National Forests aren't usually quite as tightly wound as a National Park. The Forests are run by the Dept. of Agriculture -- one of their functions is to be productive and as such are generally open for mining, logging, etc, although it varies some Forest to Forest.

I'm pretty sure you can gather "personal quantities." I know the Koreans around here in S. Calif. gather a certain fern in season. I've never seen the rangers hassling them. You might just call the USDA Forest Service and ask.

I'm really surprised that on BLM land you can't gather plants. You might want to dig a little further on that one. You may just have to get a permit. Of course if it's a designated National Monument* or Federal Wilderness area, the restrictions would be much tighter.


*some National Monuments are run by the BLM not the Park Service, for example: Carrizo Plain National Monument - BLM