State Parks

• Mushrooms are most often found in woods containing a good deal of rotting material. Nature preserves are off limits for mushroom harvesting in Indiana, but there are several state parks near Lafayette that are popular with mushroom hunters. Turkey Run, Shades and Tippecanoe River State Parks are all within an hour and a half of Lafayette and all allow mushroom harvesting. Reservoirs are another good place to look for mushrooms. The Raccoon, Mississinewa, Salamonie and Huntington reservoirs are also within an hour and a half of Lafayette.
  
  

Park Rules

• Although mushroom hunting is allowed in state parks, all hunting must be done along designated trails. You cannot leave the trails and wander off into the woods to find the fungi. This can limit the chances of finding mushrooms, but is done to limit the damage that would occur if thousands of people left the trails to search through the undergrowth. It also prevents people from getting lost. There is an annual admission fee of $36 that covers all Indiana state parks.
  
  

Private Land

• The best places to look for mushrooms in Lafayette are places that are not crowded with other people looking for mushrooms---on private land. Mushrooms tend to come up in the same places every year, so once you have found a good spot, you can go back year after year. Hunters guard their spots jealously. However, if you want to search for mushrooms on private land, it is necessary to get the owner's permission. Entering someone's land without permission is trespassing, and removing the mushrooms can amount to theft.
  
  

Collecting

• The mushroom is the fruiting body of the fungus, which lies underground. In order to preserve the fungus so it will grow back the following year, use a sharp knife to cut the mushroom off at the base of the stem. Use a basket or paper bag to collect mushrooms. Avoid the use of plastic bags or baskets as they can cause moisture to form and speed mushroom decay. Mushrooms do grow around developed property, but you should also be aware that mushrooms growing on developed land may be contaminated by pesticides or herbicides and unsafe to eat.
  
  

Identification

• Most edible species grow in Indiana, but the most important thing when hunting wild mushrooms in Lafayette or elsewhere is to make sure you know what you have before you eat it, as some mushroom species are poisonous. Many mushroom hunters in Lafayette take along a guide or a guidebook to help them identify what they are seeing. The North American Mycological Society has clubs in almost every state and organizes regular hunts led by experts. Contact them for information on hunts in the Lafayette area.