Expected bumper crop of mushrooms spells new rules, permits

Inland Northwest national forests swept by 2015 wildfires are gearing up with rules, permits and educational pamphlets as officials expect a spring rush of mushroom gatherers.

A bumper crop of morels is expected this year in areas charred by record-setting fires in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests for the first time will be requiring gatherers to have free personal use mushrooming permits for picking more than a gallon of mushrooms.

“We haven’t had to do this before,” said Shoshana Cooper, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman in Coeur d’Alene. “The Panhandle hasn’t seen this scope of fires for many decades.”

Wildfires charred 58,719 acres on the Panhandle National Forests last year. That compares with a total of 41,085 acres burned in the previous 46 fire seasons since 1969, she said.

Issuing mushroom harvesting permits allows the Forest Service to manage harvesting activities, monitor use and protect resources, officials say.

Firewood cutting permits also are required on national forests, but requirements for mushroom gathering varies more widely from forest to forest.

The Idaho Panhandle’s free permit allows an individual to pick up to 20 gallons, or 50 pounds, of mushrooms a season.

No permit is required for people intending to harvest less than 1 gallon of mushrooms a day and no more than 5 gallons in a season.

Commercial permits will not be issued on the Panhandle Forests, where the emphasis will be on recreational opportunities rather than high-quantity pick-and-sell operations.

“In order to distinguish personal or incidental use from unauthorized commercial collecting, mushrooms must be sliced in half, length-wise from stem to cap,” Cooper said. “If you fill a Nalgene bottle with mushrooms on a walk, just slice them before leaving the harvest area.

“Commercial mushrooms are required to be whole,” she said. “Slicing the mushrooms before you transport them helps assure they’re for personal use.”

The free permits became available this week at Idaho Panhandle National Forest offices.

“We always recommend checking with local ranger districts for road or area closures before going to a forest,” Cooper said.

“In burned areas, visitors should be aware for falling snags and stump holes.”

Colville National Forest officials warn that wide areas affected by 2015 fires are still closed to public access because of lingering hazards on roads, slopes and among unstable snags.

“Closures are the biggest news,” said Franklin Pemberton, forest spokesman, noting that trees are still falling across some roads. “In areas that are open, rehabilitation operations may begin in the spring and temporary closures may be enacted because of heavy equipment and aircraft working in the area.”

No permit or fee is required on the Colville Forest for an individual to harvest up to 3 gallons of mushrooms a day. Matsutake (Pine) mushroom harvesting is an exception that’s limited to 1 gallon per household.

No commercial mushrooming permits are available for the Colville.

Firewood permits on the Colville and most forests are $5 dollars a cord with a $20 minimum (4-cords) minimum and a 12-cord maximum per household.

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests require a free personal use permit for gathering up to five gallons of mushrooms a day or 20 gallons for the season.

Commercial mushroom harvesting is allowed in certain portions of the Nez Perce-Clearwater forests. A $100 permit is required and numbers are restricted.

Nez Perce-Clearwater officials expect increased demand for commercial permits following fires over 27,554 acres in 2014 and 190,000 acres last year.