What's new this year

Wild ginseng

A harvester permit is required

If you plan to dig wild ginseng, the current rules call for a permit. Here is what each one costs:

• Annual Harvest Permit $20 residents / $150 nonresidents
• Dealer Permit $100 residents / $300 nonresidents
• Root certification fee $25

Landowners harvesting on their own land need no permit — but to sell, they need a no-cost Landowner Harvest Authorization Number, plus certification to sell to anyone who doesn't hold a Dealer Permit.

As of the current rules, harvest requirements apply to all ginseng, including cultivated and woods-grown.

Read the full ginseng guide

Spring mushrooms

Morels run on the weather, not the calendar

Morel season doesn't follow a fixed date. A warm, wet spring can start the run weeks early, and a cold, dry one can hold it back. Go by soil temperature and recent rain rather than the page of a calendar — and remember that finding them early doesn't change the one rule that matters most.

Never eat any wild mushroom unless you've positively identified it as a safe edible and cooked it thoroughly. This page teaches principles — it is not a substitute for a field guide and an experienced eye.

Read the mushroom safety guide