Foraging for Fungi: Tips for Finding 6 Different Wild Mushrooms

Foraging for wild mushrooms is an enriching way to connect with nature, add fresh ingredients to your meals, and spend time outdoors. Whether you're hiking in a dense forest or exploring meadows after a summer rain, mushroom hunting offers both adventure and reward. However, it's not without its risks—some mushrooms are toxic look-alikes to popular edible species. Knowing what to look for and how to wear the proper attire is key to a safe and successful experience.

What to Wear While Foraging

Before diving into the fungi, make sure you’re dressed for the task. Mushroom hunting often takes you off-trail into damp, brushy areas where ticks, thorns, and sun exposure can be concerns. That’s why our Foraging Leggings in Realtree Edge, Realtree APX and Mossy Oak Obsesssion and Field Pants in Realtree Excape and Realtree Edge are go-tos for mushroom enthusiasts. With stretch, durability, and protection in mind, they’re ideal for crouching low, brushing past undergrowth, or sitting to inspect your finds. Pair them with our Nora 2.0 Hooded Shirt or Victoria 2.0 Snap Up Shirt for breathable coverage that keeps you cool, shaded, and protected from the elements.

Common Wild Mushrooms You Might Find

While there are thousands of mushroom species, here are a few beginner-friendly varieties that are relatively easy to identify and are considered choice edibles. But always double-check with a guidebook or expert before consuming any wild mushroom.

1. Morels

Throughout the spring, find them in moist woodland areas, especially around dead or dying trees like ash and elm. Look for a honeycomb-like cap with deep pits; entirely hollow from tip to base. Comes in yellows, grays, and blacks.

Caution: False morels are toxic and can look similar. Real morels are fully hollow and have caps attached directly to the stem.

2. Chanterelles

During the summer, and through early fall, look for chanterelles in mossy forests and along trails, especially under oaks, conifers, or birches. These mushrooms are vase-shaped, golden yellow color, with gill-like ridges that run down the stem.

Caution: Be careful not to confuse them with the toxic jack-o’-lantern mushroom, which grows in clusters on wood and has true gills.

3. Chicken of the Woods

Late summer to fall, chicken of the woods grows in bright orange clusters on dead or dying hardwood trees. Look for orange to yellow shelf-like clusters with a soft, suede-like texture.

Caution: Some people experience sensitivity—always cook thoroughly and try a small amount first.

4. Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms grow on dead or dying hardwood trees, often in shelf-like clusters. From spring through fall, look for fan- or oyster-shaped caps, usually white, gray, or light brown with gills running down a short, often off-center stem.

Caution: Avoid lookalikes like the toxic angel wing if foraging in the Pacific Northwest—stick to known habitats and confident IDs.

5. Giant Puffball

Puffball mushrooms grow in open fields, grasslands, and forest edges during the late summer and early fall. Look for a smooth, white, round ball that can grow as large as a soccer ball. The interior should be solid white when cut open.

Caution: Only edible when the inside is pure white—discard any that are turning yellow or brown inside. Don’t confuse with immature stages of toxic mushrooms like the deadly Amanita.

6. Lion’s Mane

Lion's mane mushrooms grow on dead or dying hardwoods, especially beech and oak, during the late summer and fall. Be on the lookout for a bright white, fluffy appearance with icicle-like spines; looks like a cascading pom-pom or shaggy mane.

Caution: Few lookalikes, making this one of the safer mushrooms for beginners to identify.

Safety Tips for Mushroom Foraging

1. Never Eat Anything You're Not 100% Sure Of. Even experienced foragers double-check. Carry a trusted field guide or use a reputable mushroom identification app.

2. Consult Experts. Join a local mycology group or go foraging with someone knowledgeable.

3. Avoid Polluted Areas. Mushrooms absorb toxins from the environment—avoid roadsides, golf courses, or chemically treated areas.

4. Take Notes and Photos. When learning, photograph the mushroom’s cap, gills, stem, and where it was growing. This helps with later identification and learning.

5. Bring a Basket or Mesh Bag. This allows spores to drop as you walk, helping propagate future mushrooms.

Mushroom foraging can be a deeply rewarding outdoor activity—but safety and preparation are non-negotiable. With the right knowledge, gear, and respect for nature, you'll build confidence on the trail and at the table. And remember, half the joy is in the hunt itself—no need to fill a basket every time to consider your foraging foray a success.