We found NINE WILD EDIBLE MUSHROOM SPECIES in Two Days of foraging!

We found NINE species of wild edible mushrooms while foraging on Vancouver Island in BC Canada during one weekend in October!
Species list:
Golden chanterelle
Winter chanterelle
Pine mushroom
Cauliflower mushroom
Bear's head
Lobster mushroom
Hedgehog mushroom
Admirable bolete
Hawk's wing mushroom
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My name is Kitty Kanhoffen, I am a teacher as well as an outdoor enthusiast. My passion for the outdoors first started when I was introduced to fishing through my husband Daniel in 2012 and it expanded quickly when I began co-hosting on Fishing with Rod. The curiosity did not kill this Kitty, but has only furthered my passion beyond fishing, which now includes foraging and hiking in British Columbia, Canada.
On this channel, you will find a collection of videos which document my adventures, discoveries, successes and mistakes. My videos include fishing, mushroom hunting and hiking. Thanks for stopping by and please subscribe! 🎣🍄🏔

[@FishingwithRod]

All of those mushrooms in front of me and I didn't even get to eat any of it. 😆 Much sad...

[@tessa0104]

So cruel

[@FishingwithRod]

@@tessa0104 🤣

[@FishingwithRod]

@@tessa0104 She did make me 🍕 with some sad looking chanterelles I picked though (which btw, the pizza was amazing). 😉

[@KittyKanhoffen]

What?! I made a pizza covered in Chanterelles! 🤣 I thought I offered you some Bear's Head, but you were too rushed to pack some before your ferry. 😢

[@FishingwithRod]

@@KittyKanhoffen Bring some for Christmas. 🤗🤗🤗

[@UcranianoUKR]

Kitty really likes her Nike shoes

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I have more in my closet still boxed up... 😬😬👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟

[@teamhippiefish]

Great video Kitty!!

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Have you found many of these fungi down in Montana?

[@teamhippiefish]

@@KittyKanhoffen I think they are around but im always afraid to pick anything that isnt a morel lol! Also I usually see then when im elk hunting and never take the time to really check them out if the elk are bugling!

[@minkos61]

Awesome informative and fun video to watch thanks for sharing Kitty ,Rod and Daniel 🍄👏😎.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Thanks Ernie for watching! I'd ask if you'd be picking this week, but it looks like up north got some snow... So lucky!! #iwantasnowday

[@minkos61]

@@KittyKanhoffen yah we got about 5 or 6 inches and more to come and no such thing as snow days here lol😊

[@scottishgirloutdoors2662]

Loved this, shroom season is the best 😊

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I don't want it to end either! Last night I said the same thing to one of our friends, and he said that it didn't have to. He that told Daniel and I that he'd teach us about plants that can be harvested during the winter... Stay tuned!

[@scottishgirloutdoors2662]

@@KittyKanhoffen looking forward to it 😁

[@vlost3672]

Wow that's amazing!!!

[@KittyKanhoffen]

There some pretty sick species out there that are dying to be found!

[@leanna7209]

Wish could have seen more of the hunt

[@gringopines3476]

HAY KITTY IT'S PAULIE... I LIKE SHROOMS, BUT I CANT SAY I'VE EVER EATEN ANY OF THE VARIETY THAT YOU'VE PICKED... I LIKE THE EARTHYNESS OF MUSHROOMS AN THE NICE SNAP OF THEM WHEN THERE FRESH. FORGING LOOKS LIKE FUN MABE IN MEXICO BY THE CABIN THEY HAVE A NICE VERITY... I'LL HAVE TO CHECK IN TO THAT... FOR NOW, STAY COOL AN KEEP PUSHIN ON TEACHER... PEACE...

[@KittyKanhoffen]

HEYYYYY PAULIE, NO TIME NO SEE! I would be curious to find out what kind of mushrooms Mexico has, if any, not sure! That is your homework... To forage at least 1 mushroom down there, and ID it for me. I hope you are staying safe down there, soak up some sun for me too!! TTYL ✌🍻

[@fattymcbastard6536]

Those are good size hedgehogs for the island. I wish they were as abundant as chanterelles, I love them!

[@HelloEllie2023]

These mushrooms are so beautiful ☘️🌿🍃

[@KittyKanhoffen]

When I first started foraging my idea of a mushroom was either A.) The one in Mario (a Fly Agaric) or the kind you find on a burger... lol!! There are so many more than that, and yes Sammi they are all beautiful. 💖

[@HelloEllie2023]

@@KittyKanhoffen 🤣🤣

[@skikid00]

Thanks for this educational contents.

