When a wild mushroom picking season in Oregon begins, before heading out to gather mushrooms, take a moment to learn some nitty-gritty details that will make the experience more enjoyable.
You don’t need a permit to harvest, transport or process less than a gallon of mushrooms if you collect them on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Your mushrooms should only be for personal consumption and can't be sold, given away or even bartered. If you intend to harvest more than one gallon you must obtain either "Recreational Use" or "Commercial Use" permits. To find out the regulations for mushroom picking affecting the area where you would like to harvest, contact the nearest office.
The rule of one gallon or less for your personal consumption is valid for Siuslaw National Forest. If collecting more than a gallon - even if only for personal use - a permit is required.
A permit is not required to collect less than one gallon in Oregon or less than five gallons in Washington in the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests.
State Forests in the Astoria, Tillamook, Forest Grove, North Cascades, and West Oregon Districts. The harvest of mushrooms, 1 gallon or less per vehicle, is allowed on all lands managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Oregon State Parks and Recreation Areas. Oregon state law (Division 10: General Park Rules) "Unless otherwise posted a person may gather for personal consumption berries, fruits, mushrooms, or similar edibles in quantities not to exceed five gallons per person per day".
Logging trails. Collecting mushrooms on logging trails generally require a free permit. Most logging trails have phone numbers posted at the main entrance so you can call and inquire about mushroom collecting. Please, be mindful of logging operations and trucks in the area.
Harvesting is allowed for personal use only. Commercial foraging is prohibited. Also, picking mushrooms in the campground is not allowed. Psilocybin (hallucinogenic) mushrooms harvesting is prohibited in Oregon and classified as a felony.
No permit or fee is required for quantities less than one gallon (Matsutake excluded) in the Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, Umpqua, and Willamette National Forests. A permit is required to harvest more than one gallon of mushrooms for either personal or commercial use.
Free-Use Permit, issued from any Ranger Districts of the previously mentioned National Forests, is valid for all four of them. During the mushroom picking season (January 1st through December 31st), this permit authorizes a free collection of 2 gallons of mushrooms a day during any 10 days per calendar year. All wild mushrooms collected for personal use must be cut in half immediately after picking to remove their commercial value.
There are areas where mushroom picking is not allowed, such as wilderness, research natural, developed recreation, and other designated non-harvest areas. Commercial mushroom picking is not allowed in Crater Lake National Park, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, and Davis Late Successional Reserve.
Truffle and Matsutake regulations differ from other wild mushrooms. You should contact local agencies or the landowners to find out the requirements.
Recreational or Commercial Use Mushroom Permits may be obtained at District Offices or Ranger Stations
Supervisor's Office
3106 Pierce Parkway Suite D
Springfield, OR 97477
541-225-6300
Detroit Ranger District
44125 North Santiam Highway SE
Detroit, OR 97342
503-854-3366
McKenzie River Ranger District
57600 McKenzie Hwy
McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413
541-822-3381
Middle Fork Ranger District
46375 Highway 58
Westfir, OR 97492
541-782-2283
Sweet Home Ranger District
4431 Highway 20
Sweet Home, OR 97386
541-367-5168
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Disclaimer
This is not an official guide to wild mushroom foraging. Please, do your own research, be sure to practice with a mushroom's expert before you pick up and consume any wild mushrooms. Before you get started wild mushroom harvesting, learn to accurately identify edible and poisonous mushrooms.
All wild edible mushrooms must be thoroughly cooked. Be sure that you are not allergic to it. Try a small amount if you did not eat it before.
Hello,
I just wanna double check about mushroom permit for one gallon, this is I don’t needed have any forest area, right? Because every year I was going to ranger office and take a free permit to pick mushrooms. When this is was change, because I never heart this before, thank you
For the National Forests, one gallon for one person without permit except Matsutake. If you want to collect 2 gallons of mushrooms a day during any 10 days calendar year, you can obtain a free permit.
I am new to mushroom picking/ harvesting and dont want to break any laws. What if I pick or harvest some to identify that I don’t know are un-aloud. I would take them to the forestry department for identification most likely.
I have heard about people going into logging trails off the highways. I don’t want to trespass onto territory that could get me in trouble but I cannot find info if it is ok to mushroom hunt on the logging trails and areas where trees have been cut. I also hope this is the right place to ask.
I’ve been sticking to state parks but all of the trails are picked out. Are logging roads ok to explore for mushrooms?
Yes, logging trails usually require a free permit. When you arrive at the main entrance to the logging site look around for signage to obtain a permit.