Through early November, matsutake mushroom pickers in the Willamette National Forest will need a free letter of authorization instead of a paid permit to allow for collection, transport and sale of the mushrooms.
The interim change is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and an effort to maximize social distancing measures to the extent possible, the National Forest Service said last week.
Packets with the authorizing letter and the requirements for harvesting the popular mushroom will be placed in the front of the offices, including the Sweet Home Ranger District headquarters, 4431 Highway 20, in Sweet Home, or at http://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette.
The authorizing letter covers the entire matsutake mushroom season, which runs through Nov. 8.
Matsutake harvesters will be required to have: a completed and signed hard copy version of the Matsutake Collection Authorization Letter; a digital or hard-copy version of the 2020 Matsutake Collection Synopsis, included in the packet of information; and a digital or hard-copy version of the appropriate harvesting area map where the matsutakes are harvested.
Harvesters need to be aware that there are public use restrictions on all three national forests. For a list of designated campgrounds where fires are allowed, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd778815.pdf.
For more information, contact the Sweet Home Ranger District at (541) 367-5168.