[@davestelling]

This was absolutely fascinating, and so well presented! Thanks Kitty...

[@KittyKanhoffen]

"Digestive"... "Dii" (blah blah blah)..."Digest"- Ugghh! Thanks Dave! 😜

[@lovethemack]

Very cool! I think its super fun to hunt mushrooms too lol. I love those cauliflower and bears head, and hedgehogs so so good too. No pines in my area but endless chanterelles, got a few lbs today and some winters as well. Safe foraging~

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Hey endless Chanterelles are awesome! Pines and Cauliflowers have been some of the trickier species to understand. My little piece of advice is still continue to look even when the season seems to be "over." It is way easier to spot mushrooms that are "flagged out" v.s. buttons that have barely broken through the surface.

[@maury8441]

you need to show how to prep and cook them

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Hi Maury! That is a future goal of mine. When I first started foraging, I also found that internet lacked info on how to store/prep mushrooms. As of right my main storage method is dehydrating. We have two, one that I picked up from Cabela's and the other we made during lock-down this past Spring.

[@leanna7209]

These are the type of videos im looking for love it

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Welcome Leanna, are you a new or seasoned forager?!

[@1man2pans]

Thank you so much for answering all the questions? I would have normally googled! Always love watching your videos! Keep up the great work Kitty :) ;)

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Thanks Matt! I know things got real busy this fall, I really wish that you and I could have met up for some AU & GC. :(

[@1man2pans]

@@KittyKanhoffen it's ok😊 there is always springtime and the gold will be there untill we find it! 🙌

[@derekcox6531]

Wow! The bears head mushrooms were splendid! It’s so funny you mention the crab cakes! 🤓 I ALWAYS used the bears head for crab cakes! Lol wonderful episode! Loved it.🤩👍👍

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I haven't found any other way to eat them, that I've liked anyways. #crabcakesftw!

[@Adventurewithnhia]

amazing find on your foraging, so many different kinds and the two superfood bear's head with amazing medicinal benefits. just wow, awesome video.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Another cool fact about Bear's Head is that unlike most wild mushrooms, you can actually eat it raw. Whenever we are out hunting for them, we burn threw a tonne of calories, and its nice to be able to pick and eat at the same time. Thanks for watching!

[@Adventurewithnhia]

@@KittyKanhoffen wow I didn’t know that, that is very cool to know that it can be eaten raw. I learn some new! Awesome and Thank You!!

[@TheArtisticGardener777]

Wonderful bounty!

[@rcarrollmassage]

Sometimes I miss the PNW and love foraging

[@billnurse5321]

Thanks for the info you are the best

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Thanks Bill!! ✌

[@SledorFish]

I still need to spend more time looking for mushrooms. I really want to find some of those pines!

[@KittyKanhoffen]

All the pines we have been finding this year have been in the 900-1000m range, in predominantly old growth Doug Fir forests with mix of Cedar and Hemlock. The hills are SO steep that I can hardy walk on at the end of the day. I'd say the grade is close to 60ish%.

[@SledorFish]

@@KittyKanhoffen The river I'm fishing here in Washington is about half that (1,500ft) so I guess I will have to do some exploring in the hills. Lots of douglas fir and hemlock in the area too. Thanks for the tips!

[@lornemannen1981]

Was given some chanterelles 2 weeks ago. Now I am researching everything I can to go hunt my own. I had no idea there are so many kinds. I live in the same town as you and never thought about picking. Your channel is very informing . Thanks for sharing your info.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I hope to inspire others just like others inspired me. The first thing I suggest is to go on lots of walks and bring a field guide with you. The one I was using in this video was "A FIELD GUIDE TO EDIBLE MUSHROOMS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST," by Daniel Winkler. This one is light and easy to pack around in your pocket, but has fewer mushrooms listed. The ultimate guide IMO is "ALL THAT THE RAIN PROMISES AND MORE: A HIP POCKET GUIDE TO WESTERN MUSHROOMS," by David Arora." The cover looks a little dated with the sneaky/excited band member on it, but I promise you it is a fun/easy read and is very helpful. P.S. The next video that we will be releasing is our Introduction to Golden Chanterelles episode, which should be right up your alley. Cheers!

[@lornemannen1981]

@@KittyKanhoffen Thanks Kitty. Will be getting a guide. You are an inspiration. I found my first Golden Chanterelle yesterday. It was like xmas. I am hooked.

[@kaze987]

DI-GES-TIVE ! Really good video!

[@KittyKanhoffen]

🤪 Sometimes teachers get tongue tied. I almost made it though the discussion without tripping over my words lol.

