Foraging for Stinging Nettles: A Highly Nutritious Plant

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Ethan Smith
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Foraging for stinging nettles isn’t as hard (or scary!) as it sounds. With just a few tips and precautions, you’ll be able to forage for and use stinging nettles. Learn everything you need to know about how to identify, forage for, safely harvest, and properly prepare stinging nettles for use in edible recipes and herbal remedies.

A gloved hand cutting wild stinging nettles.

Wildcrafting Weeds

If you want to learn more about the edible and medicinal weeds that surround us and how to use them, check out my eBook: Wildcrafting Weeds: 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants (that might be growing in your backyard)!

Gather & Root Online Foraging Course

My online foraging course is a great way to learn about wild edible and medicinal plants! Sign up to learn more about the gather + root online foraging course here.

stinging nettle plant

Yes, you can forage stinging nettle!

I’ve been interested in foraging for stinging nettles for quite a while now, but I have to admit that I was a bit scared because of the “stinging” part.

I mean, I know that you can (and should) wear gloves while collecting nettles, but then what? How can this plant that literally stings you be beneficial?

Well, clearly I had a lot to learn, because after some research I’ve found that stinging nettles are one of the most nutritious edible and medicinal wild plants out there.

You just have to be a little careful while collecting and preparing, but after that it’s all good – and good for you!

Related: What to Forage in Spring: 20 Edible and Medicinal Plants and Fungi

nettles top view

Identifying Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a tall perennial plant with opposite serrated leaves that are triangular or heart shaped and a square stem. Tiny green flowers grow in long clusters.

See also  .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire for Squirrel Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Squirrel Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for squirrel hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest squirrel. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the squirrel, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the squirrel in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a squirrel in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire within the ideal range of suitable calibers for squirrel hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire is A GOOD CHOICE for squirrel hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire Animal Species Squirrel Muzzle Energy 250 foot-pounds Animal Weight 1 lb Shot Distance 25 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire round is approximately 250 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male squirrel? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male squirrel is approximately 1 lb. [Click Here to Shop .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in squirrel hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for squirrel to be approximately 25 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the squirrel being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest squirrel - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire is A GOOD CHOICE for squirrel hunting. [Click Here to Shop .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting squirrel to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 2 Comments Carl - Jul 04, 2024I am going to try 20 gr fmj ’s to minimize meat damage on squirrel , with the 17 hmr. Ricochet should not be greater than a .22 lr . Carl - Jul 04, 2024I am going to try 20 gr fmj ’s to minimize meat damage on squirrel , with the 17 hmr. Ricochet should not be greater than a .22 lr . Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Stinging nettles are fairly easy to identify, but if you’re unsure you can always give them a little touch to find out for sure.

The funny thing is that they won’t always sting you right away, especially if you grab them hard, or with rough and calloused fingertips.

A light brush with the back of your hand, though, and you’re likely to feel it for sure. It took me a couple of tries to get the sting, but when it happened I knew it!

Turns out it wasn’t that bad, but I can see that if you were walking through a field of nettles in flip flops it wouldn’t be pleasant!

The sting did persist for several hours, although it was more annoying than painful. Be aware that some people have a much stronger reaction to the sting.

Keep in mind that the stinging hairs cover the plant, but are the most dense on the stem.

Stinging nettle has no toxic look-alikes. Wood nettles are closely related and are also edible.

Note that purple dead nettle is a totally different plant than stinging nettle. It is also edible and medicinal and doesn’t have a sting at all!

close up of stinging nettle hairs on the stem

Where to Find Stinging Nettle

Finding stinging nettle is usually quite easy, and they grow in every Canadian Provence and US state, with the exception of Hawaii.

Stinging nettle grows particularly well in the Pacific Northwest because of all the rain we get here, and March through May are the best time to go looking.

Nettles tend to like stream banks, waterways, and disturbed areas. They are common in damp and fertile soil.

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I even found a few among some thick blackberry brambles.

nettles growing with blackberry

Harvesting Stinging Nettle

First, be sure that you are harvesting nettles in a clean location that is free from toxins, pesticides, or road runoff.

It’s best to harvest nettles when they are young, before they flower and set seed.

Definitely wear gloves while collecting to avoid the stinging hairs as much as possible!

gloved hands harvesing stinging nettles with pruners

Edible Uses of Stinging Nettle

The real question is, why would you even want to collect stinging nettles?

Firstly, they are a very nutritious food. Stinging nettles must be steamed or blanched in boiling water first to dispel the sting, but after that you can eat them like any green.

It’s best to use the most tender tips of the plant for cooking. The older leaves and stems can be tough and stringy.

They are wonderful sauteed in butter, or you can even turn them into nettle pesto! (If foraged pesto is your thing you can also try chickweed pesto or dandelion pesto!)

Nettles are an awesome superfood, and they have a large amount of many vitamins and minerals. They are particularly high in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium.

Try this refreshing stinging nettle-ade for a tasty and nutritious foraged drink!

See my post with 40+ Stinging Nettle Recipes to get more ideas!

stinging nettle close up

Medicinal Uses of Stinging Nettle

Nettles are also a potent medicinal plant. They are commonly used for kidney and bladder problems, including urinary tract infections.

Stinging nettles are also known as an all around tonic for women’s reproductive system, and are often used when trying to conceive, as well as throughout pregnancy (check with your doctor or midwife before using it during pregnancy).

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Because of their high concentration of minerals, nettles are commonly used for bone ailments such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

Stinging nettles are commonly used to help seasonal allergies.

Nettles are also excellent for the hair and scalp! It is a common ingredient in herbal hair care products. Try this nettle vinegar hair rinse.

nettle leaves on a wooden board

When used medicinally, nettles are often dried and made into a tea, or even better, as a mineral rich nettle infusion.

Foraged nettle leaves can be easily dried on a drying screen or in a dehydrator.

nettles on drying screen

If you can’t find any nettles, or it’s the wrong time of year for collecting, you can purchase dried nettles from Mountain Rose Herbs.

I’ve also recently found out that nettles can also be used as fiber for spinning, animal feed, and as a type of rennet for cheese making. The possibilities seem endless!

I think some nettle pesto and nettle chips are in my near future.

I’m also very interested in the medicinal qualities of nettles and love drinking it as an infusion with other herbs. I have a recipe for oatstraw and nettle infusion in my book Healing Herbal Infusions.

Have you ever gone foraging for stinging nettles? If so, how have you prepared them?

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Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>

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