Shroom hunting Mushroom Hunting basics

[Phungushead]

There are a lot of questions here on mushroom hunting... especially
stuff like: "I live in _______, what shrooms can I find, when do I pick
them, etc". Here, I have compiled information on hunting mushrooms
that should make things easier for everyone... remember that hunting
wild shrooms can be dangerous without proper identification, so it is
very important to take extreme precautions... such as guidebooks,
paper for spore printing, or an experienced hunter if you can.

The first place you want to start is finding out what shrooms grow
wild in your area, so you know what you're looking for... note that
some states do not have any shrooms listed, that does not always
mean that there are absolutely none growing there - you might have
to do a little deeper research. I will update this list as needed...


UNITED STATES

Alabama
Psilocybe caerulescens
Psilocybe cubensis
Copelandia cyanescens
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopolis spectabilis

Alaska
Psilocybe cyanescens
Panaeolus ater
Panaeolus subbalteatus

California (San Francisco to Oregon)
Psilocybe cyanescens
Psilocybe cyanenscens var. fibrillosa (jaguarangel)
Psilocybe pelliculosa
Psilocybe semilanceata Kummer.
Psilocybe stuntzii
Gymnopilus aeruginosus
Gymnopilus luteofolius

Colorado
Panaeolus castaneifolius
Gymnopilus spectabilis
Gymnopilus sapineus
Pluteus salicinus
Gerronema fibula
Conocybe cyanopus

Florida
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Psilocybe caerulescens
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe mammilata
Psilocybe tampanensis
Copelandia cyanescens
Copelandia chlorocystis
Gymnopilus luteofolius
...and an as yet
unnamed Panaeolus species!

Georgia
Psilocybe weilii
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe atlantis
Ps. caerulescens
Ps. caerulipes
Copelandia cyanescens
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopolis spectabilis
Gymnopolis luteofolius
...and 2 as yet
unnamed Psilocybe species!

Hawaii
Copelandia cyanescens
Copelandia tropicalis
Copelandia cambodginiensis
Copelandia bispora
Copelandia anomala
Panaeolus subbalteatus

Idaho
Psilocybe fimetaria
Psilocybe pelliculosa
Psilocybe silvatica
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopilus aeruginosus

Illinois
Pluteus salicinus

Kentucky
Psilocybe caerulipes
Gymnopilus spectabilis

Louisiana
Psilocybe caerulescens
Psilocybe cubensis
Copelandia cyanescens
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopolis spectabilis

Maine
Psilocybe caerulipes
Panaeolus papillionaceus

Massachusetts
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopilus spectabilis = G. junonius

Michigan
Psilocybe caerulipes
Psilocybe liniformans var. americana
Psilocybe silvatica .
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Conocybe smithii Watling.
Gymnopilus aeruginosus
Gymnopilus luteofolius
Gymnopilus luteus
Gymnopilus validipes
Amanita muscaria (Ninja Master)

Mississippi
Psilocybe caerulescens
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe tampanensis
Copelandia cyanescens
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopilus spectabilis

New Jersey
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Psilocybe graveolens

New Mexico
Gymnopilus luteofolius

New York
Psilocybe caerulipes
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe silvatica
Panaeolus papillionaceus
Conocybe cyanopus
Gymnopilus luteofolius
Gymnopilus validipes

North Carolina
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe caerulipes

Oregon
Psilocybe azurescens
Psilocybe baeocystis
Psilocybe cyanafibrillosa
Psilocybe cyanescens
Psilocybe fimetaria
Psilocybe liniformans var. americana
Psilocybe pelliculosa
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe silvatica
Psilocybe strictipes = Psilocybe callosa
Psilocybe stuntzii
Psilocybe subfimetaria
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Conocybe cyanopus
Conocybe smithii
Gymnopilus aeruginosus
Gymnopilus validipes
Amanita muscaria (phungushead)

Ohio
Psilocybe caerulipes
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopilus spectabilis = G. junonius
Gymnopilus aeruginosus

Pennsylvania
Psilocybe caerulipes
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopilus spectabilis
Gymnopilus aeruginosus

South Carolina
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe caerulipes
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopolis spectabilis

Tennessee
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe caerulipes
Gymnopilus aeruginosus
Gymnopilus luteofolius

Texas
Psilocybe cubensis
Copelandia cyanescens
Gymnopolis spectabilis
Gymnopilus luteofolius