[@kaze987]

@@KittyKanhoffen and it was all done in one take right? Awesome!

[@TheSteveshears]

Wowsers Kitty absolutely exciting picking day!

[@KittyKanhoffen]

SO exciting! Thanks Steve for watching!

[@TheSteveshears]

@@KittyKanhoffen Today I was out walking with the pooch and found enough Chanterelles to dress a great pizza! Oh and I didn't trip and pulverize them all like you know who did..hahaha

[@KittyKanhoffen]

@@TheSteveshears Ha this made me LOL. I am glad that you were able to top up your pizza with some wild mushrooms that didn't look like peanut butter :P

[@FishingwithRod]

@@TheSteveshears 😫😫😫

[@RGutz81]

Just gathered 3 lbs off tje Washington coast of some golden chanterelles. So delicious

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Do you prefer White or Golden Chanterelles?

[@jandyke9995]

Great video. I get the odd chanterell and chicken of the forest. I have never seen the round ball looking ones

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Chicken are my fav summer shroom! Their colours POP in their "drab" surroundings. This year we only stumbled upon a few, didn't even see any later in the season or signs of any... Maybe they didn't flush at all, maybe conditions were poor... Who knows!

[@wingnutbert9685]

Would love to see a video of how you made your own dehydrator for the mushrooms! (Saw you mentioned making one in a response to an earlier comment)

[@Krissykris1468]

Loved this video, Kitty! Can't wait to see more on your channel

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Thanks Kristin, tomorrow at 8PM PST we are releasing a new video, Finding and Cooking Matsutake Mushrooms!

[@Krissykris1468]

@@KittyKanhoffen could not have come at a better time. 3 trips, including today to find some pines and all FLOPS! ♥️♥️

[@KittyKanhoffen]

@@Krissykris1468 Pine advice: Elevation is key. We found most of ours between 800m-1100m this year, they prefer fast draining soil, forest type old growth/second growth Hemlock, Doug Fir, you can have pine trees mixed in, they can grow in salal over ferns. This is what I've noticed from our experiences.

[@FishingwithRod]

@@Krissykris1468 Don't forget about fishing! 😅

[@rafabonati7757]

This is a very good educational tool. People should still have an expert with them when collecting mushrooms to avoid terrible effects. Your mushrooms look beautiful. But I am wondering if Daniel secretly eats black licorice while in the forest and just doesn’t tell you the joke?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

He could never hide candy from me, I hear that bag open and I'm on it. That would be good though if he managed to fool me all these years. :P

[@suebar5177]

Wow....awesome! I also started foraging for mushrooms a couple yrs ago, but certainly not as good as you at finding them😳🍄🦋 even ventured to Chilliwack and Squamish this year hoping to find Pines...none😭

[@MrPraniel]

Super cool. Thanks for sharing. Do you ever find lions mane?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I believe that is a mushroom that we don't have in our area unfortunately, but I have tried them before. My girlfriend bought a couple for me from a farmers market two years ago, and they were tasty! Salt, pepper, pan fry, dig in!

[@calan83]

What amazing finds!! Thank you for sharing with us! Me and my partner just got into it super recently and I'm excited to see all the beauties we could find this season ahead! Where could we find a guide like the one you showed around the 12:00 mark? It looks very handy!

[@tracycouture3955]

Nice harvest 🍄🍄 I am only finding horse hoof and birch polypore in BC Canada. New sub👍

[@rehmankhan3991]

Nice video

[@lawrenceblue8207]

Thanks Kitty, I'm thinking of purchasing a few books on edible mushrooms and when to look for them.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

The guide I used in the video was "A FIELD GUIDE TO EDIBLE MUSHROOMS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST" by Daniel Winkler. This one is light and easy to pack around in your pocket, but has fewer mushrooms listed. The ultimate guide IMO is "ALL THAT THE RAIN PROMISES AND MORE: A HIP POCKET GUIDE TO WESTERN MUSHROOMS," by David Arora. The stories/experiences compiled in Arora's book are engaging and the information isn't heavy for someone who is just starting out.

[@JamesTKirk-yz5ng]

Thanks so much for this. Great info and it keeps visuals. will search out that book :)

[@lenwenzel7440]

Nice video, it's great to see fellow mushroom heads on the Island! Can you talk about honey mushrooms, or lions mane? I've come across inky caps but have never tried eating them. Lobsters make a lovely omelette, or with scrambled eggs. I would love to find matsutake, they sound very interesting.

