Mushroom foraging laws in Kansas
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks rules bar removing vegetation on department lands and waters but exempt the noncommercial gathering of edible wild plants, fruits, nuts or fungi for human consumption. Selling mushrooms taken from those lands is not covered by the exemption. Kansas Department of Agriculture rules on selling wild mushrooms could not be opened, so check with KDA before selling.
Public land
K.A.R. 115-8-20 prohibits destroying, defacing, degrading or removing vegetation on department lands and waters, except for the noncommercial gathering of edible wild plants, wild fruits, nuts, or fungi for human consumption, or as authorized by the department. The rule does not name mushrooms or list individual sites, so check area-specific rules.
Permits
The rule exception does not mention a permit, but it applies 'except as specified in rules and regulations or as authorized by the department'.
Limits
The rule gives no number or weight limit.
Selling
The exemption covers only 'noncommercial' gathering, so gathering fungi on department lands to sell is not covered by it. For selling to stores or restaurants, contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Lodging program; contact the program for its current wild-mushroom requirements.
Sources
Last verified: November 11, 2026