OCTOBER 20, 2016 // 11
Continued from Pg. 10
“I wanted to do some off-season
programs, and I thought mush-
rooms would be a good topic,”
Osis says. “They’ve all been super
popular.”
Besides the mushroom pro-
grams and hikes at state parks
up and down the coast, Osis has
taught seminars at the Tillamook
County Library and the Tillamook
Forest Center. He’s also held
identifi cation courses at Clatsop
Community College focused on
mushrooms, which included fi eld
trips and a test kitchen.
Over the years, Osis has discov-
ered that when it comes to col-
lecting mushrooms, there are few
better places to be than the Oregon
Coast. “This is really the perfect
area for fi nding good mushrooms,”
he said. “Our coastal forests are
ideal for mushroom growing,
probably the best in the world. The
change of seasons from rain in the
early spring to dry in the summer
really promote great growth in the
fall.”
Osis also notes that the season-
al changes make the entire coast
good pickings. “Depending on
rainfaill, the North Coast generally
has the best collecting mid-Au-
gust through November,” he says,
adding that October is generally
the best overall month.
That being said, Osis has
noticed that this growing season
has been vastly different than
last October. “We’ve really had
an above-aberage season so far
because of the rain during the sum-
mer. Last year was really dry, and
some of the mushrooms didn’t pro-
duce as well as normal,” he says,
citing chanterells in particular.
Now, mushroom enthusiasts can
take heart in the fact that there are
plenty to be found.
Education is vital in mushroom
foraging, and Osis says there is no
better way to master identifi cation
than by seeing them in person.
Some mushrooms are safe
and delicious to eat, but others
are poisonous. Not knowing the
difference can be dangerous. “My
biggest tip would be to invest in
a quality fi eld guide and study
it,” Osis says, recommending
“All That The Rain Promises And
More” by David Arora.
Lacking that, Osis suggests
signing up for a class or fi eld trip.
UPCOMING
MUSHROOM
PROGRAMS
‘OUR COASTAL FORESTS
ARE IDEAL FOR MUSHROOM
GROWING, PROBABLY THE
BEST IN THE WORLD.’
Fort Stevens State Park
www.oregonstateparks.org
Email Dane Osis at
dane.osis@state.or.us
Wild Mushroom Hike:
1 p.m. Oct. 21
Wild Mushroom Hike:
1 p.m. Nov. 11
Mysterious Mushrooms:
1 p.m. Nov. 12
Wild Mushroom Hike:
1 p.m. Nov. 23
Mysterious Mushrooms:
1 p.m. Nov. 26
Wild Mushroom Hike:
1 p.m. Nov. 30
Fort Stevens Park Ranger Dane Osis helps identify mushrooms on a Wild Mushroom Hike in September in the park.
Wild Mushroom Hike attendees look at mushrooms before they start their
hike with park rangers at Fort Stevens State Park.
“Many of the community colleges
and state parks are great sources
for classes and knowledgeable
people,” he says. “Even if you
come away empty handed, it’s
a great learning experience and
social event.”
Osis is also quick to point out
that education includes being
aware of the rules and regulations
of the land you choose in which
to forage. “You should defi nitely
study up on the area you are col-
lecting in,” he says. While many
parks allow collecting these days,
national forests often require a per-
mit, and collecting in campgrounds
can be limited.
Fort Stevens State Park Ranger
Dane Osis, left, identifi es an Ama-
nita mushroom during a hike at the
park.
Like any good teacher, Osis is
hard-pressed to pick a favorite out of
his subjects. Still, it’s often hard to
Tyrone Mortensen takes a photograph of a wild mushroom while hiking with
others on a Wild Mushroom Hike in late September at Fort Stevens State Park.
Park Ranger Dane Osis helps hikers
identify a wild mushroom on Sept.
30 at Fort Stevens State Park.
resist pointing out some of his favor-
ite varieties of mushroom. “There
are so many it is hard to choose,” he
said. “I really like king boletes, my
favorite mushroom to pick.”
Often the thrill of the hunt
yields some strange and exciting
specimens. “Caulifl ower mush-
rooms are an unusual mushroom
that can grow to immense sizes,”
Osis says. “I have found them
weighing over 20 pounds. They’re
fun to fi nd and really good to eat.”
When mushroom season hits,
neither rain nor mud nor foggy
morn can keep Osis from his
appointed rounds scanning the
forest fl oor for delicious treasure.
“I forage for mushrooms because
it’s fun, and they’re good to eat,”
he says. “It’s an ideal activity for
anyone. All you really need is a
basket and you’re set.”