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Been out the last few weeks hunting for mushrooms, found some chanterells and they were delicous. We picked a bundle of them and took them home to identify, found out one was deadly poisonus.

I have a pretty good book to identify them with and only eat the ones I am 100% about. - what does anyone else do and could this be considered a dangerous sport

I have fungi galore coming up on my land since the rain came (after drought) and am starting to take an interest in the subject. Can't find anything that's obviously edible though!

There is a good website I have recently discovered

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/

The book is supposed to be one of the best too.

If in doubt, don't eat it is the only sensible thing to do.

I bought a copy of Roger Phillips Mushroom book as I was keen to get out there and find some wild mushrooms - but to be honest, it put me off because I didn't realise how many mushrooms were poisonous, and what horrible things they can do you!

However, I was watching some show the other day (I can't remember that name of it I'm afraid), and the presenter said that all mushrooms (EXCEPT ONE) that had a spongy bottom rather than gills were edible. Apparently the poisonous one looked poinsonous, so you wouldn't mistake it for an edible one.

I might test his theory out - of course I will be checking every mushroom very carefully before eating it!!

Can any experienced mushroom hunters out there confirm this?

I use the roger phillips book and cross reference the shrooms with food for free drawings. Although I think his book is pretty wicked and a comprehensive guide enough.

That presenter is talking out of his bottom. I think you have to be pretty sure that what you are going to eat is not poisonous, what I do is have a look through the book see if it fits a description then have another look to ensure that no poisionus mushrooms look similar. If they do then I discard it.

You get old mushroom hunters and bold mushroom hunters but never old bold mushroom hunters.

what's the name of the mushroom book please ...also the food for free one...is it just an ordinary book for sale through amazon

http://www.eco-logicbooks.com/index.cfm ... iate_id=18 for the Roger Phillips one and I also found another from our book seller eco logic http://www.eco-logicbooks.com/index.cfm ... iate_id=18

can't vouch for the second book, but if it does indeed organise itself in order of the habit of the shrooms it sounds pretty useful.

Eco logic don't seem to sell the food for free one, it is by Richard Mabey. I have a copy that has hand drawn pictures in it and is not brilliant for identifying foods. There is another one that looks ok http://www.eco-logicbooks.com/index.cfm ... iate_id=18

Shamlessly plugging books, but use it as a guide and buy them cheaper on amazon if you want. We only get about 3-5% on the books anyway

It's probably worth remembering, as you tuck into those fungi, that there's only one movie that Clint Eastwood dies in, and it's from mushroom poisoning (The Beguiled).

So, are ya feeling lucky?

Is that true mate? That hilarious.

I like your latin signature, Death before employment.

Alas it seem I'm a little out of date - apparently he now dies in another one as well. That's ruined a nice dinner party statistic. I daresay that his singing in Paint Your Wagon made him wish he were dead in that one too.

thanks, Andy, I've looked the books up

Went mushroom hunting recently, and after a good few hours wandering the woods, i managed to convince myself that everything i had seen was probably deadly, and that I would much rather go home and have a cheese sandwich.
will try again at some point when i feel a little braver.

I've ordered the Roger Philips Mushroom Book just today (It was on my Christmas List but alas Santa seems to have overlooked it ). Come the Spring when I've studied it I shall be out a-hunting the hedgrows and tow paths of South East London (why does that sound so wrong?). Of course, planning to do it is rather different from plucking up the courage to put your mushrooms where your mouth is! So I may yet chicken out!

Alcina

A word of warning, the first couple of times you might feel sick but will be certain that you have not eaten a posionous shroom. I did, but once I got the hang of cross referencing and being double sure that feeling went away.

I started off being shown one species (shaggy parasol) and was blown away when I found a decent group of them. I got myself the Roger Phillips book which is nice to look unknowns up in, but no use on the day. I have a Collins field guide now (below) which is invaluable because first it tells you what you're looking for, and then it shows you what you might confuse with it. I've learned one or two new ones every year and can now identify about 25.

Harding, Patrick, Tony Lyon, and Gill Tomblin. Collins How to Identify Edible Mushrooms. London: HarperCollins, 1996. 192p. $19.95pa. ISBN 000219984Xpa.

76 main species; color illustrations; arranged by habitat; extensive background information. The 76 main species, both edible and poisonous, have detailed descriptions, including key features, habitat, frequency, season, spore print, and how to prepare. Each main species description also includes several lookalike species, which are also illustrated and described. A beginner's guide which claims to be comprehensive.

Also, I go with what Andy says... if I find a new one I'm careful the first time and always tell someone what I'm eating

We get a lot of blewitts here and puffballs,both easily identifiable.You have to be quick though as the maggots get there first or worse still some idiot ramblers that squash every "toadstool" they find just in case someone eats it!