2022 Mushroom Guide available for Malheur NF
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY & HINES, OR – (Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)
Once the snow melts, friendly fungi will once again return to the forest floor. If you know where to look, they will be available to pick for personal consumption within the legal limits of one gallon or less in Oregon and five gallons or less in Washington. No permit or payment is required to harvest, possess, or transport up to these limits, provided the mushrooms are not sold or traded but enjoyed by the picker.
Those seeking to harvest mushrooms beyond the legal limit, or for commercial purposes, will first need to obtain a commercial permit. Commercial pickers who plan to camp in the National Forest will also need an industrial camping permit. Please review the 2022 Mushroom Guide for more information, then call the nearest District Office (phone numbers below) to discuss your plans and permit needs in advance.
Commercial permit rates
· $2.00 per day, minimum 10 days = $20.00
(Example: 14-day permit =$28.00)
· Annual Permit: Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 = $100.00
· Buyer’s permit: $600.00 plus administrative costs (Not available on the Malheur National Forest)
An Industrial Camping Permit is required if commercial mushroom harvesters and buyers plan to camp overnight on National Forest System lands. The area that will be set aside for Industrial camping on the Malheur National Forest is currently not reachable. When these areas become available the information will be shared with local and social media. Industrial camping permits can only be obtained at the local Ranger District Office on the forest of which you plan to harvest. Commercial mushroom harvesters and buyers are prohibited from camping in developed campgrounds.
Be aware that many forest roads are still not accessible due to mud and snow. Traveling on wet mountain roads and terrain can be dangerous. It can also cause resource damage, which can be illegal. Contact the nearest District Office for up-to-date information on road conditions and current closures.
To improve your personal safety in the woods, please plan ahead, pack the “Ten Essentials,” and travel with others. Also be sure to tell a friend or family member where you are going; stick to your plan and let them know when you will confirm your safe return.
Keep in mind that many wild mushroom varieties are poisonous. When in doubt, leave it out! It is the responsibility of the picker to properly identify a mushroom and determine whether it is edible. There are many guidebooks available to assist with identification. The local library, county agricultural extension office, and local mycological society are good sources of information.
Mushroom pickers often contact National Forest offices to learn where wildfires and prescribed burning have occurred in recent years. For everyone’s convenience, those locations are now identified in an online prescribed fire map for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. To locate recent wildfire activity, please refer to the National Interagency Fire Center’s Situational Awareness interactive map. Recently burned areas present unique risks to visitors, including falling snags, hidden tree wells, and damaged or closed roads and trails. Please be aware and prepared.
To help care for the land while picking mushrooms:
- Use a knife to cut your mushrooms at their base. This reduces disturbance to the soil and can help mushrooms to continue growing in that location.
- Carry your mushrooms in a net bag, which better preserves them and allows spores to spread for future production.
- Give wildlife plenty of space and leave newborns alone.
- Practice “leave no trace” ethics, and please take all your trash home with you.
- Remember that commercial mushroom picking is prohibited in wilderness areas, research areas, or any areas that are currently closed. Please report any violations promptly to the Forest Service.
Please be aware that the Malheur National Forest offices are closed to walk in service. If you would like to purchase a permit, please call one of our district offices listed below to make an appointment.
Blue Mountain Ranger District: 541-575-3000
Hines Ranger District: 541-573-4300
Prairie City Ranger District: 541-820-3800
