As you know, we sell huckleberry picking rakes. Rakes can increase your yield 4 to 10 times in the same amount of time as picking by hand. Our rakes, in particular, are light weight and easy to use.
(If you want more info on our huckleberry rakes, check out our website, Huckleberry Rake. where you will find videos, pictures and written instructions.)
But too much mis-information floats around the web and elsewhere about huckleberry picking rakes. Rather than list all the reasons why huckleberry rakes are safe, I have prepared a mini-website that addresses those issues here: Huckleberry Picking Tool Myths.
Over the years, we have worked with Dr. Dan Barney — affectionately known as Dr. Huckleberry — who was the leading expert on huckleberries at the University of Idaho. He not only tested our rakes, he also endorsed them (info on the site noted above). Unfortunately, the UI closed his huckleberry project in Sandpoint a few years ago and he is else doing other plant related research.
Then only location we are aware of that bans the use of huckleberry picking rakes is the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington. (There has been a report that they are also banned in some places in Oregon, but we have been unable to confirm the report at this time.)
The Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest site is filled with interesting information on huckleberries such as:
- Changes in Washington law regarding the sale of Wild Huckleberries
- History of huckleberries
- Development of berry fields
- Safety while picking
- Questions and Answers about huckleberries
Should you decide to pick huckleberries (or any other berry or forest grown items) on forest service lands or national forests, I suggest you check with the local forest service office for details and regulations.
In the meantime, enjoy your berries!!
