Mushroom Picking Permits

This page is under an in depth review for accuracy.

This page was last reviewed for accuracy on 9/3/2026, however regulations can change, so always check with the applicable government agency or landowner before venturing into the forest to pick mushrooms.

There are varying regulations for mushroom picking in the state of Oregon. Below, you will find the majority of these for State and Federal forest lands. Many of the areas do not require any permits for picking one gallon per day.

On CMS member forays we occasionally visit Deschutes or Umpqua federal forests that require a permit. Obtaining a free use permit by phone before the trip is strongly encouraged.  

Table of Contents

Parking Pass/Recreation Fees

You may also need a federal, state, or other local parking pass to park your car. You will find an overview of the various passes here. If you are a frequent visitor to public lands, we recommend having a Federal Park pass, an Oregon State Park pass, and a pass for the county you live/recreate in. When available, multiple year passes offer the best value. Recreation fees support work that helps keep water clean, restore and protect the environment, provide safety measures, make recreation opportunities available, and ensure opportunities for future generations.

Commercial Use Permits

Picking mushrooms to sell will always require a commercial permit and include more restrictive limits on the areas you may harvest. Similarly to person use permits, commercial permits are issued separately for each state or federal forest area.

Commercial mushroom picking is not permitted within Crater Lake National Park, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, wilderness areas and designated non-harvest zones (refer to mushroom maps for each forest).

Collecting for Personal Use

The regulations for person use vary somewhat and in some cases requires a permit. One commonality is that for all cases mushrooms collected for personal use are to be cut in half lengthwise at the time of harvesting.

Private Land

Never enter onto or pick mushrooms or gather truffles on private land unless you have permission from the landowner. Oregon 2013 House Bill 2615 relating to forest products requires all persons other than the land owner to obtain a permit to collect wild edible fungi, regardless of species, that have not been cultivated or propagated on private lands. Permits are to be issued by the landowner in writing and include:

(1) The date of the permit;
(b) The name, address, telephone number and signature of the person granting the permit;
(c) The name, address and telephone number of the person to whom the permit is granted;
(d) The amount and kind of mushrooms to be taken.
(e) A description of the private premises. The description may be by legal description, tax account number or other description clearly identifying the premises; and
(f) The date of expiration of the permit

You may download a suitable permit for personal use here.

Truffles

In all areas where truffle hunting is permitted, it must be done with dogs rather than rakes. Raking destroys the substrate and you will often end up with unripe truffles. Truffles are treated as mushrooms on all state lands. Some National Forests restrict the collection of truffles while the Bureau of Land Management, Salem District, is offering permits to harvest truffles on designated BLM lands in Northwest Oregon. You may only harvest with the assistance of a truffle dog.  Link to Salem BLM Truffle Permit Requirements

Matsutake

Be aware that matsutake mushrooms have different requirements than other mushrooms, requiring a commercial permit to harvest and sometimes specific dates for harvesting. If you are hunting matsutakes, even for personal use, be sure to read the regulations below carefully.

Camp Grounds

If you have been ‘shrooming for any amount of time, you have probably noticed that mushrooms love campgrounds.  Please be aware the rules for a campground may differ from the general rules for the park or forest lands in which the campground resides.  Always check to see if there are any signs about picking mushrooms and/or forest products.  If there are no signs, follow the rules for the park or forest land the campground is located within.

Fortunately, many campgrounds close down sections in the fall, or in some cases an entire campground closes.  Picking in a closed area or campground is best.  If you do go into an occupied area do not disturb the campers.  Unless they ask questions, then feel free to tell them about the joys of foraging for mushrooms.

State Lands

Details below – bottom line is one gallon or less per day of any type of mushroom, no permit required.

Oregon State Forest Lands: Oregon has six state forests. Five are administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry, while Elliot State Forest is administered by the Oregon Department of State Lands.

  • Santiam, Tillamook, and Clatsop State Forests: No permit is required for collecting for personal use. The limit for personal use is one gallon or less per vehicle of mushrooms and truffles at any one time. Reference link.
  • Gilchrist and Sun Pass State forests in the Klamath district have no online postings of allowances or restrictions. Abide by any posted signage in the area or abide by 2013 House Bill 2615 which allows for the cutting or transportation of wild edible [mushrooms] fungi occupying a volume at harvest of one gallon or less.

Elliot State Forest near Coos Bay allows collection for personal use (reference), no amount restrictions are provided. To be safe, limit your collecting to 1 gallon per day or less.

Oregon State Parks and Recreation Areas: Oregon state law 736-010-0055 states, “Unless otherwise posted a person may gather for personal consumption of berries, fruits, mushrooms, or similar edibles in quantities not to exceed one gallon per person per day.” Note: this is a relatively recent change, up until March 12, 2025, 5 gallons per day per person was allowed.

Federal Lands

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – There are no requirements for a permit to collect mushrooms for personal use on lands managed by the BLM, includes truffle and Matsutake.  Up to 1 gallon of mushrooms per person per day.

Siuslaw National Forest (Central Oregon Coast) – No permit or fee for quantities less than one gallon per person per day. Up to six matsutake mushrooms per day for incidental/non-commercial use.

Ochoco National Forest (Central Oregon, popular for Morels & Spring Boletes) – A free use permit allows you to gather up to two gallons per person per day – details here. You may obtain a personal use permit at the Ochoco Forest Headquarters.

Willamette National Forest (Central Cascade Range), Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, and Umpqua National Forest – These four forests all issue a free use permit that is valid for any of these four forests (reference). However, there are some differences between the 4 forests:

  • The Willamette National Forest and the Umpqua Forests no longer requiring a permit for collecting up to 1 gallon of mushrooms (other than Matsutake), per day, for personal use/consumption. However, these requirements apply while collecting:
  • The Willamette, Deschutes, and Fremont-Winema forests all require a commercial permit for picking Matsutake mushrooms and limit Matsutake harvesting to Sept 8, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 . Full Matsutake requirements here.
  • The Umpqua National Forest now issues free use Personal permits and free use Matsutake permits via phone or email, more information here.
  • These 3 additional rules apply to the Willamette and Umpqua National Forests
    • At least one-third of the mushroom caps on the collection area (of the same species as being collected) should be left intact to release spores (FW-337)
    • No harvest of truffles or rare mushrooms is permitted
    • The soil immediately around the fungi should not be disturbed by raking, digging or hoeing, except to uncover truffles at the soil surface (FW-337), and 4) to protect rare “survey and manage” species, no commercial collection of mushrooms or truffles will be allowed in Late Successional Reserves and no harvest within riparian areas (any stream, ponds or wet areas).

All Willamette National Forest Offices and ranger stations are still issuing personal use mushroom permits for those who wish to collect up to 2 gallons per day, and as a convenience for those visiting the forests that do require a permit. Permits expire on December 31st of each year. 

Malheur/Umatilla/Wallowa-Whitman National Forests – The US Forest Service has issued a 2025 Mushroom Guide for these forests. (added 6/27/2025)

Obtain a personal use permit by phone

You may obtain a personal use mushroom permit valid for the Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, Umpqua, and Willamette forests by calling any of the phone numbers below. The hours for answering the phones are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed on federal holidays. You will need a valid photo identification such as a drivers license.

  • 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
  • Detroit Ranger District – 44125 North Santiam Highway SE, Detroit, OR 97342, 503-854-3366
Links to Official Regulations/Permits: