Spring is here, and with it comes peak mushroom hunting season! There are few outdoor activities as exciting and rewarding as foraging for wild mushrooms and preparing a delicious home-cooked meal with your findings. Whether you're an experienced forager or just starting, the thrill of discovering edible mushrooms in the wild and the satisfaction of using them in meals is hard to beat.
To help guide you on your mushroom hunting journey, we connected with Ana Skemp, a farmer, biologist, mother, and Editor-in-Chief of Mother Earth News. Ana brings years of expertise to the table and is a great resource for anyone looking to dive into the world of mushroom foraging.
The Importance of Proper Mushroom Identification
Ana explained that one of the most important rules of mushroom foraging is to be absolutely certain about what you’re about to eat—just like when you look at a banana, you know it's a banana and nothing else. This level of certainty is essential when it comes to wild mushrooms. Never rely on online identification apps or posts in online mushroom groups for determining whether a mushroom is safe to eat.
Instead, take the time to learn about mushrooms from a trusted, experienced forager before consuming any wild mushrooms. The best way to gain this knowledge is to go out into the woods with someone who has been safely identifying and eating wild mushrooms for years. “They’ll teach you to use all your senses, talk about common look-alikes that may overlap spatially or temporally, and help you identify mushrooms that have characteristics that’ll make you as certain as you are with a banana,” Ana said.
Ana’s safe list of mushrooms includes morels, oysters, chicken of the woods, chaga, puffballs, chanterelles, maitakes, and turkey tails. While these mushrooms do have inedible look-alikes, they possess distinct characteristics that are easy to learn with time and practice. For example, chicken of the woods has pores (not gills) on its underside, oyster mushrooms often leave lavender spore prints on black paper, and chaga grows on birch trees, among other identifying features.
Where to Find Morels
If you're on the hunt for morels, one of the most popular and sought-after wild mushrooms, there are some key locations to focus on. Morels thrive in moist, wooded areas, particularly after a good rainfall. They are commonly found near decaying trees such as dead elm, ash, and apple trees. If you find one, keep looking around the area—morels often grow in clusters.
Morels also prefer well-drained, sandy soils and are typically found on south-facing slopes, floodplains, and meadows near wooded edges. Their peak season is usually from late March to early May, with April being the prime month for harvesting. The best time to look for morels is after rain when the soil is damp, providing the ideal conditions for these mushrooms to grow.
Mushroom Hunting Essentials: Tools and Tips
When heading out on a mushroom hunt, Ana recommends using a linen or cotton foraging bag to allow your mushrooms to breathe and stay fresh. This is a better option than plastic bags, which can trap moisture and cause your mushrooms to spoil quickly.
While some foragers prefer using a knife to cut mushrooms, especially morels or oysters, Ana is content using her hands to harvest mushrooms. For chaga, a hammer or similar tool is necessary to extract chunks from the tree. Whatever tools you choose, it’s important to approach foraging with care, taking only what you need and leaving the rest to continue growing.
Fresh mushrooms should be stored in a brown paper bag or cotton bag in the fridge, as this helps them stay fresh longer than plastic bags would.
If you have more mushrooms than you can eat, there are several methods for preserving them. Ana recommends freeze-drying or dehydrating mushrooms, as these techniques preserve both the flavor and texture. You can also sauté mushrooms in butter and freeze them for later use.
Precautions: Preventing Tick Bites
Ana and her family spend a lot of time in the woods, so they take measures to prevent tick bites, which are a common concern in many wooded areas. While they avoid DEET-based repellents, they use other methods to minimize exposure to ticks. “We tuck our pants into our socks, and more importantly, after we return from the woods, the clothes all go right to the washing machine and the people to the shower,” Ana explains. This helps wash ticks off before they can attach and cause potential health issues like Lyme disease.
In addition to using essential oil-based repellents, Ana and her family don’t tend to be too bothered by insects. However, it’s always a good idea to take precautions when foraging in areas with high tick populations.
Foraging Responsibly and Sustainably
We asked Ana about the importance of respecting nature while foraging, and her response reflects her experience and wisdom as a mother, farmer, and biologist.
“The act of getting kids outside in nature on a regular basis is the best teacher there is. Don’t try to teach every moment. Leave them be, let them explore and learn by experiencing the wonder with all their senses. You’ll want to intervene if they’re being disrespectful, such as snapping branches, scaring wildlife and such, but for the most part, our role as adults is just to make the connection happen,” Ana said.
