Salmon-Challis National Forest

Challis - Yankee Fork Ranger District

Morel Mushrooms || Fuelwood || Christmas Trees

Morel Mushrooms

Everything you need to know and more!

Who needs a permit to harvest mushrooms? Where and how can I buy a Commercial Permit? Where can I pick mushrooms? Do children need permits? I bought a commercial permit, then decided not to sell. Can I get my money back? What happens if I don't follow the terms of my permit? What if I just want a few mushrooms for my own use? Where can I camp while I'm commercially picking mushrooms? Are all roads open to drive on? Can I use my OHV to look for mushrooms? What should I bring? I've never harvested mushrooms before. How is it done? What mushrooms should I harvest? Any suggestions on preserving my harvest? What do I do if I get lost? Can I drink out of the creeks? What about ticks? Can I fish?

Why are we doing this?
Last summer, approximately 370,000 acres of the Salmon-Challis National Forest burned. The Forest Service's experience with past fires has indicated that the general public and commercial harvesters come to recently burned sites to harvest mushrooms. Mushrooms are now a multi-million dollar international industry. Based on experience with large fires on other forests, we expect an influx of up to a thousand or more people seeking mushrooms. Most experiences on other Forests have shown that impacts to forest resources are negligible. However, the presence of these additional people in the local communities on this Forest will result in increased food and gas sales, and the need for other amenity services such as camping, laundry, and motel accommodations. Additional impacts may include increased law enforcement requirements, the need for additional sanitation facilities, and conflicts between professional harvesters and those picking for their personal use.

The Forest Service has an obligation to manage mushroom picking by providing reasonable opportunities for both personal and commercial harvest of mushrooms while minimizing the social and resource impacts that may occur. To most effectively manage this upcoming activity, the Salmon-Challis National Forest is issuing both personal use and commercial mushroom harvesting permits during the spring and summer of 2001.

1. Who needs a permit to harvest mushrooms?
Anyone who harvests mushrooms from Salmon-Challis National Forest lands needs a mushroom permit. There are two separate permits for mushroom harvesting: Personal Use and Commercial Use.

Personal Use:
Personal use permits allow an individual to pick up to 5 gallons of mushrooms/day (approximately 2 large grocery bags). A customer can pick up to 125 pounds of mushrooms for the season for personal use. All personal use harvesters will be required to get a Forest Product Free Use Permit before removing mushrooms from the National Forest. This permit is free of charge and valid for the entire season. Permittees can pick in the areas designated for commercial harvest, personal use harvest, and in the wilderness. Mushrooms picked under this permit must be cut lengthwise at the time of picking, and are not to be resold commercially.

Commercial Use:
All commercial harvesters, 12 years of age and older, will be required to purchase a Commercial Use Mushroom Permit, good only on the Salmon-Challis National Forest and valid only in commercial use designated collection areas.

How much do mushroom permits cost?
Personal use permits:

• No charge

Commercial Use permits: (consecutive days)

• 7-day permit (minimum) - $20.00
• 14-day permit - $40.00
• 21-day permit-$60.00
• 30-day permit-$75.00
• Season Permit-$100.00

The commercial permit is nonrefundable and payment may be made in the form of cash, money order, cashier's check. Credit cards and personal checks will not be accepted.

2. Where and how can I buy a Commercial Permit?
Commercial permits are available at the Forest Offices listed in this handout. These offices will be open regular hours (0800-1630) Monday through Friday. Applicants must provide a photo-I.D. (driver's license, green card, etc.) to purchase a permit, and vehicle information.

3. Where can I pick mushrooms?
Commercial harvesting, buying, or selling is only permitted in designated areas.

Areas where mushroom harvest may be prohibited could include active timber sales, areas of historical or prehistoric interest, areas closed to protect wildlife, areas where human safety is a concern, areas where soil erosion is a concern, and areas where spring weed spraying is likely to occur.

Most weed spraying is planned along roads. Watch for signs - the areas will be posted. Check at a Forest Office for updated information.

4. Do children need permits?
Children 12 years of age or older need permits if they plan to harvest mushrooms.

If a customer is under the age of 18 and accompanied by an adult, no personal use permit is required for him to pick mushrooms while accompanied by an adult. Minors must be accompanied by an adult guardian when collecting, transporting, or selling mushrooms.

5. I bought a commercial permit, then decided not to sell. Can I get my money back?
No, permit fees are not refundable.

6. What happens if I don't follow the terms of my permit?
If a permittee does not follow the requirements of the permit, the Forest Service reserves the right to revoke the permit. In addition, citations may be issued which could require appearance in court and/or a fine if found guilty.

7. What if I just want a few mushrooms for my own use?
There is no charge for free use mushroom picking but a permit is required. Free use mushrooms harvested from National Forest lands are not to be sold or exchanged. There is a limit of five gallons of mushrooms, per day, per person, from National Forest lands.

8. Where can I camp while I'm commercially picking mushrooms?
Commercial harvesters who wish to camp on National Forest lands may only camp in designated camping areas and must obtain a designated site camping permit in advance of camping. Sanitation and garbage collection will be provided at designated camps.

Commercial camping permits are available from the Forest Offices listed below. Many camp areas have been chosen to be as close as possible to the wildfire areas. Camping costs are $1 per person per day with a minimum $5 purchase or renewal fee.. Camping permits may be purchased at the same time you purchase your commercial picking permit. Each person involved in gathering or assisting in collection of forest products on a commercial basis who camps on National Forest lands must have a commercial camping permit. With the exception of the Twin Creek and Spring Creek developed camping areas, commercial use mushroom harvesters are NOT allowed to camp in developed, National Forest recreational campgrounds. The use of these two sites (Twin Ck and Spring Ck) will require additional purchase of the daily camping fee sold on site.

9. Are all roads open to drive on?
No. Some roads are gated or blocked with rock and/or earthen barriers and signed with permanent, temporary, or seasonal restrictions.

Forest travel maps are available at all Salmon-Challis National Forest offices. Be sure to pick one up before heading out to harvest mushrooms. Compliance with road closures is mandatory.

Forest roads generally are NOT suitable for bus travel. Most roads have few turnouts and the hillsides are very steep in some sections. Passenger vehicles and pickups may safely negotiate some roads if they are familiar with mountain driving conditions and are prepared to back down the road if they meet oncoming traffic.

Do not park in front of closed gates. Road access may be needed for emergency or work travel.

Harvesters are asked not to drive on water saturated, muddy roads in the spring or early summer. Vehicle weight and maneuvering cause road damage which makes road maintenance difficult and costly. Check the local ranger district office for updated road conditions.

10. Can I use my OHV to look for mushrooms?
Generally no. With the exceptions of mushroom gathering activities on the Twin Ck, Marlin Springs, and Sisters burn areas, vehicles (including ATV's 4 wheelers, motorcycles, and bicycles) are not allowed off of Forest development roads within areas burned during the 2000 wildfires. Nor are they allowed on trails within the burn areas. There will be a Forest closure order issued to assure compliance.

This closure is to provide resource protection to help watershed stabilization and vegetative recovery, to provide security to wildlife populations, and to prevent excessive soil erosion within the burned areas on the Forest. This closure will be monitored and the closure decision reviewed in July 2001.

