Beginners Guide to Wild Mushroom Foraging - 2024

Have you ever wanted to learn how to forage for wild mushrooms? Where do you start? This video is for you! Aaron Hilliard, mycology educator, will take us through the things you'll need to know to get started.
Mushroom Wonderland covers a wide variety of topics around mushrooms. This particular episode is aimed at the beginner forager, naturalist, or whoever is curious about exploring the outdoor world.
Edible mushrooms can be intimidating to pick confidently for the dinner table, so let Aaron show you some tips and some of the mushrooms you can learn to forage for yourself.
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We will not accept any responsibility for negligence or accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms or plants. These videos are not intended to be a definitive field guide, but rather a starting point to become familiar with habitat, Everyone is encouraged to do their own studies, acquire literature or internet resources to safely and confidently identify wild foods before they eat them. When eating a new wild mushroom, it is advised to start with only a small amount, and make sure that it is fresh and that it is cooked thoroughly. Some mushrooms do not agree with certain individuals, and this is typically discovered on a case-by-case basis. Even the most edible of mushrooms contain compounds that can be tough for the human digestive tract to handle. Some “edible” species have small amounts of certain toxins that will easily break down with cooking. Fungi contains a molecule known as chitin that is the same thing that makes the exoskeleton of shellfish so hard, and cannot be broken down by the human digestive system, so it is another good reason to thoroughly cook mushrooms. All the ideas expressed in the comments should be taken with a large grain of salt. I don’t think there is any other field of study or science that has more misinformation being shared so freely and boldly. Mushroom Wonderland and Aaron himself have no opinion and neither encourage nor discourage the use of mushrooms containing mind-altering compounds. These mushrooms contain powerful chemicals and should be treated with a high level of responsibility. Any video topics on the habitat, natural distribution, and morphological features of psychoactive mushrooms portrayed on this channel are purely for scientific and educational purposes.
Contact Aaron and Mushroom Wonderland at [e-mail] Kitsap Peninsula Mycological Society- www.kitsapmush... Puget Sound Mycological Society - www.psms.org North American Mycological Society- www.namyco.org...

[@Ashoffungi]

Aaron you inspired me to go to my closest state park and find mushrooms and it was so much fun!! Im not exactly sure what all i found but just looking out for them really does make every hike as exciting as a treasure hunt! Thank you for sharing your passion with those of us who want to learn!!!

[@gabrielapetunia1871]

I hope I find a cauliflower finally!

[@BeckyDaniels-db3bc]

I'm like you I'm terrified of picking the wrong mushrooms and I really don't know what to do but I love watching this channel

[@timmynormand8082]

@@BeckyDaniels-db3bcI been watching since he started it So that IMDb I was gifted a book. So now I confident that I could pick at least 8 r 10 that I know for sure. Kinda repetition. Good luck

[@marthathompson2012]

Yes!!!

[@4quall]

Also don't harvest mushrooms from a state park unless it's allowed or you can be fined.

[@japanesemaplepruning]

This is my new favorite channel on all of KZbin

[@Sphicks1919]

SO accurate about the way in which you learn to be able to see them in the wild better. At first it was just happenstance and NOW I can fairly easily find those which I've found before. So interesting

[@natedizzy]

Truly an inspirational video for learning and appreciating mushrooms 🍄

[@Gitgudm9]

I've been following your channel for a long time and I think your production value has gone up by so much! Great vid!

[@jizzaymz]

Loving your videos!!! It's been a good year for foraging on my end (in Northeastern Ontario 🇨🇦) ✌🏼

[@whoe_whate8487]

Thanks so much for getting me into mycology Aaron. It all started with videos like this! I hope this also inspires more people!

[@marthathompson2012]

I love this! Your content is so awesome and inspiring! I’m not even a fan of eating mushrooms, but I’m glued to your videos! Amazing! Thank you for your excellent education and presentation! Your images are fabulous, and you never waste my time! Thanks so much, Aaron!

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@marthathompson2012 thank you for the kind words!

[@BeckyDaniels-db3bc]

You are really helping me I've always been terrified of picking something that's going to kill me if I eat it thank you so very much for helping me I'm a very slow learner so I'm going to have to repeat watching your videos

[@kyuubi3401]

to clarify at 1:56 plants breath oxygen too and that is how they utilize the energy they produce from photosynthesis using co2.

