National Mushroom Hunting Day Date in the current year: May 17, 2026

People have been practicing mushroom hunting (also known as mushroom picking, mushroom foraging, or mushrooming) since ancient times. However, attitudes toward mushrooms have varied by region and era. In ancient Egypt, for instance, mushrooms were considered a delicacy reserved for nobility. In medieval Europe, however, they were viewed with suspicion due to their association with witchcraft.

Today, mushrooms are extensively used in cooking throughout the world. However, most of the mushrooms sold at supermarkets and grocery stores are commercially cultivated. Meanwhile, mushroom hunting has become more of a hobby than a way to obtain sustenance. It is popular throughout most of Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as in temperate North America and West Africa.

Mushrooms need warmth and moisture to grow, so the start of the hunting season varies by region in the United States. Morels are typically the first mushrooms to grow in the spring, so the start of the morel season is generally considered the start of the mushroom hunting season. It generally begins in the Deep South in late February or March and reaches the Midwest, Northeast, and Appalachia in April and May. Perhaps this is why National Mushroom Hunting Day is celebrated in May.

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, a mushroom enthusiast and freelance writer/editor who has created over two dozen fun holidays, established National Mushroom Hunting Day to share her passion for mushroom hunting, encourage others to try the hobby, and provide tips on picking mushrooms safely.

If you’ve never picked mushrooms before but want to try, the first thing you should do is learn which ones are safe to eat. Mushrooms are divided into four main groups based on their edibility: edible, conditionally edible, inedible, and poisonous. Edible mushrooms probably don't require an explanation. Conditionally edible mushrooms are only edible under certain conditions; for example, only when thoroughly cooked. Inedible mushrooms are generally non-toxic, but they are extremely unpleasant to eat due to their taste or odor. Poisonous mushrooms are toxic and can sometimes be deadly.

Experienced foragers often recommend memorizing the major deadly mushrooms in your region before learning about the edible ones. In North America, these include the death cap and destroying angels, which both belong to the genus Amanita and contain deadly toxins called amatoxins. Since some deadly mushrooms closely resemble edible species, you should always follow the primary rule of mushroom hunting: never pick or eat a mushroom unless you are 100% sure of its identity.

You should also learn the local laws and regulations regarding mushroom hunting, which can vary by state. While most states generally allow collecting mushrooms for personal use on public lands, such as state forests, they usually put a cap on how many you can gather per day, typically ranging from one to five gallons. However, many national parks restrict or forbid mushroom gathering, even for personal use. Picking mushrooms on private property without the owner’s permission is considered trespassing.