Mushroom Hunting in North Carolina

Mushroom hunting in North Carolina can lead to big culinary rewards

Due to its warmer climate and pastoral environment, North Carolina is a haven for mushroom hunters, where the fungi grow abundantly. Knowing where to look and what specimens are popular in each area can aid mushroom hunters in scoring large bounties.

Season

In North Carolina, specifically western North Carolina where mushroom hunting is popular, the primary season is between July and October, when warmer weather brings higher yields. However, there are a few varieties that can be found off-season, like reishi in May and oyster mushrooms in the wintertime.

Location

Mushrooms tend to grow in areas that remain moist for long periods of time. This translates to wooded areas, especially near a body of water, as well as places that experience high volumes of rain. Asheville is one city in North Carolina where mushrooms can regularly be found.

North Carolina Morels

One of the favorite mushrooms that hunters try to unearth, the North Carolina Morels are fairly large in size but can be elusive. Yet when you do stumble across a patch of morels, you will be usually be rewarded by a medium to large yield. One way to increase your chances of finding the morel is by knowing which trees they are more likely to grow by, for example, Eastern White Pine and Eastern Cottonwood.

References

• Explore Asheville: Alan Muskat
• Scribd: Indicator Trees for Finding Morel