By Sheriff David Kramer
To help clarify some of the issues with huckleberry pickers that appear to be picking commercially in Boundary County, I share the following information.
The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office does not have the authority to enforce the commercial huckleberry picking restriction, that is a federal charge that needs to be investigated by the Forest Service as we do not have an Idaho law pertaining to commercial picking and selling of huckleberries. It is also prohibited in the Idaho Panhandle Forest to camp or leave camping equipment in any one area or campsite for more than 14 days during any 30-day period. Camping is prohibited for the remaining 16 days in the Idaho Panhandle National forests.
What we can enforce are any violations of the Idaho code, which may include littering, threats etc.
We encourage the public to notify the Forest Service of any suspected commercial huckleberry picking camps and to also notify our office of any camps where there may be violations of Idaho law. We will have an increased presence in the forest and popular huckleberry picking locations this season to help keep potential problems down. The Sheriff’s Office has a back-country patrol program with the use of dual-sport motorbikes and ATV’s to more easily check some of these areas in addition to normal patrols.
We have included below a press release from the Forest Service pertaining to commercial huckleberry picking.
It is huckleberry season! The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is reminding huckleberry pickers that commercial picking of huckleberries is not permitted. Picking huckleberries with the intent to sell them is considered commercial gathering.
In order to provide plentiful opportunities for recreational huckleberry, the forest does not issue commercial permits. Minimum fines for commercial picking start at $250, and can increase based on the severity of the offense. Recreational 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.
Methods for huckleberry gathering vary widely, but pickers are strongly encouraged to hand pick their berries. This ensures that the bushes are not damaged and only ripe berries are harvested. We want our huckleberry bushes to remain healthy and productive for many years to come! 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 nourishment, huckleberry pickers should always carry bear spray and be bear aware when picking. It’s also advisable to inform a friend or family member of where you plan to pick berries and when you plan to return – don’t count on cell service.
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. For more information about huckleberry picking on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, please contact your local Forest Service office.
This is very helpful because many of us who work hard to find and pick a gallon or so each year for jam and sauce have been concerned. We see groups of out-of-state license plates and obvious signs of commercial picking like huge bags and rakes, especially on the mountain below Roman Nose.
Lots of local folks also have made money picking berries and selling them to buyers for local enterprises like restaurants. It’s good money, I understand.
It’s reassuring to know what the Sheriff’s office legally can enforce and what the Forest Service is responsible to enforce. Especially good to know that the Sheriff is prepared to monitor the major picking areas.
For anyone who is interested, there is an article in this season’s “Smithsonian Magazine” about Maine’s Native Americans’ longtime picking experience of their wild blueberries. Dr. Barney, a former University of Idaho specialist in huckleberries, once told me they are the same as our huckleberries.
My love of huckleberries started with Maine’s wild blueberries in early childhood in Brunswick, Maine. Then, a classmate at Eastern Washington University in 1973 reintroduced me to the berries at her condo on the road to Schweitzer.
Thank you for the information. I pray for everyone in our county to be safe, have fun picking and eating their hand-picked harvests.
In all due respect to the publisher, a story about huckleberries should include a photo of the fruit. You have featured a photograph of serviceberries, a totally different but important native fruit on bushes in North Idaho, and the first berry of the year that Indigenous peoples of our region picked for food. It is also referred to as saskatoon berries in Canada. But they are not huckleberries!
My apologies, Jane!