Vermont

Virginia
Panaeolus subbalteatus (phungushead)
Psilocybe caerulipes (phungushead)
Gymnopilus aeruginosus (phungushead)

Washington
Psilocybe azurescens
Psilocybe baeocystis
Psilocybe cyanafibrillosa
Psilocybe cyanescens
Psilocybe fimetaria
Psilocybe liniformans var. americana
Psilocybe pelliculosa
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe silvatica
Psilocybe strictipes = Psilocybe callosa
Psilocybe stuntzii
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Conocybe cyanopus
Conocybe smithii
Gymnopilus aeruginosus
Gymnopilus viridans
Amanita muscaria (phungushead)

West Virginia
Psilocybe caerulipes

Wisconsin


CANADA

British Columbia
Psilocybe baeocystis
Psilocybe cyanafibrillosa
Psilocybe cyanescens
Psilocybe fimetaria
Psilocybe pelliculosa
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe silvatica
Psilocybe strictipes = Psilocybe callosa
Psilocybe stuntzii
Psilocybe subfimetaria
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Conocybe cyanopus
Gymnopilus luteofolius

New Brunswick
Amanita muscaria (poorphucker)
Gymnopilus spectabilis (poorphucker)
Panaeolus campaulatus (poorphucker)
Panaeolus conocybe (poorphucker)
Psilocybe fimetaria
Psilocybe semilanceata (poorphucker)
Stropharia hardii (poorphucker)

Nova Scotia
Amanita muscaria (MrJim)
Panaeolus campaulatus (MrJim)
Panaeolus conocybe (MrJim)
Psilocybe semilanceata
Stropharia hardii (MrJim)

Ontario
Psilocybe silvatica
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Gymnopilus viridans

Prince Edward Island
Psilocybe semilanceata

Quebec
Psilocybe caerulipes
Psilocybe quebecensis
Panaeolus subbalteatus


AUSTRALIA

Copelandia cyanescens
Psilocybe australiana
Psilocybe eucalypta
Psilocybe makarorae
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe tasmaniana
Psilocybe aucklandii
Psilocybe subaeruginosa


NEW ZEALAND

Copelandia cyanescens
Psilocybe australiana
Psilocybe eucalypta
Psilocybe makarorae
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe tasmaniana
Psilocybe aucklandii
Psilocybe subaeruginosa


ENGLAND

Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe cyanescens

(From Mapping the Mycelial Network, by Mushroom John Allen)

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Excellent info in this thread, thanks.
	Great guide! u r pro
	Thank you for providing this excellent introduction to mushroom hunting. Convenient, well-structured compilations such a...
	Thank you very much, these tips will be very useful

[Phungushead]

Compiled by phungushead

Some of the more frequently asked questions about mushroom
hunting and answers:

Q: When is the best season(s) to go mushroom hunting?
A: They can be found spring-fall, being more common in fall.
September is typically considered the best season for shroom
hunting.

Q: When is the best time to go look for mushrooms?
A: Usually 24-72 hours after a good rain.

Q: What should I take when I go mushroom hunting?
A: Paper bag or basket to hold mushrooms (plastic not
recommended), scissors, field guide, first aid kit, flashlight
(if hunting at night), paper for field spore printing, are all good
things to take.

Q: What mushrooms do I look for?
A: Well duh, see above post! It depends a lot on your location.

Q: Does characteristic "bluing" always indicate a good mushroom?
A: No, there are several poisonous mushrooms that have this reaction
as well. Bluing is a good indicator of a psychadelic shroom, but not
a guarantee.

Q: I went to a cow field and didn't find any shrooms?
A: Could be a number of things:
1. Too hot.
2. Too dry.
3. Field too new, not innoculated yet.
4. Competing organism in the soil.
5. Someone else knows about the field, and is getting there
before you.