[@dcfromthev]

Good work Aaron, I wish I had a video like this a few years ago when I started learning to forage mushrooms and plants! I just hope new people who get into this are respectful to the environment and not greedy with their foraging habits. Human generally destroy everything they touch, being out in nature is my only escape from modern society, let’s keep nature wild and treat it right!

[@lindsaybabcock1207]

You’re such a wonderful teacher, Aaron! Thank you for your fun and informative videos! 🙏

[@ImFungiHunter]

Hey Aaron , great introductory video for beginners. Even experienced in Mycology and as a forager ,I always appreciate others who share their passion and knowledge of Mycology with everyone. Love all the people in this space who share the same love. If I may, I would love to add that if other's in this space want to learn, they should seek out a local Mushroom Club in there area and join. Always great to hang with like minded individuals with a broad area of experience. Guided forays and great outings had by all.. It's a great way to learn hands on as well the right way. I live here like you in the PNW and there are so many different Mushrooms Clubs up and down the Coast. Appreciate you Brother. Always Love your videos.👊🍄❤

[@timmynormand8082]

Last time I joined a mushroom club I tripped for 2 days

[@razzajefrey]

Feeling excited today after going out for mushrooms foraging today in Palatinate forest, Germany. Variety of mushrooms are there. Great tips from my friend about which you can or cannot eat.

[@kaitlynshorett8049]

Great job on this video! Packed with so much helpful information for people just getting into foraging. Thank you! Keep up the amazing work.

[@bouncerslabrealnature9143]

The delicious Maitake are on their way back to my kitchen. (Hens make life better.) Sasquatch is always watching 👁️ to make sure you don't harvest too many. 😳

[@TerraPruett]

I waited patiently for you to get to the Morel. As a small child in Indiana my dad and I, along with my Uncle Roy and his two sons, would go into the woods in the springtime on a sunny and warm morning after a rain and collect Morel's by the grocery sack full. Uncle Roy was a career nurseryman and knew every tree, plant and mushroom that could and could not be eaten. Mom would fix a skillet fried Swiss steak and cover it with halved or quartered Morels. The heck with the steak, just give me those Morels in that nice steak and Morel gravy. We moved to Arizona when I was ten. I'm now 80 and miss my Morels mushrooms. I've tried to buy them dehydrated but it just isn't the same.

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@TerraPruett Yeah they really are a special treat. Too bad you couldn't make your way up here in the spring because they're pretty common!

[@gianaseppanen]

I LOVE your channel so much! I foraged today and yesterday in the Western U.P. of MIchigan. (I live here:) I found so many beautiful oysters, a few lobsters, chanterelles, and my second year-same spot-bear's tooth:) I found a few boletes, but wasn't entirely sure of edibility..

[@gianaseppanen]

Also..Fun fact! I cannot eat mushrooms. I have systemic Lupus and really messes me up! I will have horrible joint pain and a headache for three days.. It's a damn shame! I loved mushrooms forever! I have friends who greatly benefit from my hunter gatherer ways:)

[@mik_88]

Thanks for doing what you do! Mush love!

[@speakthetruth110]

Great video as always. Thanks Aaron. 🙂

[@GregBird-s7y]

Mush Love! I Love it. Even that I live on the over side of the pond in germany I LEARN from you! Danke Schön

[@kimprocarione5473]

Excellent video, Aaron! Thank you 😊

[@Hector-vx5yc]

Hi Aaron! Thank you so much for sharing! You’re a wealth of knowledge!! I have seen some of those mushrooms, unfortunately, I didn’t know they were edible! Loving your work brother! Nicely done! 👍🏽💯❤️

[@spongebobsqueeze]

Every year I tell myself “ next year I am going to buy a mesh foraging bag.” Another year and here I am again with a empty recycled onion or orange bag.

[@ellemcclearly1800]

Why buy when you can recy? LOL Thanks for the idea to use onion mesh bags!

[@ExpatSingleMom]

I just found my new favorite channel!

[@libnipr1]

Thanks

[@myrnacrdns]

Thank you very much for your inspiring informative content Aaron I will definitely go more into the woods and educate myself about edible mushrooms.

[@TheYouTubePrincess]

Thanks for making this video!💗

[@lossixtiesevens]

Great fun and educational... Thank you so much 👊😁

[@EricTecce]

Wonderful guide! Will share to assist the educational expansion Mushrooms birth by their beautiful Being ❂

[@thinkitthru2754]

Such an excellent video...thank you!!!

[@cassandraelliot7878]

Thank you.

[@toddmutchler7800]

I haven't watched in a while. Great video. More Gunner.

