The Beartooth Ranger District of the Custer National Forest began selling Christmas tree tags this week.

Tags are being sold at the District office south of Red Lodge and at the Forest Supervisor’s office at 1310 Main St. in Billings.

Tags will be sold during regular business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will also be sold on Saturdays at the District office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

Tags will be sold for $5 each with a limit of three tags per family.

Maps, forest road access updates, and tree species identification guides are available at either office.

Christmas tree cutting will be permitted on the entire Beartooth Ranger District, including the Pryor Mountains. Trees 15 feet tall or less may be cut. Please keep stumps low to the ground (less than 4 inches). Take the entire tree – “topping” trees, or cutting the top off trees, deforms any future growth. Attach your tree tag immediately after felling the tree.

The Lake Fork of Rock Creek and West Fork of Rock Creek roads are scheduled for closure beginning Dec. 1. Prior to Dec. 1, public access to the West Fork Road may be restricted from 7 a.m. to noon and 1-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday due to road construction.

No cutting is allowed in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Area, posted timber sale units, developed recreation sites such as the Red Lodge Mountain Ski area, organizational camps, campgrounds, summer home areas, trailheads, or within 100 feet of any stream, lake, or wetland.

Christmas tree tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

The Custer National Forest will not issue any free use Christmas tree tags to organizations, schools, churches, clubs, or individuals.

Further information may be obtained at the Beartooth Ranger District office in Red Lodge at (406) 446-2103.