Good guideline when looking for wild shrooms (by GGreatOne):
Temperature = Potency
Humidity = Quantity
Weather = Condition
Field = Quality

[Phungushead]

By phungushead

Now, some of the most common and well known psychoactive wild
shrooms grow in manure enriched soil, i.e. pastures. Here's some
useful information if you plan to hunt for mushrooms in this kind of
habitat:

How it all works:
Well, here's the life cycle of the mushroom in a cow field...
-Cows are in the field eating the grass.
-While they're eating the grass, they're also (ideally) eating tons of
mushroom spores ("seeds") as well.
-Cows do not have stomach acid. The spores are not destroyed as
they go through the cow's digestive system. Meanwhile, they are
also being hydrated and getting ready to germinate.
-When the cow shits, it is basically shitting out an innoculated cow
pie.
-Mycelium (basically, mushroom "roots) start to grow and take over
the cow pie.
-This can take a couple months, meanwhile the cow pie is
decomposing.
-Right conditions (temp, humidity, etc) come along, and the
mycelium fruits.

This is why, contrary to popular belief, you really won't find mushrooms
growing in fresh cow shit, as the cow pie has decomposed into the
surrounding ground by the time the mycelium has fully colonized. If
the field you are searching for is well established (poo-enriched), you'll
find mushrooms everywhere.

[Sektor]

so what about a link to some photos of the various species of magic mushrooms?(specially the ones from NZ) thanks

[Phungushead]

Psilocybe Azurescens:

Photo: drugsinfoteam

Psilocybe Cyanescens:

Photo: Lycaeum

Psilocybe semilanceata:

Photo: Shroomery

Panaeolus subbalteatus:

Photo: Shroomery

Psilocybe cubensis:

Photo: Erowid

Check out Erowid's Mushroom Photo Vault for many more.

[jaguarangel]

In California, there is also Psilocybe cyanenscens fibrillosa and a new Asian
species that fruits in the spring found in San Francisco.

[MrJim]

In Nova Scotia there are actually four others:

Fly Argaric
Panaeolus
Conocibe
Liberty Cap
Stropharia

[wovotom]

hiya anyone know what shrooms grow natively in aberystwyth,Wales its in the uk

[dirk]

re. wales,


that would be psilocybe semilanceata (and they are out now!)


AKA liberty caps, shrooms, mushies


I suggest you go to google images and search for "psilocybe semilanceata" to see pictures.

[turkeyphant]

There are also some really good pics on erowid:







Get to know someone quite experienced in picking and you'll find there
are all the mushrooms you could ever want in the Welsh fields.

[i2yan]

Has anyone here gone shroom hunting in toronto/southern ontario and found any of the shrooms that grow in ontario?



Ontario

Psilocybe silvatica

Panaeolus subbalteatus

Gymnopilus viridans



If so can you please PM me.



thanks,



i2yan

[Bean]

I have heard that growing or hunting magic mushrooms is legal, and just that drying them, or having them for illegal use was illegal. Is that true?

[turkeyphant]

This used to be the case in the UK until the Drugs Bill came into
action on the 18th July this year. As long as the mushrooms were
kept fresh for research purposes and not prepared for consumption or
processed in any way, psiloc(yb)in containing mushrooms were compeltely
legal. However, now they are Class A just like LSD-25 and heroin.



As far as I can discern from the Canadian Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act, psilocin and psilocybin are currently Schedule III
along with acid. Bear in mind this is not the same as the US
Schedule III. I'm not sure what the precise regulations are with
these chemicals inside fresh mushrooms, but I suspect the situation is
the same as the current one in the UK.



In short, I fear that magic mushrooms are illegal in Canada whether dried or fresh.

[Phungushead]

Bullshit as these laws are, if you do happen to get caught picking
psilocybin mushrooms, by all means play dumb. Say something along the
lines of, "I was picking them for my spaghetti dinner". (SWIM's
fabricated excuse).

[bobby g]

dudes, ive just got back from wales, near aberryswth (sp?) any way me and my friend found hundreds of psilocybe semilanceata. look for grassy fields that arent used much, look on the floor first you'll see a couple then you'll get an eye for it and find hundreds. I found some in my back garden today!!!!!!!

[Cheebah]

Hello. I'm am very interested in shroom hunting but I was unable to find a pic of Pluteus salicinus. I was also wondering if it is o.k to take fresh shrooms or is there a preparation procedure? Dumb question but i'm a noob.

[Alfa]

Pluteus salicinus

Only a few species of Pluteus have stems that bruise and discolor blue to greenish, and Pluteus salicinus can be distinguished from the others by its fairly smooth cap and its unlined cap margin. Microscopic features and the fact that its gill edges discolor somewhat grayish also separate it from the other blue-stainers. The cap of Pluteus salicinus may have bluish tints in age, but the stem is a more reliable location to look for the staining reaction.

