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Huckleberry picking reminders from your
Idaho Panhandle National Forest |
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July 27, 2015 |
The huckleberry picking season is already upon
us in north Idaho, and due to the dry season
recreational pickers are finding fewer berries
than in recent years. This shortage has resulted
in many questions about huckleberry picking, and
concerns for some of the rough methods and
illegal picking operations recently observed on
the national forest. The Idaho Panhandle
National Forest (IPNF) is reminding huckleberry
pickers that commercial picking of huckleberries
is not permitted. Additionally, huckleberry
pickers are encouraged to pick only what they
can consume so that others may enjoy the fun of
picking and the delicious taste of our state
fruit.
 At this time of year, it is not too surprising
just about everybody in northern Idaho looks
forward to huckleberry picking, but the IPNF
wishes to remind forest visitors about
responsible picking methods. Commercial
gathering of huckleberries involves gathering
the berries for the purpose of selling them, and
is not permitted on the IPNF. In order to
provide ample opportunities for recreational
pickers, commercial permits are not available
for huckleberry gathering. Minimum fines for
commercial picking start at $250, and can
increase based on the severity of the offense.
For recreational huckleberry gathering there are
no permits required, nor are there volume or
weight limits, but pickers are limited to
gathering only reasonable amounts for personal
consumption.
Methods for huckleberry gathering vary widely,
but pickers are strongly encouraged to hand pick
their berries. This ensures that only ripe
berries are harvested and the bushes will remain
healthy and productive for many years to come.
Although rakes and other mechanical devices may
be used they are strongly discouraged. The use
of rakes and other devices result in harvesting
ripe and unripe berries indiscriminately,
robbing others of the opportunity to pick
berries later in the season. Similarly, any
methods that damage or destroy the bushes are
illegal and may result in a fine for damaging
natural resources.
Huckleberries are delicious favorites of both
people and bears. Because bears love
huckleberries and make them a major source of
summer and fall nourishment, humans who pick
huckleberries should always carry bear spray. It
is not uncommon to have a chance encounter with
a bear that is out to eat the same berries you
came for.
The huckleberry was designated by the Idaho
Legislature in 2000 as the official state fruit.
Huckleberries freeze well and can provide a very
healthy addition to your diet all year long. It
is estimated that huckleberries grow at
elevations between 2,000 feet and 11,000 feet.
For more information about huckleberry picking
on the IPNF, please visit our website or contact
your local Forest Service office.
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