The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) says it has cited two men for trespassing after illegally harvesting nearly 180 pounds of chanterelles.
WDFW says it is illegal to harvest more than five liters of wild edible mushrooms without a specialized forest products permit. Owning smaller amounts of private property requires permission from the landowner.
A WDFW sergeant came across the pair while patrolling for deer. When asked how they got onto the property, they told the sergeant that they were waiting for someone to open the gate and drive in behind them.
The sergeant says the men initially denied harvesting mushrooms and then stated they had “some” but did not indicate how many.
The sergeant inspected their truck and found 179 pounds of chanterelles.
“The mushrooms were taken to a buyer and sold with the proceeds in the hands of the court,” WDFW said in a Facebook post.
According to WDFW, each public land agency in Washington State has its own rules regarding mushroom harvesting and personal use restrictions. Some require permits and different regions within a jurisdiction may have different rules. You can read more about these regulations here.
Be careful who you let in…. While on patrol, WDFW Sergeant Alexander encountered a vehicle occupied by two men…
Posted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police on Monday, November 18, 2024
