by Mallory from Forêt Mushrooms
Foraging for wild mushrooms can be an exciting way to connect with nature, gather free food, and explore the outdoors. If you're new to mushroom hunting, it's essential to learn how to do it correctly and safely so you can enjoy this rewarding activity for years to come. As the saying goes, there are no old bold foragers – only old, wise, well-trained ones.
I could go on about the importance of spore printing and knowing your trees, but I get it – you're eager to grab a basket, head to the nearest forest and find those mushrooms. Take it from someone who taught themselves to forage: learn from my mistakes (thankfully, none were lethal!). In this post, I'll share some tips that will make foraging easier and safer–advice I wish I had when I started. Hopefully you'll find them just as helpful.
First thing you should do is get yourself a mushroom field guide tailored to your region. It'll serve as your best tool to help you learn terminology, has lots of detailed images, and includes all the key information you need to help you ID your mushrooms.
It's important to find a guide for your area as mushroom species vary greatly depending on your location. If you're in Canada, there are many guides covering North America. Personally, I recommend using more regionally focused guides like Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada or Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada–perfect for us here in Southern Ontario.
These guides are invaluable to have with you in the forest to compare your mushrooms when there's no Wifi or service available. They also make a wonderful coffee table book to flip though whenever you're feeling inspired.
The quickest way to becoming a successful mushroom forager is to tag along with someone experienced. If you happen to already know an avid forager, invite them on a hike! They'll know the best spots, will have a trained eye for spotting the mushrooms (yes, it's a skill), and can answer your questions on the spot, in real-time.
If you don't have a foraging friend, consider signing up for a guided mushroom foray led by an experienced forager. Typically available from spring to fall, these forays can teach you how to identify both edible and medicinal mushrooms and how to do so safely.
For those of you in Southern Ontario, you're in luck–we host several of these foray adventures throughout the year and are already planning for 2025. Be sure to sign up for our email newsletters, so you don't miss out!
A successful mushroom foray from October 2023, sorting mushrooms by their anatomical features like gills, pores, and teeth.
One of the best (and most underrated) resources for mushroom foragers is online groups, specifically Facebook groups. Some of our favourite groups are Mushroom Hunters Ontario (72K members!) and Southern Ontario Mushroom Hunters and Foragers.
Mushroom seasons vary from year to year, so when someone posts a sighting of a certain mushroom you're after, you know it’s time to head out. Not only do these groups post their discoveries but they can also offer help with your own mushroom identification. Just post clear photos from all angles and more experienced foragers will chime in to help with your ID.
Joining your local Mycological Society is another excellent way to deepen your knowledge. They often have newsletters, expert speakers, and host forays with experienced mycologists. The Mycological Society of Toronto is a fantastic resource for those of us in Southern Ontario.
Foraging is a skill that takes time to develop. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding mushrooms and wanting to fill your basket but building your confidence comes with patience and practice. Start small and simple—learn to identify one or two seasonal species at a time—and watch your skills grow and grow.
We recommend you start by focusing on “pored” mushrooms, like boletes and polypores, rather than the gilled ones. They are generally easier to identify and include many delicious edible varieties, with very few toxic look-alikes. In contrast, gilled mushrooms can be trickier and include some of the deadliest species (think Death Cap, Destroying Angel, and Deadly Galerina).
Some beginner-friendly fungi to start with are Chicken of the Woods and Turkey Tail. Chicken of the Woods bright orange and yellow hues practically shout from the forest, and there’s nothing else quite like it. Turkey Tail is another great one to learn as all their look-alikes are non-toxic.
Chicken of the Woods is a fantastic beginner’s mushroom. We spotted this vibrant cluster while driving down a country road and couldn't resist stopping to ask the landowners if we could harvest it—they happily said yes!
Turkey Tail is another great choice for novice foragers. Found abundantly year-round on every continent, its non-toxic look-alikes make it a safe and easy mushroom to start with.
Accurate identification relies on gathering info from various sources. Start by consulting your field guide, flip through all the photos and descriptions. Mushroom ID apps are a handy starting point but should never be your sole source of information. Apps use photos which can easily misidentify your mushrooms, so it’s important to cross-reference with other resources and use your senses (smell, taste, touch). Some mushrooms have distinctive tastes and odors that can help you identify them, while others might feel slimy, dry, or velvety to the touch. These tactile and olfactory clues can offer important insights.
Don’t hesitate to ask an experienced forager if you’re unsure (send us a dm, we love seeing your fungi). Whether it’s a fellow forager, or a mushroom FB group, getting feedback from someone with more knowledge can be invaluable. Seasoned mushroom hunters are usually happy to help with identifications.
Another great way to confirm your ID is by making a spore print. A spore print reveals the color of a mushroom's spores, which is an important identification trait. Spore prints are especially helpful when trying to distinguish between similar-looking species or between toxic and non-toxic ones (ex. deadly galerina vs wild enoki).
Mushrooms are incredibly efficient at absorbing toxins from their environment, which is why it's crucial to be mindful of where you forage. Even edible mushrooms can become harmful if they’ve grown in toxic areas.
Steer clear of roadsides or areas exposed to heavy traffic, as they often absorb pollutants like heavy metals and exhaust fumes. Similarly, avoid foraging in places where chemicals are sprayed, such as conventional farms, industrial zones, or golf courses, as pesticides and herbicides can leach into the soil.
Stay away from train tracks and redeveloped land, including old landfills where the ground may be contaminated with chemicals or other harmful substances. It's always better to forage in clean, natural environments (we love an old growth forest) where you can trust the quality of the mushrooms you find.
To accurately identify mushrooms, focus on a few important features. Before you even pick the mushroom start by noting the habitat—is it in a forest, field, growing from the ground or on a specific tree? Check the growth pattern: does it grow alone, scattered, or in clusters?
Observe both the top of the cap and the underside. How do the gills attach to the stem (or run down the stem)? Look at the stem—its texture, thickness, and base (is it bulbours, does it have a cup?). Don't forget to note the season and region, as certain mushrooms only appear at specific times.
Finally, slice the mushroom to check for any color changes, and use your senses (touch, taste, smell) for further clues. These details will greatly improve your ability to ID mushrooms accurately.
This bright yellow, green-blue toxic mushroom got its interesting common name from its odor (caged mice), Mousepee Pinkgill.
One of the most important steps in foraging is comparing your find to its potential toxic or deadly look-alikes. Some mushrooms may appear edible but have inedible or even deadly counterparts, so always double-check.
A good field guide should clearly outline these dangerous doppelgängers, so make sure to thoroughly study the descriptions and photos before consuming any mushroom–always be 100% confident in your ID. When in doubt, leave it out!
As foragers, naturally we develop a deep relationship with the land, and ethical, responsible foraging is key to maintaining that bond. We should all view the land as kin, rather than just a resource.
One way to honour this relationship is to follow the principles of the Honourable Harvest. These guidelines encourage us to take only what we need, minimize harm while harvesting, avoid waste, share, and give a gift in reciprocity. It’s a simple yet profound way to shift our mindset about consumption and ensure sustainability.
Make sure you’re aware of the rules for foraging in your area. For example, foraging in city parks, like those in Toronto, is prohibited, with fines of up to $25,000 if you're caught! Crown land is the best option for those who don’t own private forests (that’s most of us, right?).
Lastly, ALWAYS cook your mushrooms thoroughly before eating. Even edible varieties can cause adverse reactions for some individuals, so it's best to start small and see how your body responds. And remember, coming home empty-handed is far better than a trip to the hospital!
Foraging is a continuous learning experience. Stay curious and keep expanding your knowledge about mushrooms and the kingdom of fungi. Attend workshops, read books, and connect with fellow foragers to improve your skills. Always be cautious and confident before deciding to ingest any wild mushrooms. If you’re not 100% certain in your ID, it's safer to leave it out. All mushrooms are edible, some only once!
We could share another 100 tips, but we’ll save those for another time. One last piece of advice: visit your local woods regularly. Not every trip will be successful, but with persistence, you'll eventually find something special. Each outing will teach you something new, whether you come back with a basket full or empty-handed.
Embrace the journey, enjoy the beauty of nature, and savor the excitement of discovering wild mushrooms. Happy foraging!
We are happiest when we’re around mushrooms, hehe!