We enjoy trudging through the woods and driving the back roads searching for wild mushrooms and berries to harvest. While we can pick berries without a permit and there isn't a limit, there are permits required and limits on some of the mushrooms. The quantities vary so be sure you educate yourself before you go foraging in the wild!
A number of laws and regulations govern the digging or taking of plants or plant parts in many states and provinces'. As for private land, common law considers plants to be the property of the landowner. Therefore, plants may be legally taken only with the landowner's permission. With the exception of rare or endangered species, plants may always be taken from private land with the landowner's permission.
Public lands in many states and provinces' are managed by a number of agencies, and restrictions on the digging or taking of plants vary. The regulations of several public agencies have to be considered before wild foraging. If you have questions about the legality of collecting plants from any site, you should contact the landowner or managing public agency for specific information.
U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of Natural Resources for your state or Provence
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service
Department of Highways and Transportation for your state or Provence
County Public Works Departments -Road and Bridge Divisions