[@virginiacollis4580]

Please make a video on the Morels. I'm from Michigan so please do this area. Thanks.

[@Countrygirlgirt]

Watching from Florence S.C. Thank you for a great educational video

[@user-ud2ij7ro5c]

Food all year round!!

[@mushroombyse]

Great content man!

[@PB-jk8bl]

Aaron is a 'fun-guy' to learn from!🍄

[@dammeedee]

ขอบคุณสำหรับข้อมูลคะ เป็นประโยชน์มาก แต่เคยหลงป่ามาแล้ว

[@franklaferriere5754]

I have been a nature photographer for decades. How do I not get lost? Colored yarn strips and sticks. If I go into woods off a trail? I wil tie a white yarn string on a couple branches at eye level. Then every 50 feet tie another. With the sticks, I use three to make an arrow on ground tied with yellow, blue and white yarn. Learned these tricks from the old loggers who worked up here and the vets who used to live in the woods or come out in group Outward Bound therapies. The loggers marked with plastic colored strips. Did not want to leave those behind so I switched to using yarn.

[@gmb75]

Hi Adam, I saw another video where you highlighted a book you like, like real cool, had a flow to it where we ID this and it leads to that on page x, and so on. I am going to continue to watch this video, and wonder if you'll cover that again. I'd like that book. I have a few others as well,. ok, please and thanks!!

[@gabrielapetunia1871]

Great video once again. 👍

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@gabrielapetunia1871 thank you!

[@jamesedwardson605]

Keep up the good work...

[@briannagorman3119]

Thanks so very much

[@chrisnotyou]

The only thing you REALLY need to know is how to bruise them. Just give em a little pinch and wait a few minutes if they turn black or dark blue. THOSE ARE THE REALLY GOOD MUSHROOMS!

[@violettracey]

Thank you so much!

[@ScottieD369]

Hello from Wisconsin! Big fan! Seen you chat on our myco group. Anyways it is NOT mushroom season YET! IT'S ONLY raining by YOU! Pretty dry over here still from Summer.

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@ScottieD369 It's usually not our mushroom season yet! We're just getting really lucky with a few rains and some cooler temperatures. A lot of people are complaining that we're getting jipped out of the rest of our summer, but you'll never hear me complaining about rain! Lol. Mush love. 🍄

[@fionapoulter3234]

Thank you. You have a wonderful way of teaching. Now, where's my trug....

[@emmysongs7188]

I know they're not technically in the same family.. I was curious if you would also Branch off in talking about the learned knowledge on Nostoc commune, and Wolf's milk. Those are the two at the moment I am curious of and not a lot of people have information on

[@FreedomAndLiberty2024]

If you ever do a foraging class on Camano Island, sign me up!!

[@libnipr1]

I’m a beginner

[@wamlartmuse17]

Oyster mushrooms absolutely do grow on living trees. I have a picture to prove it.

[@timmynormand8082]

Seen them on live willow trees

[@alfievergano155]

I have a question. My friend has some b+ mushroom, and some have small heads, others have massive heads. So my question is which is better? Does the size of the head indicate quality or does it make no difference? Thanks !

[@michaelkozak7295]

Thank you.. interested in cubensis mushrooms

[@timmynormand8082]

They plentiful in the cow pastures here in Louisiana

[@LifeLostSoul]

Do you have a video on how to use inaturalist? I have downloaded it like 3 times and can't figure out how I'm actually supposed to use it. Like im pretty tech savvy, i think its the minimalism and some of the terminology they're using that I just don't quite understand what I'm supposed to be doing with it.

[@carterhamilton1502]

I live on the east coast in central Virginia. Any info for the types of mushrooms that are edible in this particular area? Thanks Carter.

[@aurange6815]

Hey there I have these mushrooms that are growing in my garden and I really need help identifying them. I believe they are blue ringers or ovoids but I’m not sure, if you could help me in any way I have tons of videos and pictures !!! Thank you

[@sGBUCKO]

Great video man! Quick question off subject, whats the name of the coat you are wearing in this video please?

[@donEvans27]

Somewhere along my myco learning path I read that mushrooms are zoological mechanisms. Since the first fossils were mushrooms they would seem to be the superior kingdom.

[@dcfromthev]

*kingdom

[@donEvans27]

@@dcfromthev thanks

[@yujiboo89]

So we found a porcini spot, and we're wondering if it was a 1 time flush per season type thing or an as the weather permits type of thing? We're still relatively new but we KNOW they're kings that we saw but they were too far gone.

