Mushroom foraging laws in Minnesota
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Minnesota allows picking mushrooms for personal consumption in state parks, recreation areas, waysides and state forest recreation areas, but not along state trails. On state forests and wildlife management areas, small personal amounts need no permit while large amounts do. Selling to restaurants or stores requires being a certified mushroom harvester.
Public land
State parks, state recreation areas, state waysides and state forest recreation areas allow harvesting mushrooms for personal consumption. Harvesting mushrooms and most plants is not allowed along state trails. Small amounts of mushrooms from a state forest, Wildlife Management Area or Aquatic Management Area are allowed for personal use.
Permits
No permit is mentioned for personal mushroom picking in state parks. On state forest lands, a permit is required to collect a large amount of mushrooms for personal use or sale; apply through the DNR Forestry office nearest the forest. The minimum permit fee is $25.
Limits
No exact number is given. Small personal-use amounts need no permit on state forests and wildlife management areas; large amounts need a permit. Large-scale or commercial harvesting is not allowed in state parks.
Selling
Minnesota's Food Code requires wild mushrooms served in a retail food establishment to be individually inspected and found safe by a certified mushroom harvester. A certified harvester has completed an identification course covering the species they sell, with documentation filed with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Ask MDA's licensing liaison whether you need a license.
Morel sales
MDA does not name morels. It says the course must cover the species you plan to forage and sell, so confirm morels are covered by your course.
Sources
- Minnesota DNR - Harvesting in state parks
- Minnesota DNR - Harvesting on state forest lands (permits)
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Wild mushroom foraging
- Minnesota Rules 4626.0155 - Wild mushrooms (Cornell LII)
Last verified: November 11, 2026