Mushroom foraging laws in Mississippi

Summary

Mississippi state park rules bar taking or gathering any tree, shrub or plant on park property unless the Executive Director of the wildlife agency or a designee authorizes it, and they do not name mushrooms. Wildlife management area rules bar removing live plants without Commission approval. Ask the land manager before picking. No Mississippi rule on selling wild mushrooms was found.

Public land

State parks: the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks rule bars destroying, cutting, removing, taking or gathering any tree, shrub, plant, rock, mineral or historical artifact on park property unless authorized by the Executive Director or a designee. Wildlife management areas: rule 40 Miss. Code R. 2-1.1 (section X) bars capturing and removing any live animal or plant without Commission approval. Neither rule names mushrooms or defines 'plant', so it is unclear whether picking is covered; ask the park or area manager. Federal land follows its own rules.

Permits

State parks: authorization from the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks or a designee is needed to remove plants. Wildlife management areas: Commission approval is needed to remove live plants.

Selling

State park rules say no person shall sell or offer for sale anything in a park without written consent of the Executive Director. No state rule on selling wild mushrooms was found.

Sources

• Mississippi Admin. Code 40-6-1.2 General Rules and Regulations for State Parks (MDWFP)
• Mississippi Admin. Code 40-2-1.1 Basic Regulations for All Wildlife Management Areas (MDWFP)

Last verified: November 11, 2026