Permitted Pursuits

Outdoor Hobby Regulations · Verified from Official Sources

Know Where Your Hobby Is Legal

Site-specific rules and permits for metal detecting, foraging, rockhounding, fossil hunting, and more. Verified from official sources. Updated for 2026.

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Allowed

Huntington State Beach

California, Orange·Metal detecting

Metal detecting is allowed on Huntington State Beach's sandy shore under CDPR rules. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve immediately north of the state beach is a CDFW preserve where detecting is prohibited. California's pre-contact antiquities law (PRC § 5097.5) applies to all archaeological finds.

  • No permit required on the sandy state beach under CDPR rules
  • Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (immediately north of the state beach boundary) prohibits all metal detecting — it is a CDFW preserve, not public beach
Allowed

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Florida, Brevard·Metal detecting

Metal detecting is allowed on the ocean beach at Sebastian Inlet State Park without a permit. The park sits at the heart of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet corridor, but the offshore shipwreck sites are protected archaeological preserves — unlicensed recovery from them is a felony.

  • Recreational detecting is permitted on the ocean beach; standard park entrance fee applies ($8/vehicle)
  • Items over 50 years old are state property under Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — must be reported to FL Division of Historical Resources before removal
Allowed

Glass Buttes (BLM)

Oregon, Lake·Rockhounding

Glass Buttes is open BLM land in the Oregon high desert where four varieties of obsidian — including rare fire obsidian — lie on the surface for personal-use collecting. The 25 lb/day limit applies. The catch most visitors don't expect: the site was a major Native American quarry for 10,000 years, and worked obsidian pieces are protected under ARPA regardless of how natural they look.

  • Surface collection of raw obsidian is allowed under BLM personal-use rules — 25 lbs per person per day, 250 lbs per year (43 CFR § 3622.2)
  • ARPA (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) prohibits collecting any worked obsidian — projectile points, scrapers, or any piece showing human modification. Glass Buttes was quarried for ~10,000 years and worked material is mixed into the surface scatter
Allowed

Topaz Mountain (BLM)

Utah, Millard·Rockhounding

Topaz crystals are free to collect at Topaz Mountain in the Thomas Range, Utah, under a 7.5-pound-per-day topaz-specific limit — lower than the standard BLM 25-pound rule. Crystals irreversibly fade from sherry-orange to colorless within minutes of UV exposure; wrap them immediately on recovery.

  • 7.5-pound-per-day limit for topaz specifically — this is a site-specific BLM designation lower than the standard 25-pound casual-use limit
  • 25-pound-per-day limit for all other minerals combined

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Metal Detecting

Metal Detecting

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Foraging

Foraging

Wild edibles & legal harvest rules

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Rockhounding

Rockhounding

Legal sites for rocks, gems & minerals

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Fossil Hunting

Fossil Hunting

Where fossil collection is allowed

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Recently Added Sites

Latest location guides published in 2026

Allowed

Apalachicola National Forest

Florida, Liberty·Foraging

Personal-use foraging of common edible plants, berries, and mushrooms is allowed in Apalachicola National Forest for incidental quantities under 36 CFR § 261.10. Targeting huckleberries or berries above casual amounts requires a free USFS Special Forest Products permit. Critical exception: saw palmetto berries require a state FDACS permit regardless of quantity — harvesting without one is a Florida felony. The forest contains the highest concentration of carnivorous plant species in North America; none may be collected under any circumstances.

  • Personal-use foraging of common edibles (berries, mushrooms, nuts, greens) is allowed without a permit for incidental quantities — not for commercial sale (36 CFR § 261.10(a))
  • Targeting huckleberries or edible berries above casual amounts: free USFS Special Forest Products permit required; limit is 1 gallon per day, maximum 3 gallons per year; apply at gp.fs2c.usda.gov
Allowed

Big Cypress National Preserve

Florida, Collier·Foraging

Personal-use foraging of berries, fruits, and mushrooms is allowed in Big Cypress National Preserve under NPS general authority. The same Florida saw palmetto felony that applies elsewhere in the state applies here — do not collect saw palmetto berries without an FDACS commercial license. Cypress dome interiors and wet prairies hold strong chanterelle, persimmon, and muscadine opportunities for those equipped to access them.

  • Personal-use foraging of berries, fruits, nuts, and mushrooms is allowed without a permit for incidental quantities under NPS Management Policies 2006 § 4.4.3
  • CRITICAL: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berries require a Florida FDACS commercial dealer license under Fla. Stat. § 581.189 — harvesting without one is a third-degree felony statewide including NPS land
Prohibited

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

Florida, Collier·Foraging

Foraging is prohibited at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. FL DEP Rule 62D-2.014 prohibits removing any plant from the preserve; all 44 native orchid species carry additional criminal protection under Florida Statutes § 581.185.

  • FL DEP Rule 62D-2.014(1)(k) prohibits removing any plant, fungus, or natural object from a Florida state preserve — no permit waives this prohibition
  • All 44 native orchid species are additionally protected under Fla. Stat. § 581.185; even touching or displacing a wild orchid is a criminal violation
Allowed

Ocala National Forest

Florida, Marion·Foraging

Personal-use foraging of common edible plants and berries is allowed in Ocala National Forest for incidental quantities. No permit required for casual gathering. Critical exception: saw palmetto berries require a state FDACS permit even for personal use beyond two plants — collecting without one is a Florida felony.

  • Personal-use foraging of common edible plants, berries, mushrooms, and nuts is allowed without a permit for incidental quantities — not for commercial sale (36 CFR § 261.10(a))
  • CRITICAL: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berries require a Florida FDACS permit even for personal use beyond 2 plants — harvesting without a permit is a third-degree felony under Fla. Stat. § 581.189
Allowed

Osceola National Forest

Florida, Columbia·Foraging

Personal-use foraging is allowed in Osceola National Forest under USFS rules (36 CFR § 261.10), up to 1 gallon per day per species without a permit. Critical exception: saw palmetto berry harvesting requires a state FDACS permit — harvesting without one is a Florida felony. All carnivorous plants and state-listed threatened species are strictly prohibited.

  • Personal-use foraging allowed without a permit — up to 1 gallon per day per species for personal, non-commercial use under 36 CFR § 261.10
  • Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berries require a Florida FDACS permit; harvesting without one is a felony under Florida Statutes § 812.014 regardless of quantity
Allowed

Deschutes National Forest

Oregon, Deschutes·Foraging

Personal-use mushroom and plant foraging is allowed in Deschutes National Forest under USFS rules — 1 gallon per day free; commercial quantities require a free ranger-district permit. The forest is one of the most significant matsutake zones in North America. Six designated wilderness areas within the forest boundary are excluded from all commercial collection.

  • Personal-use foraging of mushrooms, berries, and common edible plants is allowed without a permit for quantities up to 1 gallon per day (36 CFR § 261.10(a))
  • Commercial mushroom or berry picking requires a free Special Forest Products permit from the Bend-Fort Rock or Sisters Ranger District — apply before collecting for sale