Umpqua National Forest

MATSUTAKE MUSHROOM SEASON OPENED ON NATIONAL FOREST LANDS

Contacts:

• Erica Hupp, (541) 883-6715
• Lisa Swinney, (541) 947-6261

KLAMATH FALLS, OR – September 3, 2008 – The 2008 picking season for Matsutake mushrooms opened on the Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, Umpqua and Willamette national forests in Oregon. The season runs from Sept. 2 thru Nov. 2.

Anyone picking Matsutake mushrooms on national forest lands must first purchase a commercial harvesting permit. Permits cost $200 for the season, or $8 per day with a five-day minimum (picking days need not be consecutive). Also available is a $100 permit for half season (31 consecutive days).

An informational sheet and map are included with each permit to show areas open to picking. Currently, areas closed to picking include Crater Lake National Park, Panhandle Late-Successional Reserve (LSR), Newberry National Volcanic Monument, HJ Andrews Experimental Forest, Research Natural areas, wildernesses, campgrounds and other posted closed areas.

Permits are available Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Chemult Ranger District on the Fremont-Winema National Forests, 110500 Hwy 97 North, Chemult, Ore., and 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Crescent Ranger District on the Deschutes National Forest, 136471 Hwy 97 North, Crescent, Ore. Permits are also available at other ranger district offices of the Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, Umpqua and Willamette national forests. Permits purchased on any of these forests are valid interchangeably.

The U.S. Forest Service requires commercial pickers to have written permission from the agency to camp on any national forests, except in camping areas already designated for this purpose. A campground for pickers has been established at Little Odell Camp near Crescent Lake Junction, Ore. The cost of camping is $7 per person per day, $30 per week, $80 for half season (31 days) or $100 for the season (62 days). In addition there is a refundable $25 per camp cleaning deposit.

For more information about the Matsutake mushroom program contact the Chemult Ranger District at 541-365-7001, Crescent Ranger District at 541-433-3200, Cottage Grove Ranger District on the Umpqua National Forest at 541-767-5061 or the Middle Fork Ranger District on the Willamette National Forest at 541-782-2283.

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USDA Forest Service - Umpqua National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03 September 2008 at 16:38:05 EDT