be loads of fun, but don't be frustrated if you don't find one. "It's hard to find a perfect tree in the wild because they're not groomed like at a Christmas tree farm," said Santa Fe National Forest silviculturist David Lawrence.

Christmas tree maps for the national forests indicate suggested and preferred areas for cutting trees. On the Santa Fe National Forest's Caja del Rio and on Glorieta Mesa, juniper and piñon are most prevalent. The Jemez Mountains are a good place for blue spruce, especially near Fenton Lake off N.M. 126.

Blue spruce are beautiful, Lawrence said, "but not fun to decorate. Their needles are stiff and sharp."

People still determined to get a blue spruce should check the top branches for signs of spruce bud worms, which tend to chew out upper needles.

Visually, Douglas fir tend to be the most spindly and least full, often because they are young trees. Their branches may not be able to support heavier ornaments.

People are often surprised to find Christmas trees look bigger at home than they looked in the forest.

Every year, national forest staff catch a few people hauling off Christmas trees without tags. That leads to a fine and having the tree confiscated.

People must put the national forest tag on a tree before cutting it.

Trees should be cut as low to the ground as possible, not leaving a stump more than 6 inches above the ground.

If you want a tree more than 10 feet high, you will need to buy two tags.

The Santa Fe National Forest warns tree cutters to respect private land and make sure they are on public land before cutting.

If you find your perfect tree within a recreational camp area, closer than 300 feet from a stream or paved road, or inside a designated wilderness area, don't cut it.

People heading into the national forests should be prepared for New Mexico's fast-changing, inclement weather. Always have extra food, warm clothing, tire chains, a shovel, a first-aid kit, flashlight and a full gas tank before heading out. Always let a neighbor, friend or family member know where you are going and when you expect to return.

When you get the tree home, keep it in plenty of water so it will stay fresh. If time passes before the tree is put up and decorated, trim the trunk about an inch from the bottom to help the tree take up water.

Contact Staci Matlock at 470-9843 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.

WHERE YOUR TREE IS HIDING

Douglas and white fir: Prevalent all over the Santa Fe National Forest, but Douglas tend to be young and spindly, with weak branches.

Juniper and piñon: Most prevalent at Caja del Rio and on Glorieta Mesa.

Blue spruce: Found in the Jemez Mountains, especially near Fenton Lake off N.M. 126. Blue spruce are beautiful, but have stiff, sharp needles. Some spruce have bud worms that chew out upper needles.

TIPS ON CUTTING

• Permits, $10, are for trees no taller than 10 feet and up to 5 inches in diameter.

• Cut as low to the ground as possible, leaving a stump no higher than 6 inches.

• Don't cut ina recreational camp area, closer than 300 feet from a stream or paved road, or inside a wilderness area.

LEARN MORE

Call the Santa Fe National Forest at 438-7840 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/xmas08/index.html.