Outdoor Hobby Regulations · Verified from Official Sources
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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Quick access to the most commonly needed hobby rules and locations
Metal detecting is allowed on the public beach at Cocoa Beach without a permit. Stay below the high-tide line, off the dunes, and away from sea turtle nests.
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.
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.
Permits, land access rules, and legal site guides organized by outdoor activity
Latest location guides published in 2026
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 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 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 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.
Mount Hood National Forest allows personal-use foraging of mushrooms, berries, and greens without a permit for quantities under 1 gallon per person per day. The forest's proximity to Portland — less than an hour's drive — makes it one of the most-visited foraging destinations in Oregon. Chanterelles, huckleberries, and morels are the primary draws. Commercial harvest requires a free permit from the Hood River or Zigzag Ranger District.
Willamette National Forest is one of the most productive and legally accessible foraging destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Personal-use collection of mushrooms, berries, and greens is free for quantities under the permit threshold — currently 1 gallon per day for mushrooms and berries on Willamette. Commercial pickers require a free permit above personal-use limits. Oregon white truffles, chanterelles, morels, and huckleberries make this a marquee foraging destination.