[@jamaf99]

Hey . I came across your video. I am on the island too. Where did you pick up your mushroom laminated guide?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I bought this guide from Chapters! www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/9781550175424-item.html?s_campaign=goo-Shopping_Smart_Books&gclid=Cj0KCQiAh4j-BRCsARIsAGeV12D76U_-FiL9MNc23Wgc4g513IsZfKRmU5zphRnGU5ylNzLyMRKSmLcaApKYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[@brianjanku4549]

I live in washington, I would like to get that feild guide you have. Can you tell me what it is called? Great video.

[@miewmiewminitinivimpikitch8157]

Nice mushrooms 🍄🍄🍄 Hope you don’t mind if I would like to share this with you too 🍄🌿🌿

[@tracey6422]

Thank you for the video. Where can we get the mushroom guide that you used in your video?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Hi Murtaza, I bought mine from Chapters... Here is the link for it! www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-field-guide-to-edible/9781550175424-item.html?ikwid=mushrooms&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=19#algoliaQueryId=a951cc50fb2035ee575f4665b955dc3b

[@tracey6422]

@@KittyKanhoffen Thanks. Already placed an order on Amazon.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

@@tracey6422 Saaaaaaweeeeeet!

[@HelloEllie2023]

So informative, thank you Kitty! ☺️☺️ How should I judge if it is safe to go mushroom picking for the first time? Going with one friend, but we are both small, should we be worried about the wild animals that we may encounter? How do you prepare for that?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I am going to tell you a story that might scare you. About a year ago Daniel was out looking for pines while I was at work. He went to a spot that he was familiar with so he went with nothing, but a basket. While he was bent down excavating a pine in thick salal, he heard a branch break. He looked up and there was face to face with a cougar, crouching down staring at him (about 10ish ft away). He said that he had never been so scared in his life. He had no spray, no knife, nothing. He jumped up and yelled as loud as he could to startle the cat, and after he made himself look big the cat disappeared into the bush. He said he could see the cat stalking him from a distance all the way back to the gravel road... As outdoorsy as I seem, I have the BIGGEST fear of animals, especially cougars. I will NEVER go out in the bush alone, because I know I'd be so paranoid the whole time that it wouldn't be enjoyable. My advice is to go out with a friend, the more the merrier anyway, and always have a knife or spray with you.

[@HelloEllie2023]

@@KittyKanhoffen wow😨 I would have sh** my pants before I realized I should make myself look bigger and yell...but Daniel super quick reaction 👍👍even though he was scared, he knew what to do, he saved his own life!! So very grateful he safely got back to the car! This is once in a life time experience and a hell of a story to tell each time!! 🦖🐉 Got it, always to go with someone or more than one. Knife and spray. Maybe a recording of a man yelling 😂 not so sure my sound of yelling will scare a cougar away, but it sure will scare a bunch of people away 🤦‍♂️ ( it’s more sharp than powerful haha)

[@HelloEllie2023]

@@KittyKanhoffen ...and I think I will just stick with fishing for now.. haha 😂

[@KittyKanhoffen]

@@HelloEllie2023 Yessss! Record someone screaming and just have the "play button" accessible! See, you have got some great ideas on how to say safe in the bush. 🙌👌

[@KittyKanhoffen]

@@HelloEllie2023 Or that :P

[@kennethclark5636]

Still waiting for 'COOKING WITH MUSHROOMS AND FINE DINING WITH KITTY' video. Which mushroom is best in an omelet?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

My favourite for an omelet? Hands down are Golden Chantys. Let them dry in your fridge for a few days, then peel them like string cheese, and fry them up in butter. Once their full cooked, toss in your eggs, whipping cream, and other ingredients! Bon appetit!

[@spacerooo]

Why do you cut chanterelles from the ground but pluck the pines? This year was my first year foraging. Most recently found more winter chanterelles than I have ever seen! Like veins of gold.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

This is an excellent question Stacey! The reason we pluck every Pine is because the base is needed for identification purposes. There are many deadly look-a-likes, and we need the base to tell the pine apart from let's say an Amanita smithiana. A pine has a tapered base with an ashy foot, where as the smithiana is a lot more bulbus at the bottom. So either we are eating them ourselves or serving them to restaurants, keeping that base is a must! Whereas for Chanterelles, foragers don't rely on their stem to compare them to other mushrooms. There is also the cut v.s. pluck debate with Chanterelles as well. Some say that if you cut, there is a chance the mushroom will continue to flush again from that cut. We have seen it before where Daniel and I have come back a patch the next weekend to find fresh chanterelles growing out of the old cut marks.

