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MpSeph
Cow Field Creature



Registered: 06/17/19
Posts: 3,283
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 6 months, 3 days
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Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter 4
#27146775 - 01/13/21 10:41 PM (3 years, 14 days ago) |
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These Are Some Tips/Safety Tips That I've Gathered That A Beginner Hunter May Or May Not Find Helpful
 
1.) Never Eat A Mushroom That Has Not Been Positively Identified.
2.) Make Learning To Identify Fun & Easy, Not Hard. Buy A Good Mushroom Identification Book. If You Can't Remember Scientific Names Such As Genus/Sp Level, Categorize Mushrooms In Your Head By The Substrate They Grow From, Or As "Active", "Edible", "Inactive" & "Toxic" Until You Can.
3.) Use The Search Engine, Use Keywords For What You Are Looking For, Search Through Old Threads, Active Season Threads, & Recent Threads To Help You Learn. It Is Very Likely Someone Has Already Asked The Same Questions Before.
4.) Uproot Mushrooms For Identification Purposes, Then Once You Can Positively Identify Them, Cut The Stems. It Is Best To Use Scissors Or A Knife.
5.) Familiarize Yourself With All Types Of Mushrooms, (Edible, Toxic, Hallucinogenic, Etc...) Not Just Actives, This Will Help You Seperate Actives From Non Actives, Edibles From Deadlies, Etc...
6.) Take Note Of Every Feature Of Every Mushroom. You May Find 2 Mushrooms Growing In Separate Locations, From The Same Type Of Substrate & They May Look Very Similar, & You May Think They Are The Same Sp. However, You Should Check Every Feature, Take A Spore Print & Make Sure.
7.) Avoid Tresspassing.
8.) Wear The Correct Attire When Hunting Mushrooms. You May Stumble Across Unfriendly Plants, Bugs, & Other Critters On Your Journey.
9.) If You Go Alone, Tell Someone You Are Going Hunting & Where You Will Be, In Case You Step In A Hole & Break Your Ankle While 2 Miles Out In The Woods. (Anything Can Happen). That Brings Us To Number 10.
10.) Always Carry A Phone While Hunting, In Case You Are In Need Of Help, You Can Call Someone.
11.) Tuck Your Pants In Your Socks Or Boots, To Help Prevent Ticks Crawling Up Your Legs.
12.) Always Remember To Bring Water. You MUST Stay Hydrated While Doing Anything Outside, Sun Or No Sun, It's Healthy.
13.) Always Bring A Weapon. My Choice Is A Knife, Yours Can Be Whatever You Like, But The Idea Of Running Across A Dangerous Wild Animal With No Weapon, Is An Idea I'm Not Down With.
14.) If You Plan To Hike/Mushroom Hunt & Be Gone For A Long Time, It May Be A Good Idea To Bring Some Small Snacks Along With You, To Replenish Energy.
15.) Always Bring A Small Canister Of "Off" (Mosquito Spray). Nothing's Worse Than Running Into A Pack Of A Million Mosquitoes After A Rain & Them Trying To Suck Every Drop Of Blood Out Of You.
16.) Don't Just Reach Your Hands Off In Some Tall Grass, Poke Around The Grass/Brush With A Stick First. You Can Also Use A Walking Stick To Move Tall Grass In Front Of You As You Walk (Scaring Any Small Critters Out Of Your Way).
17.) Try To Keep Mushroom Specimens In Good Shape While Carrying Them. A Paper Or Cloth Bag Will Work, So Will A Basket, But A Plastic Bag Is A Poor Choice.
18.) Take In Situ Pictures Of The Mushrooms You Find & Keep Pictures Of Different Sp In Seperate Folders/Galleries. This Will Help You Keep Track Of All Your Finds.
19.) When You Find A Mushroom Patch, Try Your Best Not To Walk All Over The Patch While Picking, You Don't Want To Disturb The Mycelium Beneath The Substrate.
20.) Toxic Mushroom Sp Can Be Found Growing Right Alongside, Sometimes In The Same Patch As Other Active Sp, Make Sure To Double Check Every Single Specimen.
Honorable Mentions I Learned From Other Members.
21.) Hunt As Much As You Can & Don't Limit Your Hunting Time Frames. If You Always Hunt The First 3 Days After A Rain, You May Never Know That Good Flushes Are Popping Up On The 4th Day ~ Doctorghosty
If You Always Hunt One Section Of A Field Or Certain Area, You May Never Know That Good Flushes Are Popping Up In Another Section Of The Area.
22.) When Hunting Kneel Down Every Once In A While & Look Around. Getting Lower To The Ground & Scanning Can Sometimes Help To Find Mushrooms You Otherwise Might Not Have Seen ~ Doctorghosty
23.) Take Spore Prints Of Specimens You Find On Your Clothes/Shoes/Hat So As You Walk You Spread Spores ~ Doc9151
24.) VERY IMPORTANT ~ DO NOT PUT DIFFERENT MUSHROOMS IN THE SAME BAG WHILE HUNTING. BRUISING COLORS CAN RUB OFF ON OTHER MUSHROOMS, PUT DIFFERENT SPECIES IN DIFFERENT BAGS.
-------------------- Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27146775 One Who Hunts Mushrooms Is A Mushroom Hunter. One Who Eats Them Without Knowing What They Are, Is A Dumb Mushroom Hunter. - Seph
Edited by MpSeph (05/26/21 10:17 PM)
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the man
still masked



Registered: 08/12/99
Posts: 6,681
Loc: C A N A D A
Last seen: 2 days, 12 hours
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: MpSeph]
#27146859 - 01/13/21 11:41 PM (3 years, 14 days ago) |
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tap those caps . i like to smash a couple up and throw them around.. not most effective or maybe really at all but maks me feel good!
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MpSeph
Cow Field Creature



Registered: 06/17/19
Posts: 3,283
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 6 months, 3 days
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: the man]
#27146882 - 01/14/21 12:06 AM (3 years, 14 days ago) |
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Ahh, That's A Good One I Left Out
-------------------- Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27146775 One Who Hunts Mushrooms Is A Mushroom Hunter. One Who Eats Them Without Knowing What They Are, Is A Dumb Mushroom Hunter. - Seph
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CHUCK.HNTR
feral urbanite



Registered: 09/30/19
Posts: 2,255
Loc: SF, CA, USA
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: MpSeph]
#27146946 - 01/14/21 01:06 AM (3 years, 14 days ago) |
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Lucky 13, Mp you ever had to kill a beast out there? I usually only have a small harvesting knife but usually also have a big blunt hori hori with me that I figure could help. 
Lots of good info! I second bringing water and snacks/food if you all are anything like me a short forey can become a multiple hour event don’t kid yourself (mainly reminding myself)
-------------------- "What is the practical application of a million universes?" -Alan Watts
   
Edited by CHUCK.HNTR (01/14/21 01:13 AM)
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MpSeph
Cow Field Creature



Registered: 06/17/19
Posts: 3,283
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 6 months, 3 days
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: CHUCK.HNTR]
#27147423 - 01/14/21 10:11 AM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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I've Not Yet Had To Defend From Any Aggressive Creatures, But I'm Prepared, I Just Carry About A 9in Fixed Blade, 4.5in Blade (Bushcraft Knife)
I've Been Charged By Angry Momma Cows & Have Been Circled By Coyotes At Night, But Nothings Ever Attacked. I Could Never Hurt A Cow, Even If It Was Trampling Me, I'd Just Try To Run If I Could. Coyotes Always Act Tough But Are Easy To Scare Off By Being Loud & Crazy
-------------------- Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27146775 One Who Hunts Mushrooms Is A Mushroom Hunter. One Who Eats Them Without Knowing What They Are, Is A Dumb Mushroom Hunter. - Seph
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Icyurmt
Strange



Registered: 04/02/20
Posts: 1,625
Loc: 5a
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: MpSeph]
#27147553 - 01/14/21 11:31 AM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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#17 I know some people use tackle boxes for this, but I really like to the plastic clamshell containers that berries are normally sold in for this purpose. Aside from being light and free, they are vented which allows the mushrooms to breathe better than the tackle boxs or plastic bags and are rigid enough to prevent your finds from getting crushed or beat up in your bag before you get them back home. If I have a backpack with me I’ll usually bring 2-3 of the quart size as they stack together nicely when empty, but hold a lot. If I’m without a bag then the thinner 12oz ones fit nicely in my back pockets.
The only other thing I would add that partially relates to #22 is to just slow down.. It’s easy to get caught up/overwhelmed in the act of hunting, pattern recognition, searching for the next patch etc. I find that just taking a moment to slow down every once in a while, not be in a hurry and broaden my gaze a bit has been very helpful.
Great list, thanks for taking the time to make it. I think this would be a good sticky..
-------------------- 👁️ 🌊 why you are empty. Hunt for the habitat not the mushroom.
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Nitro87
Living the Dream



Registered: 07/08/20
Posts: 1,962
Loc: The Clouds
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: the man]
#27147586 - 01/14/21 11:47 AM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
the man said: tap those caps . i like to smash a couple up and throw them around.. not most effective or maybe really at all but maks me feel good!
Probably just wasting good fruit. Might at least have better luck mixing with H2O.
Good info MpSeph! A golf club works well with moving grass/debris, and it doubles as a walking stick/ blunt weapon. Haha.
-------------------- Life is worth living
Edited by Nitro87 (01/14/21 11:50 AM)
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MpSeph
Cow Field Creature



Registered: 06/17/19
Posts: 3,283
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 6 months, 3 days
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: Nitro87]
#27148097 - 01/14/21 04:32 PM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Nitro87 said:
Quote:
the man said: tap those caps . i like to smash a couple up and throw them around.. not most effective or maybe really at all but maks me feel good!
Probably just wasting good fruit. Might at least have better luck mixing with H2O.
Good info MpSeph! A golf club works well with moving grass/debris, and it doubles as a walking stick/ blunt weapon. Haha.
Thanks & No Prob 
I Actually Know Of A Cow Field That Sits Right Next To A Golf Coarse, & My Buddy Plays Golf There
-------------------- Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27146775 One Who Hunts Mushrooms Is A Mushroom Hunter. One Who Eats Them Without Knowing What They Are, Is A Dumb Mushroom Hunter. - Seph
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Blazer420
ŦøжїϿ ÐȐȜȧƜƐȓ


Registered: 06/13/09
Posts: 4,825
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: Icyurmt]
#27148393 - 01/14/21 06:44 PM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Icyurmt said: .
The only other thing I would add that partially relates to #22 is to just slow down.. It’s easy to get caught up/overwhelmed in the act of hunting, pattern recognition, searching for the next patch etc. I find that just taking a moment to slow down every once in a while, not be in a hurry and broaden my gaze a bit has been very helpful.
100% this. A hunting buddy of mine usually likes 2 go fast paced and the amount of times he has walked right passed fruiting patches is a little funny to me... Enjoy your time out there, do not rush yourselves.
I have also walked right by patches without knowing until my hunting buddy has told me. It goes both ways really. But he does it a lot more than I do
-------------------- ~ I used to get high on life, until I realized life was cut with morons ~ * You need 2 wake up and smell the music! * -We are all computer data in a materialistic world- |Sometimes you have to lose yourself, to find anything|
 
Edited by Blazer420 (01/14/21 06:45 PM)
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Doc9151
Mycologist



Registered: 02/23/17
Posts: 13,753
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: Blazer420] 1
#27148403 - 01/14/21 06:53 PM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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My mush hunts go like this; walk 10 steps, stop and scan 360° on the ground then the trees, squat down and scan the ground again, stand up walk a few paces and repeat. When hunting pastures I lay out asearch pattern in my mind that keeps me spaced out on each leg of the search pattern about the same distance as my height unless the grass is really thick then I cut that distance in half and walk at a slow lumbering pace being careful to watch my foot placement. I also use a stick to move thick grass before reaching in because of snakes.
--------------------
  Psilocybe cubensis data collection thread. please help with this project if you hunt wild cubensis. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=26513593&page=0&vc=1#26513593
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Blazer420
ŦøжїϿ ÐȐȜȧƜƐȓ


Registered: 06/13/09
Posts: 4,825
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: Doc9151]
#27148405 - 01/14/21 06:55 PM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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^^^ yeah same here. if you spotted 1, more will be around so make sure to squat down or even get on your hands and knees to check under all the foliage around. Love when your doing the 360 to stumble across a mega crop
-------------------- ~ I used to get high on life, until I realized life was cut with morons ~ * You need 2 wake up and smell the music! * -We are all computer data in a materialistic world- |Sometimes you have to lose yourself, to find anything|
 
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Doc9151
Mycologist



Registered: 02/23/17
Posts: 13,753
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: Blazer420] 1
#27148445 - 01/14/21 07:13 PM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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Even when I've taken my time scouring an area and thinking I found them all, I have found more walking back to my car through the same area I had just searched. Sometimes, I would spend 8hrs walking a single pasture and it would almost seem as if new mushroom had grown in the same patties I had harvested from 8hrs earlier. That's how easily they can be over looked and that's true for all mushrooms in my opinion.
--------------------
  Psilocybe cubensis data collection thread. please help with this project if you hunt wild cubensis. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=26513593&page=0&vc=1#26513593
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MpSeph
Cow Field Creature



Registered: 06/17/19
Posts: 3,283
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 6 months, 3 days
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: Doc9151]
#27148547 - 01/14/21 07:59 PM (3 years, 13 days ago) |
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Same, I've Walked Right Past Many Clusters & Huge Fruits & Luckily Found Them On The Way Back.
For Awhile, I'd Tell Myself While Hunting, "There Probably Isn't Anything Over In That Area". Then One Day I Thought "The Hell With It, I'm Checking The Whole Field", & Sure Enough I Found Fruits In Areas I Had Discounted.
From Now On, I Don't Care How Long It Takes. I Work All Day Long. If I Only Get 4 Hrs Of Sleep, Or If I Have To Go To Bed Early & Get Up Early, That's What I Do, I'm Taking My Time & Searching The Whole Field.
I Haven't Tripped In Over A Year, I Just Take Pics & Share Info, I'll Give Some Close Friends A Few Fruits
-------------------- Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27146775 One Who Hunts Mushrooms Is A Mushroom Hunter. One Who Eats Them Without Knowing What They Are, Is A Dumb Mushroom Hunter. - Seph
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skektekbee
Stranger
Registered: 01/16/21
Posts: 4
Last seen: 3 years, 12 days
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: MpSeph]
#27150972 - 01/16/21 06:42 AM (3 years, 12 days ago) |
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I would say just take someone who knows what they are doing.
for me once I knew what I was looking at I could not miss them.
kind of like ridding a bike but before I had no idea even if you
described them.
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MpSeph
Cow Field Creature



Registered: 06/17/19
Posts: 3,283
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 6 months, 3 days
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: skektekbee]
#27151107 - 01/16/21 09:02 AM (3 years, 12 days ago) |
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It's A Gift, Some Learn Way Faster Than Others, Some Only Need To Hear/Read It Once & It Sticks.
-------------------- Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27146775 One Who Hunts Mushrooms Is A Mushroom Hunter. One Who Eats Them Without Knowing What They Are, Is A Dumb Mushroom Hunter. - Seph
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Doc9151
Mycologist



Registered: 02/23/17
Posts: 13,753
Loc: Gulf Coast USA
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: MpSeph] 1
#27152080 - 01/16/21 07:53 PM (3 years, 11 days ago) |
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I've been hunting cubes for over 35yrs now and I use search patterns I learned in the military and I still walk past them. The biggest mistake is when I say "I'll grab that one on the next pass" I can't find it again.
--------------------
  Psilocybe cubensis data collection thread. please help with this project if you hunt wild cubensis. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=26513593&page=0&vc=1#26513593
Edited by Doc9151 (01/16/21 07:53 PM)
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Socialdemocatmeow



Registered: 12/09/23
Posts: 4
Loc: SE QLD
Last seen: 24 days, 15 hours
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Re: Tips For A Beginner Mushroom Hunter [Re: MpSeph]
#28581984 - 12/13/23 10:48 PM (1 month, 14 days ago) |
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Cheers for the tips
-------------------- “Stay fresh cheese bags”
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