Ana also shares a unique practice from an old folktale about asking the Elder Shrub for permission before harvesting any plant or mushroom. Though children may find it silly, she encourages them to take a moment to stop, close their eyes, and “ask” the plant or mushroom if it’s okay to harvest. This small act can help children develop a deeper connection to nature and a sense of respect for the ecosystems they are part of, while “teaching the skill of quietly observing and considering nature,” Ana said.
Understanding how different plants and fungi interact with their environment helps you forage in a way that supports ecological balance. Ana emphasizes the importance of learning about the life cycles of the species around you when foraging. By familiarizing yourself with the plants and fungi in your area, you’ll be better equipped to make sustainable choices and avoid harvesting in ways that could damage ecosystems.
“Learn to identify species around you. Learn their life cycles and interconnectedness. Also learn about invasive species. For example, you’ll help the environment by removing as many Golden Oyster mushrooms as you can from the environment. They are an escaped, cultivated mushroom that hogs ecosystem space from the other Oyster varieties. Harvest other mushrooms selectively, taking some and leaving. It’s a good general rule of thumb for foraging,” Ana said.
Ana’s Memorable Foraging Experiences
Ana recalls a few of her most memorable mushroom hunting experiences. “The first year we learned about chaga, we found a giant chunk right in our own woods. One son sat on the shoulders of his older brother and we whapped down about half the chunk. It made the most amazing tea and hot chocolate addition all winter long. Another year we experienced ideal mushroom growing conditions and there were ridiculously abundant 6-8 inch tall morels all over the woods.”
How to Enjoy Your Wild Mushroom Harvest
Once you’ve harvested your mushrooms, it’s time to get creative in the kitchen! Ana loves to use wild mushrooms in all kinds of dishes. “Most people who don’t care for mushrooms haven’t eaten them properly prepared,” she says. “Oyster mushrooms that are undercooked, for example, are slimy and gross. Give them a good pan fry in butter for longer than you’d think. When they’re done, they’ll have a nice brown crust on the edges.”
Some of Ana’s favorite ways to enjoy wild mushrooms include adding them to Friday-night pizza, making wild rice mushroom soup, topping grilled steak with sautéed mushrooms, or battering them in tempura. Her kids love these dishes!
Further Learning and Resources
For anyone new to mushroom foraging, Ana suggests getting a mushroom identification book specific to your region. However, she emphasizes that these books should be used as a backup to real-world experience. The best way to learn is by foraging with an experienced guide.
Ana also recommends learning from your community. You can offer to trade help on a farm or project in exchange for foraging knowledge, giving you the opportunity to learn from experts in the field.
With patience, respect for nature, and a commitment to learning, mushroom hunting can be a fun and rewarding activity for the whole family. Ana’s advice encourages everyone to enjoy the process, connect with nature, and, of course, to celebrate your mushroom harvest with a delicious meal. Happy mushroom hunting!
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Check out Iksplor for more resources, gear, and tips on how to iksplore the natural world responsibly and sustainably.
Meet Ana Skemp: A Lifelong Forager
Ana lives with her family in the beautiful Driftless Region of Wisconsin, where they own and operate Deep Roots Community Farm and Fruit Acres Apple Orchard. The farm produces grass-fed beef, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs, and Ana's passion for sustainable farming and foraging shines through in all aspects of their work.
During the summer months, Ana and her family host farm camps for school-age children, where they engage with the land, work in the garden, and learn about conservation biology. The farm serves as a learning space, not only for children but also for the larger community.
Ana's role as Editor-in-Chief of Mother Earth News allows her to share her knowledge with a broader audience. Through the magazine and its online community, she shares insights into farming, foraging, and living sustainably, helping others to incorporate these practices into their lives.
Ana has a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, giving her a solid scientific foundation. While in school, she took Mycology courses and developed a deep interest in mushroom identification. Over the years, her curiosity has grown into a lifelong passion for wild mushrooms.
In addition to her scientific background, Ana has always had a love for the culinary aspects of mushrooms. She believes that mushrooms offer tremendous health benefits and bring deliciousness to family dinners. Whether they're sautéed, grilled, or added to soups and sauces, mushrooms are a key ingredient in many of Ana's favorite meals.
Ana has been foraging for wild mushrooms since she was a child, and she continues to add new species to her list as she gains more experience. Her love of nature and its abundance is a key part of her foraging practice.
