Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I heard there was a problem with people picking mushrooms on the forest this year. Do you know what that is all about?" Answer: Joe Griffin, a local U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer told me he is encountering several unlawful commercial mushroom-collecting operations within Sawtooth and Boise National Forests within the perimeter of the South Barker fire in the South Fork Boise River drainage. Mushroom hunters looking for morels frequently select recent burn areas where spring rains and recent fires cause morel mushrooms to flourish and be easily observed. The Sawtooth National Forest does not allow commercial mushroom collecting but does allow collecting for personal use within the burn perimeter by permit. Officer Griffin told me personal use permits are free at U.S Forest Service offices and must be obtained prior to picking mushrooms. He also said a maximum of 10 gallons of mushrooms may be collected per household annually on a personal use collection permit. If you have questions about what activities on public lands require permits contact a U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office near you. If you observe unlawful activity on National Forest or Bureau of Land Management lands please contact your nearest U.S. Forest Service or BLM office. If you have any further questions you may call the Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208)324-4350 or e-mail us at the Fish and Game web site at http://fishandgame.Idaho.gov.