[@blueback21]

thanks kitty, how do you store so many mushroom?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

We have dehydrators, one from Cabela's and the other we made last Spring during lockdown. The rest we give away to friends or sell to local restaurants or buyers.

[@GCRockymtns]

Wow big variety, I do the morels in the spring but I know there are so many more here I haven’t explored yet. Tks for the vid Kitty keep them coming

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I was SOOOOOOOOO excited for morels this past Spring, but then with Covid-19, and no real patches close-ish to home, ours wasn't very successful. I am looking forward to trying again Spring 2021! Thanks for the support GCRockymtns!

[@GCRockymtns]

@@KittyKanhoffen they are the best and always a hot commodity for guests especially those who never had before. This covid has sure wreaked havoc on many of our plans. Hopefully this spring is better for all

[@jeremylutersz3374]

Hey Kitty, where did you pick up that Mushroom Guide. A few years ago we were kayaking in the Broken Group Islands and we came across this mushroom that looks like a fried egg, Seriously I’ve got a picture off it. I’ve talked with a couple off people and they said it was one off those mushrooms that had medical uses. I’m still not sure if this mushroom is safe to eat.

[@RGutz81]

Do u guys sell these mushrooms? Do u need a license to pick? Is there a restriction of how much you can gather?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Do we sell? Yes and No. Do you need a license to pick? No. Are there any restrictions to the amounts you can forage? No.

[@RGutz81]

@@KittyKanhoffen lol, yes ans no!!! Luv that answer. Aweaome vid. Ty always

[@fishingreporter2784]

The bear head is extremely expensive in Asia. More expensive than crab

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I am curious on the prices over there? Do you know how individual's prepare it?

[@fishingreporter2784]

@@KittyKanhoffen My experience is quite out of date. When I was young, I heard the bear head were quite expensive. But after google, looks like the price is between 10-20 dollar a pound. The bear head in Asia looks smaller and not like the BC bear head. Chinese believe bear head is delicious and precious as shark fin. I had the bear head in soup.

[@leanna7209]

Do u sell to local restaurants?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Sell some, eat some, give others to family and friends. In our latest video I added the Chanterelles to a homemade pizza! YUM!

[@bryani.6224]

Do you run into other people foraging for mushrooms?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

Not often, but we do. There are particular spots where I expect to see other foragers, or "cut marks." Most of the time, however, we are so far out in the bush that running into people is never an issue.

[@tessa0104]

Been looking so hard for mushroom lately my eyes gone wonky. Still looking for my first pine. Not a lot of golden chanterelle where I live but tons of huge white chanterelle. We have a lot of lobsters which I'm not a fan of. Kitty I'm very paranoid of bears and cougars, what do you do for safety? I have bangers, spray and bells attached to my dogs and speaker blasting music and I'm still paranoid. What about SPOT? Personal beacon? Okay I'll stop there haha.

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I will give you a little hint... Wherever there are whites, we have always found pines! The whites usually show up a couple weeks before the pines do (pines really prefer that cold snap). I shared this story with someone in an earlier comment, I hope it can be of help to you too Tessa. About a year ago Daniel was out looking for pines while I was at work. He went to a spot that he was familiar with so he went with nothing, but a basket. While he was bent down excavating a pine in thick salal, he heard a branch break. He looked up and there was face to face with a cougar, crouching down staring at him (about 10ish ft away). He said that he had never been so scared in his life. He had no spray, no knife, nothing. He jumped up and yelled as loud as he could to startle the cat, and after he made himself look big the cat disappeared into the bush. He said he could see the cat stalking him from a distance all the way back to the gravel road... As outdoorsy as I seem, I have the BIGGEST fear of animals, especially cougars. I will NEVER go out in the bush alone, because I know I'd be so paranoid the whole time that it wouldn't be enjoyable. My advice is to go out with a friend, the more the merrier anyway, pick in open areas, don't stay out too late, and always have a knife or spray with you.

[@tessa0104]

@@KittyKanhoffen guess I’ll have to make some friends 😹

[@EmilioExploring]

Can you dry these?

[@KittyKanhoffen]

I am sure you can dehydrate anything, we have only tried dehydrating bearshead, the chanterelles, hedgehogs and lobsters. I have tried freezing them before, I don't recommend it.

[@EmilioExploring]

@@KittyKanhoffen Ill just have to do some experimenting :)

[@KittyKanhoffen]

@@EmilioExploring Let me know how it goes! Cheers!

[@ymehair]

Diversity!!!! You mean Assortment!!!!! So sick of hearing that stupid word!!!! This isn't a job interview.