The act of gathering mushrooms from the wild is known as mushroom hunting, mushroom picking, or mushrooming. While mushroom hunting is primarily a recreational activity, pickers usually cook or store the mushrooms for later use. Mushroom picking is a family tradition in Slavic countries, particularly Poland and Russia, where even small children can tell the difference between edible and poisonous mushrooms; mushroom picking is also popular in Italy and other Southern European countries.
Mushroom hunting is a safe pastime as long as you know which species of mushrooms are edible. There are a few species that should be avoided, but it’s crucial that you learn to recognize them because some of them are dangerous. The Destroying Angel, the Deadly Webcap, and all members of the Lepiota species are poisonous mushrooms to avoid when mushroom hunting. Because there is no single characteristic that identifies a mushroom as poisonous, it’s critical to learn how different species look.
While not all mushrooms are poisonous, some can result in severe poisoning, kidney failure, or allergic reactions. To make matters even more complicated, some people are immune to the poison found in certain mushrooms, while others may have a severe allergic reaction to it. Always bring a full-color guide when mushroom picking so you can compare photos to the actual specimen and decide whether or not to take it. Another option is to go mushroom hunting with an experienced mycologist or herb expert who can guide you through the process. One of the biggest benefits of going mushroom hunting with an expert is that they can point out which areas to avoid due to chemical contamination or privacy concerns. If you’re going mushroom hunting on your own, the best seasons are spring and fall, though mushrooms can be found all year in most climates.
Finally, resist the temptation to eat a large number of mushrooms collected during a mushroom hunt. Make sure you know what species you’ve chosen, and eat no more than a tablespoon the first day to allow for any possible reactions.