BEND, OR -- Christmas tree permits are now available in Central Oregon.  Kassidy Kern with the Deschutes National Forest: " We invite the public to come out and cut their Christmas tree out on the Deschutes or Ochoco National Forest."  Kern tells KBND, "It's a fun, family outing."

She says, if you pick up a permit at a forestry office, they can provide information on where to find different types of trees. "I think that there are a lot of people who still get Lodgepole or Ponderosa Pine; they are going to be your lower elevation trees. So, if you're looking for those fir species, you're going to have to go up to a higher elevation." Forest Service officials are warning that weather in higher elevations can turn cold and unpredictable very quickly.

For more information about permit costs and locations, visit the Forest Service's website.