With temperatures on the rise, many Montanans have one thing on their minds: finding that perfect morel. MTPR's Clare Menahan has details about harvesting legally on area national forests.
Last year’s devastating fire season means Western Montana has become a mushroom-picking haven for thousands of local and visiting mushroom pickers.
National Forests started issuing mushroom harvesting permits as early as April 16 for Montana, Northern Idaho, and portions of North and South Dakota.
Free personal use permits are required for people picking more than 5 gallons per day of mushrooms on area National Forests, that’s about two grocery bags-worth. Personal use permits allow harvesters a maximum of 20 gallons per season.
Commercial mushroom harvest permits are not being issued by the Bitterroot National Forest this year, although several other National Forests are proposing to offer them after the end of this month, including the Lolo and Kootenai.
You can find more details on national forest mushroom harvesting from the U.S. Forest Service.