I have no information on the edibility of Pluteus salicinus; I don't recommend experimenting. Besides, the species has a disagreeable odor and taste.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on decaying hardwood logs and debris; growing alone or gregariously; summer and fall; east of the Great Plains.

Cap: 3-5 cm; convex becoming broadly convex or plane, sometimes with a central depression or a central bump; dark grayish brown, sometimes developing bluish tints in age; smooth or with scattered brownish fibers; the margin not lined.

Gills: Free from the stem; close or crowded; whitish at first, becoming pinkish; the edges sometimes discoloring or bruising grayish.

Stem: 4-7 cm long; up to .5 cm thick; equal; smooth; whitish, staining bluish to greenish or olive near the base.

Flesh: Insubstantial; pale.

Taste: Unpleasant; odor similar.

Spore Print: Pink.

Microscopic Features: Spores 7-9 x 5-6 µ; elliptical; smooth. Pleurocystidia 50-70 x 11-18 µ; with 3-5 horn-like projections.

(Fries, 1821) Kummer. (Kauffman, 1918; Singer, 1956; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979.)

Several varieties of Pluteus salicinus have been described, including Pluteus salicinus var. achloes, which does not stain blue according to Singer (1956), but does according to Smith, Smith & Weber (1979).


Contains psilocybin, but very likely not in sufficient amounts. i.e. You will probably not get high from them!

[poorphucker]

Originally Posted by MrJim

In Nova Scotia there are actually four others

All those are common here in New Brunswick also. semilanceata, and laughing gyms are extremley common here.

A & S

[IHrtHalucingens]

Does anyone know if there are any mushrooms in season during late nov. early dec. in maryland, there was no info above about maryland. is this becasue maryland sucks for shrooms or what? any info would be greatly appreciated.

[bloodykeyboard]

No New Hampshire? Please give some info.

[Senor Gribson]

Originally Posted by Cheebah

I was also wondering if it is o.k to take fresh shrooms or is there a preparation procedure? Dumb question but i'm a noob.

there is a very effective preparation procedure for removing harmful toxins from psychedelic mushrooms; wash them
this method, known as the water method, effective as it may be will not work on toxic mushrooms



and for those living in Ontario, fly agaric is also a very common mushroom here in forest areas and i have been told by several experienced shroomers that panther caps are common as well. i saw a death cap growing in the forest once, so don't go hunting for panthers unless you know what you're doing

[Alfa]

The only harmfull toxins in psilocybe come in the form of bacteria, when they start to rot.

[psyche]

Amanita muscaria's muscimol is also water soluble. That makes it easy to make tee from dried shrooms. You almost everytime hear something tastes terrible, one worst than another, but this time I gotta say the tea is almost good. Amanitas should be dried with low temperature, some 50-70C propably. That makes Ibotenic acid(the stuff makes you sick in Fly Agaric) to destroy or convert to muscimol, which is some 4x more psychoactive. The most of the muscimol lays just under in the mass under the red skin. That's the stuff supposed to be smoked if someone wants to give it a try. I have a slight buzz and euphoria, and slightly altered consiousness after smoking it.
I don't know how common is this misbelief, but Red Fly Agarics are not deadly if eaten raw, they only make you sick. Finland, Italy and Russia, I think, are the only countries in the world in which eating shrooms(for food) is a common phenomena. Correct me if I'm wrong.

As far as I can remember, Panaeolus subbalteatus has no proven psychoactive alkaloid content and the effects are controversial, but I'm not sure. Have found those on my yard, too shame that didn't try them.

[addicted2hc]

So no mushrooms can be found in Wisconsin? I see its listed as a state, but no mushrooms are below it.

Could someone clarify?

[Beeker]

SWIM is an old mushroom hunter from Texas. SWIM would like to suggests some adds from experience.

Texas

Amanita muscaria
Copelandia cambodgeniensis
Gymnopilus aeruginosus
Gymnopilus luteofolius (Peck) Singer. (Stamets, 1996).
Gymnopilus luteoviridisrle Singer. (Alexopolous & Jackson, 1976.)
Gymnopilus sapineus
Gymnopilus spectabilis
Panaeolus subbalteatus
Psilocybe cubensis

Edit: and thanks to Allen, Gartz and Guzman for pointing out Copelandia cambodgeniensis years ago or I never would have identified the mushroom. Not very common at all though.