Mushroom foraging laws in Indiana
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Indiana DNR allows mushroom hunting for individual use on state park properties with no license, but not for sale. Rules may differ at state forests and fish and wildlife areas, so call the property office. Selling wild mushrooms to stores, restaurants or farmers markets requires inspection by a state-registered identifier.
Public land
Indiana DNR says mushroom hunting for individual use is permitted on state park properties, and you may leave marked trails to look for mushrooms. Restrictions may vary at state forests and state fish and wildlife areas, and some seasonal restrictions may apply at reservoirs, so check with the property office.
Permits
No license is required for mushroom hunting at state park properties. On DNR fish and wildlife properties, collecting permits are required for anything except nuts, berries and mushrooms.
Limits
The sources give no number or weight limit for personal-use mushroom hunting.
Selling
Picking mushrooms for sale or commercial use at a state park property is not permitted. For sales, Indiana's retail food rule (410 IAC 7-24-164) requires wild-picked mushrooms to come from sources where each mushroom is individually inspected and found safe by a mushroom identification expert. Wild mushrooms may not be offered, sold or served at a retail food establishment or farmers market without that inspection. Sales need a label or paperwork, and records are kept at least one year.
Morel sales
The Department of Health recognizes two kinds of identifiers: people qualified to identify morels only, and people qualified for other listed mushrooms. Identifiers must be pre-approved and registered with the state. Taking a course does not automatically qualify you.
Sources
- Indiana DNR - Common Mushrooms of Indiana State Parks
- Indiana DNR - Fish and Wildlife property rules
- Indiana State Department of Health - Wild mushrooms (retail)
- Indiana State Department of Health - Instructions for Wild Mushroom Sales (Mar. 2018)
Last verified: November 11, 2026