State of Wisconsin Wild Mushroom Identifier
As many of you know, I like to forage, both for landrace hemp and also wild mushrooms. I recently took the wild mushroom certification class held by The Wisconsin Mycological Society and passed the test to become a State of Wisconsin Certified Wild Mushroom Identifier. The certification allows me to sell approved species of foraged wild Wisconsin mushrooms to restaurants and grocery stores, in addition to certifying wild mushrooms for you, the general public (under certain conditions).
Over the years and seasons, the variety and volume of mushrooms I find varies wildly. My best advice is to look often, especially if you have private land access. The 2024 season was a great morel, cinnabar chanterelle and hen of the woods mushroom year for me, while some of my other favorites seem to elude me in 2024. I often document my finds on my Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Two of my best buds and I wrote a book and have a website for our project, The Stoner’s Travel Guide to Wisconsin (due to publish soon) and I was tasked with writing the Foraging Chapter. While I did not give exact GPS locations to my finds, I suspect I will be out foraging and run into a few of you at my favorite foraging grounds. If not, come say high to me at my annual folk art festival, From The Land Festival in Green Lake held the third weekend in October and watch for our farm, Heritage Hemp Farm to open a farm store in Ripon this summer. Or if you need help walking and identifying mushrooms on your private land, do not hesitate to contact me.
State Mushroom Project – Hen of the Woods
Some of my first foraging adventures together with my family led to the discovery of the hen of the woods mushrooms. Not only is this mushroom a choice to eat, it is very easily identifiable and there are no poisonous look a likes. It is a beautiful mushroom in its own right by augmenting the fall colors with the different hues of brown and gray this mushroom displays. The state mushroom project combines my passion for citizen driven political activism and mushrooms.
When I first started working on the Wisconsin State Mushroom Project back in 2023 there were only three (3) states that officially had designated a state mushroom. Since that time four (4) more states have officially designated a state mushroom.
1984 Minnesota designated Morchella esculenta (Morel), which was codified into law in 2010.
1999 Oregon designated Cantharellus formosus (Pacific Gold Chanterelle)
2021 Texas designated Chorioactis geaster (Texas Star)
2023 California designated Cantharellus californicus (California Gold Chanterelle)
2023 Utah designated Boletus edulis (Porcini)
2024 Vermont designated Hericium americanum (Bear’s Head Tooth)
2024 Illinois designated Calvatia gigantea (Giant Puffball)
In addition, the states of Massachusetts (Calvatia gigantea), Missouri (Cantharellus lateritius), New York (Lactarius peckii) and Washington (Tricholoma murrillianum, Tricholoma magnivelare) have attempted to designate official state mushrooms through their states legislative process but were unsuccessful.
The Wisconsin Blue Book states that over the years, the Wisconsin Legislature has officially recognized a wide variety of state symbols that celebrate Wisconsin’s history, values, and diversity. In order of adoption, Wisconsin has designated an official seal, coat of arms, flag, song, flower, bird, tree, fish, state animal, wildlife animal, domestic animal, mineral, rock, symbol of peace, insect, soil, fossil, dog, beverage, grain, dance, ballad, waltz, fruit, tartan, pastry, dairy product, and herb. These symbols provide a focus for expanding public awareness of Wisconsin’s history and diversity. They are listed and described in Section 1.10 of the Wisconsin Statutes. But no state mushroom.
So I started talking to as many different mushroom vendors, foragers, mushroom clubs and consumers as I could find and also contacted the Wisconsin Mycological Society. The WMS had previously discussed supporting a state mushroom in a past newsletter. The newsletter had a few suggestions for consideration. Of those suggestions, one really seemed to stand out as a leader in the field when speaking with people and that was the “Hen-of-the-Woods” (Grifola frondosa).
In the Fall of 2023 the Wisconsin Mycological Society (WMS) conducted a poll for local mushroom aficionados and mushroom lovers. “Hen-of-the-Woods” (Grifola frondosa) won the nomination for Wisconsin State Mushroom.
Wisconsin Approved Wild Mushroom Species List – February 2023
● Morels (genus Morchella)
● Chanterelles (genus Cantharellus)
● Trumpets (genus Craterellus)
● Maitake / Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa)
● Boletes (Boletus edulis clade)
● Oyster mushrooms (genus Pleurotus)
● Hedgehog mushrooms (genus Hydnum)
● Lobster mushrooms (Hypomyces lactifluorum on species of
Lactifluus and Russula)
● Lion’s Mane, Bear’s Head, and Comb Tooth (genus Hericium)
● Laetiporus species
● Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare)
● Ischnoderma resinosum
● Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
● Ganoderma tsugae
● Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor
● Cerioporus squamosus
