Spring is the season where Iowa mushrooms hunters take to the woods looking for the edible fungus. Iowa State University Extension’s Chelsea Harbach says people can get carried away looking for mushrooms, but you have to follow the rules.
Harbach says DNR regulations do allow you to look for mushrooms on public lands.
Morel mushrooms are one of the most popular types that people hunt for in Iowa. Harbach says many people have favorite sites where they’ve found morels, but she says they are not always guaranteed to deliver.
She says the Iowa Morel Report on Facebook has thousands of followers and is a good source to see where the hot spots are.
Harbach oversees ISU Extension’s certification classes for those who want to sell wild mushrooms. She says there are a list of eight different types, and all of them can pop up anywhere.
Harbach says you should do some research and know which mushrooms are okay to eat and which ones are poisonous before you head out.
