Mushroom hunting on Panhandle National Forests
Courtesy photo Mushroom-picking enthusiasts need to know the rules and prepare for conditions before heading into the woods for their favorite fungus.
COEUR d'ALENE — Mushroom collection will soon be in high swing in North Idaho, and Idaho Panhandle National Forests officials offered some safety reminders and best practices for people gathering mushrooms while in national forests.
Permits
Anyone planning to collect more than one gallon of mushrooms per day should stop into a Forest Service office to get a free, personal-use mushroom permit. Anything less than that needs no permit.
A personal use permit allows the collection of up to 5 gallons per day and up to 20 gallons per season. The free permits are simply a way to appropriately manage mushroom harvesting activities, monitor use, and protect resources. Customer service staff can also answer questions about travel and harvest locations. More info: tinyurl.com/ye24msds
Roads and trails
Use caution when driving and hiking in muddy conditions. As the snow continues to melt and spring rains create soft trails and road surfaces, it is important to be on the lookout for flood and landslide damage. Driving on soft roadbeds also can cause significant rutting and resource damage, which results in costly repairs. Please report any road or trail damage to the local ranger station.
Burned areas
Mushrooms often grow well in recently burned forests, but burned areas can have safety hazards. When hiking in burned areas, always be aware of your surroundings. Wildfires can kill or weaken trees, and burned areas can have higher rates of erosion and flooding during spring runoff. Hazard trees can fall or drop limbs at any time, especially during strong winds.
Avoid camping or parking in areas where trees could fall.
Find a map of recent fire activity and other useful tips here: tinyurl.com/5xch4uya
Closures
Parts of the Kootenai River Complex on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District remain closed to the public due to post-fire hazards and remediation work: tinyurl.com/664tuz22
Also, be mindful of private property adjacent to the closure area to avoid trespassing.
Find free, online Motor Vehicle Use Maps that you can download to your smart device. They track your location even when you’re not connected to WiFi: tinyurl.com/34fxtcv9