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@yujiboo89 unfortunately it is a one time pop and they're done for the season, typically.

[@SG-ce7ji]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@SG-ce7ji]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@arisnotle]

Regarding the oyster mushroom, I'm pretty sure they also grow on trees that still have leaves on them..not only dead trees as mentioned in the video. Does this mean the trees are dying? Or am I wrong and do they never grow on trees with leaves still on them?

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@arisnotle I never find them on living trees.

[@phillipzimmerman8928]

What that word you said. Emome. It sounded good

[@mushroomwonderland1]

Ohh.. umami. A category of taste in food (besides sweet, sour, salt, and bitter), corresponding to the flavor of glutamates, especially monosodium glutamate. I just stole that definition from the interwebs. But it's a savory flavor that you can't really put your finger on.

[@canis2020]

I'm just getting into it and my buddy was saying if you pick one find a similar tree and tap spores near it. Is this a good idea?

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@canis2020 honestly I don't think it would have much effect. There are billions of spores floating around in the air all the time, there is a very precise amount of timing and environmental factors that will start a new colony of fungus. Any tree that is growing wild outdoors is exposed to trillions of spores, if it's meant to grow there it will. I mean, it couldn't hurt to carry your mushrooms in a basket so they have a chance of dropping some spores along the way, but as far as If it's effective it can't be proven.

[@canis2020]

@@mushroomwonderland1 kinda what I was wondering. It's not like it's hundreds or thousands, but billions, constantly.

[@kenyates7269]

The Jack-o'-lantern mushroom looks a little like a lobster mushroom but I guess you'll know because the 🎃 🍄 grows on dead wood. Correct?

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@kenyates7269 "jack-o'-lanterns" look a lot more like chanterelle, but yeah they grow clustered on wood at the base of a tree or rotting stump. They don't occur here in the Pacific Northwest though, mainly east of the Rockies and some in California.

[@jamesperson7241]

long intro. starts at minute 6:34. awesome info though after it starts

[@carolharden7689]

I found a lobstwr mushroom! It definitely smelled fishy. I want to regrow them!!!

[@user-mischa298]

Greetings from Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine. Thank you for subscribing.

[@arlanjohnson8841]

Hey Aaron have you found any white chanterelles yet?

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@arlanjohnson8841 yes, lots. More than most years.

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@arlanjohnson8841 tons on the Kitsap Peninsula right now!

[@danielcopeman1250]

I can identify giant puff balls... ONLY!

[@joshuahenderson5023]

Which wild edible mushrooms are potentially harmful if consumed with alcohol?

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@joshuahenderson5023 coprinopsis

[@timmynormand8082]

The one that Anti buse is derived from forgot the name

[@joshuahenderson5023]

@@timmynormand8082 I think that’s the Shaggy Ink Cap, don’t recall the scientific name.

[@dessalegnalehegn6941]

Go head

[@emotinaloats8010]

Its not litreally safe to touch ever mushroom but ive only heard of one really rare mushroom in Asia i believe that can cause a stinging and burning reaction but its not found outside of Asia and even there its rare and also clearly identfiable from other mushrooms Podostroma cornu-damae, also known as the Poison Fire Coral. if anyone is wondering

[@SirDydimus86]

This is a wonderfully informative video Aaron. However... _THE MUSIC_ makes it difficult to concentrate on what you're telling me! 🥴

[@mushroomwonderland1]

@@SirDydimus86 Way too boring without it, everybody would tune out! Most documentaries have music in the background. I really tried to balance it. Sorry if it was distracting.

[@SirDydimus86]

@@mushroomwonderland1 Meh, was only the music I had a gripe with. Can't help the "oh look something shiny!" in _my_ head. 🙃

[@kkso3318]

​@@SirDydimus86 I'm the same way. It's a little better with ear plugs in, although still distracting... just much less. Hope this helps.

[@MrBrew4321]

Lol, don't become mushroom food when you go on a hike. Good advice! And yea getting disoriented out there? Way to easy! Crossing over a mountain and seeing a mountainous wilderness you didn't expect, and don't recognize is pretty terrifying... plus at that point you're probably at least half a day into a hike so you're like why god why isn't the road down there, i'm so done with this mountain!

[@maryjanehansen7947]

usually i'm scared of mushrooms

[@Feral_Ape]

This sounds dangerous and fun. They all look same. Wish me luck

[@thomasthetankengin7722]

Less face more fungus... 😂

[@FishOnIsMyHandle]

Excellent video, thanks again Aaron ! 👍👍🍄🍄