Mushroom & Fungi Foraging

People have been gathering fungi for millennia for food, medicine and for functional properties as well. Fungal gathering today ranges from enthusiasts collecting delicious mushrooms for personal use to large, commercial harvesting operations connected to national and international sales. Additionally, many people also forage with interests in myco-materials like paper, ink and natural pigments to dye fabric and fibers for art, clothing, and more!

Identification

If you have any doubts about whether your collections are poisonous or not, do not eat them!

Accurate identification is absolutely crucial if you're going to take collections home for eating. Please remember that eating wild fungi can be risky unless you're certain of the identification - and sometimes negative idiosyncratic reactions can occur! For example, see Chlorophyllum rachodes. Also, there are many species that have very similar “look-a-likes” and identification can be tricky! Please also be aware of the surrounding ecosystem and how toxins may or may not be present in the fungus of choice!

The best way to learn about mushroom identification is going out in the field with experienced folks and having bioregionally appropriate fields guides to accompany you on your adventures. Always make sure to get multiple opinions on any mushroom you want to eat and reference your identification books to make sure you have what you think you have or what you want to have! Generally, we recommend knowing at least 3-5 key traits of any fungus to confirm their identity and 7 traits is even better!

Proposed Mushroom Collecting Policies

At the Sonoma County Mycological Society, we're concerned about the public's ability to collect mushrooms for personal use on public lands. Here's our take on the situation, and what we would like to see happen ASAP!

  • Fungi are not plants and educational classes/programs as well as park rules and restrictions need to reflect this reality. Education is necessary and a great opportunity!

  • Equal or greater concern should be given to individual and small group collecting rather than commercial collectors.

  • Collecting should be permitted in wilderness areas such as sport hunting and fishing are now, with regulations as to how collection is done and licensing if necessary. Again, education is essential to establish safe/appropriate behavior and ethics for the sake of humans and ecosystems!

  • Permits/licenses should be attainable by mail, phone and/or online for noncommercial collection. Group permits should be issued for mushroom club events.

  • There should be a minimum below which no permit is needed to permit spontaneous collecting of that chance or rare find!

  • There should be no loss of access to areas currently legal for picking.

  • State and regional parks should be reopened for noncommercial purposes with fungal educational programs available.

  • There should be no seasonal restrictions on the picking of mushrooms.

Rules & Regulations Vary!

While picking wild mushrooms in northern California is restricted on many public lands, there are several local parks that do allow gathering for personal use. Rules and regulations can and do change, so before loading up your basket, please make sure to check the latest policies regarding mushroom gathering on public lands.

Sonoma County Parks

Picking mushrooms is not allowed in any of the regional, city, or town parks in Sonoma County. Just don't do it.

California State Parks

There is currently only one California state park in our area that allows mushroom collecting for personal use without a permit, and that’s Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County.

There is an enforceable limit of three pounds of mushrooms per person, per day, and commercial picking of any kind is not allowed. Fines are steep for infringements—up to $300—so try to avoid the temptation to sneak an extra one in your pocket!

CalFire

Jackson State Demonstration Forest is a CalFire project that is not part of the State Parks system. “Jackson” is the largest of CalFire's eight demonstration state forests. Located in the middle of California's coastal redwood region, on the western edge of Mendocino County at Fort Bragg, it's a great place to go find mushrooms. Just be sure you get the proper permit - it’s not that expensive and can only be done by mail - last we checked! Group events require a Special Use Permit. More info: Jackson State Forest

National Forests (USFS)

Collecting mushrooms for personal/non-commercial use in National Forests is usually allowed with a free permit. You can pick up the permit at the headquarters of the National Forest you're visiting. Restrictions vary among the individual National Forests, so make sure to find out the specifics when picking up your permit.

National Parks (NPS)

Picking mushrooms is only allowed in some of the National Parks. As always, check with the specific National Park to check their rules and regulations.

In our area, mushroom gathering for personal use at Point Reyes National Seashore is allowed: 8 liters (2 gallons) plus 1 mushroom per adult per day. The only exception is during the special MycoBlitz event.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Collecting mushrooms is allowed in many recreation areas managed by BLM, but the rules, restrictions, and permit requirements vary depending on the area. Contact the appropriate field office for specific info.

Private property

It's never okay to pick mushrooms on private land without permission. Always ask first - you’d be surprised how many people will want to know about what you know!

More Resources

Field Guides

Here's a brief list of some general mushroom field guides useful for the West Coast forager. All of these books can found in your favorite book store, online, or in the library.

  • Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fungi of Coastal Northern California

    Noah Siegel and Christian Schwarz. 2016

  • California Mushrooms

    Dennis E. Desjardin, Michael G. Wood, Frederick A. Stevens, 2015

  • Mushrooms Demystified

    David Arora, 1986

  • Fruits of the Forest: A field guide to Pacific Northwest edible mushrooms

    Daniel Winkler, 2022

  • Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest

    Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest

    Steve Trudell and Joe Ammirati, 2009

  • All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms

    David Arora, 1991