11. What should I bring?

General Items:

• Mushroom permit
• Camping permit (if commercial)
• Drinking water
• Picking bags/buckets
• Mushroom identification book
• Knife
• Map
• Compass
• Watch
• Whistle
• Flashlight and batteries
• Axe, shovel, bucket
• Garbage bags
• Personal Items
• Camping gear
• Grooming necessities
• Food
• Extra clothing
• Toilet paper
• Prescription medicine
• Sunglasses
• Insect Repellent

12. I've never harvested mushrooms before. How is it done?
Due to the complex life cycle of mushrooms, there are a few things you can do to protect the species in your favorite areas:

• Leave some of the mushrooms you find. Do not collect mushrooms from previously harvested areas: leave the rest for wildlife food and to reproduce other mushrooms.
• Minimize impacts to the fungus by not disturbing the ground habitat. Do not dig, rake, or scrape the forest floor.
• Use a knife to cut the mushrooms or break steam off at ground level.
• Don't harvest more mushrooms than you need.

In forested areas, beware of falling snags and stump holes, especially in burned areas.

13. What mushrooms should I harvest?
Proper identification and determination of whether a mushroom is edible is the responsibility of the harvester. Many forest mushroom varieties are poisonous. There are many guidebooks available to assist with identification. When in doubt... leave it in the forest.

14. Any suggestions on preserving my harvest?
Freezing:
Clean Mushrooms with as little water as possible. Slice mushrooms in YA inch slices.
Method A: sauté small amounts in butter, cool, pack in airtight containers and freeze.
Method B: dip mushrooms in lemon water or a weak citric acid solution to prevent discoloration. Steam/scald 4-6 minutes.
Cool and pack in airtight containers immediately. Use within 4 months.

Drying:
Clean debris and dirt from the cap and stems. Slice % inch thick.
Method A: String slices and hang them to dry in a light, airy rooms in the sun.
Method B: Lay mushrooms in single layers on paper and turn them daily. When they are thoroughly dry, place them in airtight containers and sprinkle with black peppercorns for flavor.

15. What do I do if I get lost?
Before you leave, tell someone where you are going. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them.

Check the surrounding country and attempt to orient yourself. Do not walk aimlessly. If you can reach a road or trail, follow it until you can determine if you are moving in the right direction. As a last resort, travel downhill parallel to a stream or drainage.

If you are unsuccessful in finding your way, keep calm and don't panic. Stay in one place. Select a sheltered spot and prepare a camp. Conserve your strength, and build a fire so that smoke may be seen by searchers. Use your whistle to alert others of your location.

Don't depend on your cell phone. There are many areas of the forest where they don't work.

16. Can I drink out of the creeks?
Do not drink untreated water from a surface water supply such as a pond, lake, or stream. The water may appear to be clean, but it may contain Giardia parasites.

The parasites cause a gastrointestinal infection. Symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days (and sometimes as long as 4 weeks) after ingesting the parasite. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, foul greasy stools, abdominal cramps, bloating, increased gas, weakness, and weight loss.

There are several medications that are effective in treating the infection. They are only available by prescription from your physician.

Bring water from a safe source or use bottled water to prevent becoming infected.

If you must use creek water, use a water filter that removes particles one micrometer or less in diameter (certified by NSF International per NSF Standard 53 or labeled as an absolute one-micrometer filter), or boil water vigorously for 3 to 5 minutes.

17. What about ticks?
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Colorado Tick Fever are transmitted by ticks in the mountainous regions of the northwest. The tick season generally lasts from late March to early July, although it varies at different elevations. Wear layers of clothing to prevent ticks from reaching your body, and keep clothing snug around your ankles, wrists, and waist. Examine yourself at least twice daily to check for ticks. If a tick is embedded in your skin, remove it immediately without crushing it. Pull it gently with the fingers, forceps, or tweezers, being careful not to leave the head hi your skin, and apply an antiseptic. If a flu-like, moderately severe illness occurs several days or weeks after finding a tick on your body, consult a doctor immediately.

18. Can I fish?
To fish in Idaho requires a Fishing License. Vendors in nearly every town sell licenses. Refer to the Idaho Fishing Regulations for details regarding species, limits and methods of take.

Pictures and information
National Morel Mushroom Hunters Association

USDA Forest Service - Salmon-Challis National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23 April 2008 at 16:53:03 EDT