Hunting Guide
Here you learn how to forage wild mushrooms. See where they grow & fresh up your identification skills. Check out the books, for more detailed informations about the steps.
How hunting works
“Not all wild mushroom species are edible, but they are precious and widely uncategorized.” – said Dave, who foud an Inocybe* & got hurt foraging morels on private ground.
In the woods are ticks & thorns. Nature will not give away its bounty withouth fighting.
*Inocybe are not recommended for hunting, the species are hard to seperate and you need to know the microscopic features
Some of them are common and some are endangered or its variety is only local. Be careful out there and respect the nature. We do not recommend eating the mushrooms unless you spoke to someone who knows things. Cutting the mushrooms fruitboydies prevent damaging the underneath structure called mycelium, but what matter most is that you only take the fungi with you, which already spored out.
-For polypore species after one year. Make sure they are not on the red list & observe. They done a winter when the cap is brownish /you want the underside bright white
-For mushroom like Amanita muscaria who posses a veil, take open ones & leave enough to not endanger their natural cycle.
ⓘAmazon affiliate
Shrooms Overview
ⓘAmazon affiliate
How do i find a species?
There are some questions you should ask yourself:
Is the species common year arround?
-You find the seasons in species descriptions
-Go west and north & the seasons extend later, means more time for searching there
Am i in the right country/region?
-Use Shrooms Overview to learn more about your climate & habitat
Which landscape do they like?
Grassland – Grass covers dominate the landscape here, due to the climatic conditions mainly grass and herbaceous plants grow here.
Garden – They play a central role in human development. Special plants, mushrooms and animals are bred or cared for here.
Ripparian zones – These are the transitions between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The hydrology, soil and biological conditions are very pronounced and are influenced by stream water. They serve the ecosystem in a variety of ways, e.g. flood protection, chemical filtering, bank stabilization and the support of wild animals and aquatic life.
Dunglover – Saprotrophs live mainly on dung, especially coprophilic fungi. The organic material from herbivores is particularly interesting for fungi.
Burned lands – A “modern” growing method is slash and burn. Here the land is cleansed by destroying all plants and trees by burning them.
Woodland – out in the woods
Mosslands – Here the area is covered with peat. The humid, acidic and nutrient-poor conditions make wetlands one of our most valuable areas. They are home to rare, endangered and highly specialized plants and animals.
What excaclty they like there?
-Symbiontic Mushrooms: watch out for trees or even insects they like
-Decomposers: Watch out for rotting material like treestumps & manure. Its helpful to look for trees & animals
Now look up your region by satelite
@DuckDuckGo
-Try to find a region with a huge landscape you found out about and start your journey
ⓘAmazon affiliate
Identification
Lay one or two mushrooms with gills and complete stem visible on the ground. Aswell one or two with their caps. Make some clear pictures of them in their natural environment & take them home with you. Phone apps help you find lookalikes, so you get a hint for the identification. 100% useful, but do not depent on apps to be accurate. Ask experts online, in group forums and always be on the side of caution.
Spore Prints:
Certain species of mushrooms will have the same color of prints, you will need:
-A white sheet of paper (use also a black one to make 100% sure)
-An empty glas & a glass of water
-Aluminum foil
1. You just want the cap, remove the stim the best you can.
2. Lay them gills or poreside down on the papersheets.
2.1 Clean prints are done in a SAB on wiped down aluminum foil
3. Place a drop of water on the cap, cover anything with the empty glas & wait 12-24 hours
When you uncover your mushroom, you’ll have a perfect impression of the spores and their color on the paper.
ⓘAmazon affiliate
Helpful tips
Go foraging some days after a heavy rains, especially when the last weeks where dry. Wait 24h to 72h to start. When you are not sure about a species, put them seperate in a mesh bag*. Make a picture of the environment, trees & growing medium. You can confirm the species then at home, see all details, cut it, smell it & take sporeprints. If you do not need the spores, why not carrying them a mesh bag outside your backpack & spread the spores? :)
*transport fungi in plastic bags will make them sweat & unpleasant
Other handy things:
-map or GPS to mark up something & to help you find home
-notebook, smartphone or pen for taking notes
-pocket / field guide
-a camera
-wipes
Good boots and clothes are essential. Choose old, long sleeved clothes. They need to protect you and give you a good grip.
A jacket with plenty of pockets will make a gobo hearth shine. Old trousers will prevent your new ones from getting damaged, while kneeling.
Stay hydrated!
ⓘAmazon affiliate
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
-BY EMILY DICKINSON