Permits for collecting mushrooms on North Coast public lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be available in limited numbers through the fall and winter.

The permits are valid on lands managed by the agency’s Arcata Field Office in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, including the King Range National Conservation Area.

Permits, required for all mushroom collecting on BLM-managed lands, are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the BLM Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Rd. in Arcata, and the King Range Project Office, 768 Shelter Cove Rd., Whitethorn.

Personal use permits are free and good for 30 days. Permit holders are limited to collecting five pounds per day, per person. Permits will be issued until June 30, 2010.

Commercial permit fees vary according to the number of days for the permit. Each person collecting under a commercial permit must be 21 years old. The commercial picking season ends Dec. 31.

Mushroom collectors may not use rakes, power blowers or other tools that disturb the duff, soils or vegetation.

Mushroom collecting is not allowed in the Headwaters Forest Reserve, Samoa Dunes, Ma-le’l Dunes or the South Spit Cooperative Management Area. In addition, commercial collecting is prohibited in all wilderness areas, proposed wilderness, and within the Mill Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

For more information, contact the BLM Arcata Field Office, 707-825-2300.