Huckleberries

General discussions on hiking in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest
joerunner
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Huckleberries

Post by joerunner » July 16th, 2018, 8:57 am

Anybody seeing any berries yet?

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retired jerry
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by retired jerry » July 16th, 2018, 11:14 am

DSCF1730.JPG
Yocum Ridge a couple weeks ago

(a month before they're ripe?)

Aimless
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Location: Lake Oswego

Re: Huckleberries

Post by Aimless » July 16th, 2018, 11:52 am

Only seen green ones so far.

Webfoot
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by Webfoot » July 16th, 2018, 4:55 pm

I am embarrassed to admit that I've never gathered huckleberries before. What do I need to know to get started? Are there any look-alikes that are dangerous? How long do they keep once picked, i.e. do I need a cooler to get them home?

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retired jerry
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by retired jerry » July 16th, 2018, 4:59 pm

they're the berries that are blue, like the blueberries you see in the store

I don't think there are look-a-likes that are poisonous

I always just eat them. But you could take them home, sort of like blueberries you buy at the store. They last a lot longer than raspberries or strawberries.

Aimless
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by Aimless » July 16th, 2018, 5:07 pm

Some additional info: there are commercial huckleberry pickers and any gathering of forest products for commercial purposes requires purchasing a daily permit at a local ranger station. Picking modest amounts for personal use doesn't require any special fees or permits that I know of, but it would probably be smart to stop by a ranger station on your way and ask about the rules in their district. I know of at least one huckleberry field up near the Surprise Lakes, just east of Indian Heaven Wilderness, that is reserved by treaty for the use of (I think) the Yakima tribe. There may be others.

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K.Wagner
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by K.Wagner » July 16th, 2018, 6:30 pm

I have only seen green berries, except for a few that Don & I saw in the Dark Divide, and they were the low elevation berries, not so sweet.

I think that in the Gifford Pinchot, you are supposed to pick up a free survey / permit for taking any huckleberries. (yeah, right!).

The only other berry that is similar to a huckleberry is the service berry. Huckleberries tend to produce single berries, frequently under the leaves. Service berries tend to look more like commercial blue berries, and grow on sturdier plants. They don't have as much flavor and tend to be somewhat drier. But when you get into them, they pick a lot faster, so I don't mind mixing them some.
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walrus
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by walrus » July 16th, 2018, 7:49 pm

Ape Canyon train on MSH has ripe huckleberries.

Titogoeshiking3
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by Titogoeshiking3 » July 17th, 2018, 9:28 am

Oh man, they are waaaayyyy better than blue berries!

joerunner
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Re: Huckleberries

Post by joerunner » July 17th, 2018, 12:52 pm

Thanks you guys, looks like I'll be waiting for a few more weeks. My favorite places are up in the Oregon gorge hills but probably not accessible now.

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