Mushroom foraging laws in Wisconsin

Summary

Wisconsin lets you hand-pick wild mushrooms for your own consumption on DNR lands, including state parks, forests and State Natural Areas, with no permit. Selling is regulated: retailers must see proof that the forager completed an approved identification course. Federal land follows its own rules.

Public land

Wisconsin DNR rules bar removing natural growth from DNR lands, but NR 45.04(1s) says wild mushrooms may be collected by hand for personal consumption by the collector. The DNR's state parks and forests page says the same. State Natural Areas also allow hand-picking mushrooms for your own use, but collecting seeds, roots or other plant parts is prohibited there.

Permits

No permit is needed to hand-pick wild mushrooms for personal use on DNR lands. Written authorization from the DNR is required to collect seeds of grasses or wildflowers.

Limits

The rule sets no number or weight limit. It limits collecting to hand-picking for the collector's own consumption.

Selling

Wisconsin's retail food rule (ATCP 75 Appendix, 3-201.16) regulates wild mushrooms at retail. A retailer receiving wild mushrooms must be shown the forager's current credentials from an identification course given by an accredited college, university or mycological society. No license is required to wholesale unprocessed wild mushrooms, but one is required if they are cut, sliced or dried.

Morel sales

DATCP lists morels (all Wisconsin species, genus Morchella) among native species considered safe to consume. A retailer must keep a purchase record for 90 days with the seller's details, scientific and common name, harvest date, sale date, weight and county of harvest.

Sources

• Wisconsin DNR - Gathering in state parks and forests
• Wisconsin DNR - Wild edibles (State Natural Areas)
• Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 45.04
• Wisconsin DATCP - Requirements for Wild Harvested Mushrooms at Retail (rev. 02/2026)

Last verified: November 11, 2026