Pacific Northwest Mushroom Identification and Information Forum
Wild mushrooms can be found throughout our conifer and hardwood forests. Mycorrhizal mushrooms such as boletes and matsutakes rely on trees to survive, so it makes sense to look for them in heavily forested areas with lots of pine trees. Morels, on the other hand, fruit best in logged out or burned areas, so you’ll want to search in clear-cuts or after a forest fire. Look for golden chanterelles in the state’s hardwood forests. Always get permission from property owners if you intend to search on private land.
Permits:
Personal use permits are required in most of the state’s forests although they are usually free. They grant the holder the right to either one or two pounds of mushrooms per day, depending on where you go. Commercial permits, which waive the collection limits but must be purchased, are required on all public lands in the state. Requirements change frequently, so check with the Cascade Mycological Society for updated information and for a list of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management offices in the state.
Truffle World ; Truffles The Most Expensive Food in the World
Northwestern region of the United States is rich in wild mushrooms. Particularly during the seasons of fall and spring, mushrooms seem to carpet the forest floors. In recent years, commercial mushroom harvesting has increased in the state of Oregon. Because of this increase, the state charges a fee to those who harvest mushrooms from federal land. However, those who collect mushrooms for private use can do so free of charge. Collecting wild mushrooms in Oregon is an enjoyable hobby for residents and tourists alike. Mushroom collectors will no doubt also enjoy the scenery of Oregon’s forests as they hunt for mushrooms. Collecting mushrooms in Oregon can be easily enjoyed once you learn the best methods, locations and times to hunt.
Oregon’s wild mushrooms are some of the most delectable in the world. Hunters can earn big bucks for a single day’s harvest, so it’s no wonder hobbyists and commercial pickers alike scour the state in search of the valuable fungi. The most popular–and tastiest–mushrooms found in Oregon are morels, golden chanterelles, king boletes and American matsutakes. Other edible species include the horn of plenty, the spreading-hedgehog, the shaggy parasol, the coral tooth, the black picoa and the Oregon white truffle
In general, the time to hunt for mushrooms is in the spring and fall when warm, wet weather provides ideal growing conditions. Each species, however, has its own “best” season. Edible morels are more abundant in the spring, and golden chanterelles and American matsutakes do better in the late summer and fall. King boletes can be found year-round depending on where you go–fall to spring at low elevations and late spring to summer in the high country.
Cascade Mycological Society
P.O. Box 110
Eugene Oregon 97440
webmaster@cascademyco.org
cascademyco.org
Mushroom photo by, Shayne Bukowski 10-23-15