Pacific Northwest Mushroom Hunting

Mushroom hunting can lead to some great eating.

Ample rainfall makes the Pacific Northwest an excellent place to hunt for mushrooms. Mushroom hunting can be a fun activity by itself, but it can also lead to healthier meals on your table. Learn which mushrooms can be hunted in the area and which ones are safe.

Golden Chanterelle

This beautiful blooming mushroom can be found in the fall in the Pacific Northwest. The golden chanterelle is found in clumps on the ground, but not near the base of trees. Chanterelles are easily identified by the deep ridges underneath the mushroom head that extend from the hood to the stem. The entire mushroom is an egg-yolk yellow color and shouldn't change when it is bruised. Avoid the false chanterelle mushroom, which is more of an orange color and spotty. A false chanterelle can cause an upset stomach.

Chicken of the Woods

These yellow mushrooms grow on the wounds of trees and can be found across the Pacific Northwest. Chicken of the Woods grows almost horizontally in multiple, disc-like layers called shelves. Younger mushrooms have a rubbery feel to them and are moist to the touch; they become more brittle and pale as they age. Cook this mushroom for 10 to 20 minutes before eating. This mushroom can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Oyster Mushroom

The oyster mushroom is one of the most recognizable and popular mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. It grows on the sides of trees in shelves and is light gray. The underside of the cap features thin, delicate ridges, or gills; the cap itself is shaped like an oyster. There are no poisonous mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest that resemble the oyster mushroom, but it still must be cooked before eating.

Hedgehog Mushrooms

Hedgehog mushrooms have distinctive gills that resemble very small spikes. The cap can grow up to 6 inches wide and has an irregular shape that can be concave or convex. The flesh is off-white or slightly gray at maturity. It is often mistaken for a chanterelle mushroom, but is easily differentiated by its distinctive gills.

Precautions

Identify every mushroom carefully before picking it. Failure to do so can result in severe sickness or death. Take a field guide with you when hunting mushrooms in the Northwest. Never eat raw mushrooms. Cooking improves the flavor and digestion of mushrooms, and also helps to eliminate potentially harmful substances. Also, don't consume alcohol when eating mushrooms for the first time; alcohol can aggravate allergic reactions.

References

• Cascade Mycological Society: Hunting Guidelines
• Wild Edible Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest