Mushroom Harvesting

A pile of chanterelle mushrooms Looking to collect mushrooms? Here's what you need to know about permits.

The collection of mushrooms for personal or commercial use inside fire closures is not allowed. Call a local ranger station for the most up-to-date information as closures change.

All Mushroom Species Except Matsutake
Matsutake Mushroom Information
Mushroom Etiquette

All edible mushroom species except Matsutake

No permit or fee is required for quantities less than one gallon (per person, per day) unless you are collecting matsutakes. If collecting more than a gallon - even if only for personal use - a permit is required. Mushrooms gathered under incidental harvest are for personal use only and all mushrooms collected must be cut in half.

Everyone must have a valid permit (be 18 years or older), and have a harvest area map in their possession to gather, transport or sell mushrooms gathered on participating National Forests. A mushroom permit issued from any of the following four forests is valid on all four forests. Obtain the permit from the office closest to where you plan to harvest - see ranger station locations. Permits can be purchased using cash, check or credit card.

All Mushroom Species Except Matsutake
	Incidental Use (less than one gallon)	Free Use	Commercial/Personal Use
Permit Required	*NO	*YES: Free Use permits/any 10 days per calendar year	YES: Commercial/Personal Use Permit valid for species other than Matsutake
Fee Charged	NO	NO	**YES: $2.00 per day with a 10 day or $20 minimum; or $100 annual permit.
Quantity of Mushrooms Daily	Less than one gallon, per person, per day	2 gallons per day for 10 days per calendar year	Unlimited

On the Willamette National Forest, four additional regulations apply: 1) at least one-third of the mushroom caps on the collection area (of the same species as being collected) should be left intact to release spores (Forest-wide Standard and Guideline FW-337); 2) no harvest of rare truffles or mushrooms is allowed, 3) the soil immediately around the fungi should not be disturbed by raking, digging or hoeing, except to uncover truffles at the soil surface (FW-337), and 4) to protect rare “survey and manage” species, no commercial collection of mushrooms or truffles will be allowed in Late Successional Reserves and no harvest within riparian areas (any stream, ponds or wet areas).

Written permission is required to camp on any National Forest while harvesting mushrooms commercially and will be allowed only in areas designated by the Forest Service. Camping capacity may be limited and a fee may be charged.

People wishing to operate buying stations on National Forest Land must obtain a permit. Check with a local Ranger District Office for permit information as not all Districts allow buyers on National Forest Land.

Mushrooms collected for the purpose of selling require the purchase of a commercial use permit. Commercial permits (for mushrooms other than matsutakes) are available throughout the year. Permits can be purchased using cash, check or credit card.

*All species of incidental and free use mushrooms will be cut in half lengthwise, stem through cap, and both halves separated at the time of harvest. Selling or exchanging mushrooms gathered incidentally or under a free use permit is a violation of Federal Regulations (Title 36 CFR 261.6F), punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

**Prices may vary by year or by forest. Please contact your local ranger station to confirm.

Matsutake Mushroom Information

The Matsutake mushroom season starts the day after Labor Day each year and lasts for 60 calendar days.

Starting in 2021, a Commercial Permit must be purchased for the picking of any Matsutake mushroom on National Forests that are harvested for resale. Harvester must be 18 years or older to purchase a permit.

Everyone must have a valid permit (be 18 years or older), and have a harvest area map in their possession to gather, transport or sell mushrooms gathered on participating National Forests. Obtain the permit from the office closest to where you plan to harvest - see ranger station locations here. Permits can be purchased using cash, check or credit card. All tools for matsutake harvest will not exceed 1" (one inch) wide and 18" (eighteen inches) long; raking or other ground disturbance is prohibited.

Matsutake Mushroom Information
	Free Use	Commercial/Personal Use
Permit Required	n/a	YES: Matsutake commercial permit
Fee Charged	n/a	*YES: $8.00 per day with a 3 day or $24 minimum; $200 seasonal permit or $100 half season permits
Quantity of Mushrooms Daily	n/a	Unlimited

On the Willamette National Forest, three additional regulations apply: 1) at least one-third of the mushroom caps on the collection area (of the same species as being collected) should be left intact to release spores (FW-337); 2) no harvest of truffles or rare mushrooms is permitted, 3) no commercial collection of mushrooms will be allowed in Late Successional Reserves and no harvest within riparian areas (any stream [Class 1 thru 4), ponds or wet areas).

People wishing to operate buying stations on National Forest Land must obtain a permit. Check with a local Ranger District Office for permit information as not all districts allow buyers on National Forest land.

*Prices and season dates may vary by year or by forest. Please contact your local ranger station to confirm.

** Matsutake free use mushrooms will be cut in half lengthwise, stem through cap, and both halves separated at the time of harvest, prior to leaving the area.

Mushroom Etiquette

Tread lightly while searching for mushrooms
Replace soil disturbed while collecting
No raking or digging with shovels
Collect mushrooms only in permissible area
Harvesting mushrooms is not permitted in the following designated sensitive areas: Wilderness areas, botanical areas, scenic areas, and research areas.

WARNING: Many edible mushrooms have poisonous look-a-likes. Be certain of what you’re picking before consuming.

Details on obtaining a forest products permit and regulations