MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry resident Don Feenerty’s favorite time of year is fall, because he says wild mushroom hunting is easier when it isn’t 85 degrees and humid outside.

Recently, while foraging with his dogs on his Martins Ferry farm, his mushroom hunting efforts were rewarded when he spotted a giant puffball fungus on the edge of his hay field.

Calvatia gigantea, commonly referred to as giant puffball, is a rounded white or grayish mushroom that gets its name from the fact that it puffs up like a ball as it matures.

Though the giant puffball can grow up to 2-3 feet in diameter and weigh upwards of 40 pounds, according to Feentery, they are usually found in our area closer to 3-6 inches in diameter and weighing around 4-6 ounces.

“I’ve been hunting wild edibles and mushrooms for over 20 years and this is the biggest puffball I’ve ever found, measuring 12 inches in diameter and weighing in at 4.25 pounds,” Feenerty said.

Feenerty added that his wife, Angela, prefers the coveted morel and the visually appealing chicken of the woods mushrooms, but his favorites are the giant puffball and oyster mushrooms.

“Wild mushrooms aren’t like store bought and certainly not like canned,” Feenerty said. “The taste and texture is like nothing else, and wild mushrooms are a delicacy few in our area ever get to enjoy.”

Eating wild mushrooms without having a proper mastery of the subject can be dangerous. Feenerty only harvests those mushrooms with no toxic lookalikes.

“One slip could cause severe gastric distress, vomiting and/or even death,” Feenerty said.

For this reason it is not advised that anyone attempt eating wild mushrooms without first learning how to identify the safe edible ones and all of the dangers that go with eating wild foods.

Feenerty said he and his wife love the outdoors and all the edible wild foods available in the local area.

“There are ramps in the spring, common milkweed in the summer, and fall signals paw paw season and the time to collect wild tea leaves,” Feenerty said.

For more information on wild edibles, research online or visit your local public library.