How to Find Truffles in the Wild: Guide for Truffle Hunters

Ever wondered why truffles are so expensive? Truffles these days are sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per pound. It’s because they are extremely difficult to find. Unlike typical mushrooms that grow on the bark or exposed roots of trees, truffle mushrooms grow underground. That means you can’t see them easily unless you dig the forest grounds. Finding truffles involves a hike in the woods. Is this your first time to do so? You will have to do research first. If you want to learn how to find truffles in the forest, read on the different techniques discussed below.


1.  Know where to locate truffles

Of course, not every forest has truffles underneath it. These mushrooms grow only in humid and warm climates. In Europe, for example, truffles can be found mostly in the forests of Italy and France. In America, you can find them in the forests of Washington and Oregon.

2.  Enlist the help of your animal friends

Dogs and pigs are the most common animals used for hunting truffles for their uncanny sense of smell that can detect the presence of truffles in an area. Yes, you can even train your dog to sniff out truffles. You can start with making your canine friend retrieve a ball, then replace it with cheese. Once your dog learns to retrieve the cheese in exchange for a treat, hide the cheese and make the dog look for it. Finally, replace the cheese with a small truffle. Train your dog to find the truffle and to dig it up.

If you’re going to take a pig with you for some truffle hunting adventure in the forest, be very careful because the pig might devour the truffles even before you can take one. Some truffle hunters use a staff to make the pig back off once it finds a truffle.

3.  Know that laws the govern truffle collection in your area

You can’t just head over to the forest and go on with your truffle collection adventure without knowing first if it is allowed in your area. For example, truffle hunters have to take a test and get license first before they can collect truffles. If you illegally hunt for truffles, you can get arrested.


4.  Look for clues indicating truffle presence

• Trees - As much as truffles don’t grow in every forest, they also don’t grow in every tree. So it’s rather unwise to scour every tree for truffles because you’ll just waste your time. For example, you can’t find truffles at the roots of a maple tree. Instead, focus your search on oak, hazelnut, fir, beech, hickory, and eucalyptus trees.

• Soil quality - Truffles are abundant in warm and moist soils. You have better chances of locating truffles about a week or two after a heavy downpour. 

• Animals - Rodents, chipmunks, and squirrels can be your road sign to finding a bunch of truffles. Rodents dig up for truffles, while squirrels and chipmunks help disperse spores of truffles. If you find them on your way to the forest, don’t just ignore them since they hold the key on how to find truffles.