Morel Mushrooms
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests requires a mushroom harvesting permit for personal use in order to appropriately manage mushroom harvesting activities, monitor use, and protect resources. Personal use permits are free.
Mushrooms may be harvested anywhere in your National Forest unless otherwise restricted. Each Ranger District will have specific information on any area closures or restrictions. Permits will be available at Forest Service offices. The type of permit you need depends on how many mushrooms you intend to harvest:
| Incidental Use | No Permit Required | Harvest less than one gallon a day and no more than five gallons per season |
| Personal Use | Free permit | Harvest up to 5 gallons a day and up to 20 gallons per season |
| Commercial Gathering | Not Permitted | Commercial use is not authorized. Reselling harvested mushrooms is prohibited. |
In order to distinguish personal or incidental use from commercial collecting, all mushrooms must be sliced in half lengthwise from stem to cap before leaving the harvest area.
Age considerations
Each person over the age of 12 is required to obtain a free use permit if they are gathering more than the “incidental” amounts. Minors (12 and under) may assist in the collection of mushrooms, but must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or sponsoring adult who has a permit in their possession.
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Best Practices
- There are areas where mushroom picking is not allowed. Any area restrictions will be explained when obtaining your permit. You are required to know the regulations affecting the area where you pick. We can help!
- Picking may be allowed on private land – but get permission first before entering private lands. Know where picking is allowed.
- Minimize the impacts to the actual fungus by not disturbing the ground habitat. No raking or other ground disturbances are allowed when collecting mushrooms.
- Practice good harvesting! Consider using a mesh bag, as the mesh allows the mushroom spores to return to the ground and “reseed”!
- When camping and picking in undeveloped sites, maintain the natural beauty of the forest and protect water sources. Leave the area you use “cleaner than you found it!”
- Please be aware that human activities such as camping, cooking, etc. can attract bears to your area. It is your responsibility to know of any Food Storage Special Orders that may exist in your area.
- Some roads have been closed to protect wildlife, sensitive land resources, provide for public safety, and reduce user conflicts. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on closed roads or off of existing roads, though non-motorized traffic is allowed. Road closures help us maintain the healthy forest that supplies delicious mushrooms and other forest products. Please support our efforts!
More Information
Find more helpful information, including a map of previously burned areas, at Northern Region Mushroom Harvest Information