Forest Service News Release
Yreka, Calif., September 21, 2023 —Many kinds of edible mushrooms grow in Siskiyou County, including morels, chanterelles, shaggy mane, puffballs, boletes, and oyster mushrooms. The USDA Forest Service welcomes mushroom collecting on the Klamath National Forest, and offers some tips and information.
Erin Lonergan, Forest Botanist for the Klamath National Forest, emphasizes caution when foraging for mushrooms.
“Mushrooms can be difficult to correctly identify. Poisonous mushrooms do occur in our area and can be hard to distinguish from edible species. If in doubt, do not consume any wild mushrooms. Learn from experienced mushroom collectors and use a guide book to learn what is safe and what is not.”
Mushroom collecting on the Klamath National Forest requires separate permits for Spring and Fall season. Fall mushroom permits are now available at Forest Service offices in Happy Camp, Macdoel, and Fort Jones. Three different mushroom permits are available for purchase depending on quantity.
- A $20 permit allows up to eight gallons of mushrooms, collected over four consecutive days.
- A $50 permit allows up to 20 gallons, collected over 30 consecutive days.
- Additional days may be purchased for $5 a day.
- A $100 season permit allows up to 40 gallons for the season. If you reach your gallon limit you can buy another permit.
- Each permit is only valid for collecting mushrooms from National Forest land within the Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District, Goosenest Ranger District, and the Salmon/Scott Ranger District.
In order to ensure the sustainability of fall mushroom harvest, each permit has additional conditions and restrictions intended to regulate harvest. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to read and understand those conditions. Ranger districts can also provide information on mushroom harvesting, camping, or fire restrictions.
Please take safety precautions when venturing out in the woods. Consider weather and road conditions before travelling. Stop by your local Forest Service Office to inquire about current Forest closures and to obtain a free Klamath National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map so you know what roads are open to vehicles and where they are. Let someone know where you intend on picking and remember that cell phone coverage is limited in many areas of the forest.
For more information on the Klamath National Forest go to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/klamath.
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Speaking of wild edibles, is there a local book on foraging in Siskiyou County or Northern California if you’re interested in trying new things?
the best and one of my new favorites is called:
The KLAMATH MOUNTAINS
a natural history by Michael Kauffmann and Justin Garwood