Mushroom foraging laws in Michigan
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Michigan DNR rules let you pick mushrooms for personal use on state-owned land, except in wildlife food plots. Selling is a different matter: Michigan's Food Law requires wild-picked mushrooms sold for food to be inspected by an approved identification expert. Federal land follows its own rules.
Public land
On state-owned land, DNR rules bar destroying, damaging or removing trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grass or other vegetation. The same rule says that does not apply to picking and removing mushrooms, berries, and edible fruits or nuts for personal use, except in a wildlife food plot (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.922(h)).
Permits
The rules do not mention a permit for personal-use mushroom picking. Using state land for a commercial operation needs a DNR permit unless the DNR waives it (R 299.922(dd)). The rules define commercial operations to include any buying or selling of goods or services.
Limits
The rule gives no number or weight limit for mushrooms. It only says picking must be for personal use.
Selling
Michigan's Food Law adopts the FDA Food Code. A 2016 legislative analysis says the Food Code section on wild mushrooms requires each wild-picked mushroom to be individually inspected and found safe by an approved mushroom identification expert, and that MDARD is the regulating agency. Confirm the current identification-expert program with MDARD before selling.
Morel sales
A 2016 bill (HB 5532) proposed exempting morels from the inspection requirement. There is no record here that it became law, so ask MDARD whether morels are exempt.
Sources
- Michigan DNR - State Land Use Rules (R 299.921-R 299.933)
- Michigan Legislature - House Fiscal Agency analysis of HB 5532 (2016)
Last verified: November 11, 2026