The Hunter Gatherer Society: Foraging, Primitive Fishing, and Camping – Blending Traditional Skills with Modern Living

Hunter Gatherer Society: Foraging, Primitive Fishing, Wild Food Recipes & Outdoor Living Skills

Welcome to The Hunter Gatherer Society, your guide to modern foraging, primitive fishing, and outdoor living. Whether you’re identifying wild edible plants, testing outdoor gear in rugged terrain, or fermenting ingredients gathered from the forest, this is where you’ll learn to reconnect with nature through hands-on experience and seasonal wisdom. Explore beginner-friendly foraging guides, gear reviews, and wild food recipes created for real life. From learning the basics of plant identification to discovering new ways to cook what you forage, The Hunter Gatherer Society is about building confidence outdoors. We blend traditional knowledge with modern adventure to inspire a more grounded, self-reliant way of living.

The Praiseworthy Puffball A Great Beginners Edible Mushroom

August 6, 2022 rpolipnick Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Mushrooms Foraging Guides

Long before my venture into the foraging world I was vaguely aware of the edibility of the common yard puffball. In general, my family was averse to the harvesting of wild mushrooms. However, the puffball did receive notable mention from my grandmother when I was a child. That was the first and for a long-time last mention of wild edible mushrooms outside of course of the very popular morel. As I began to explore the world of wild mushroom hunting the puffball, being common in my area, was a great fist run at the collection and preparation of edible mushrooms. It took very little research to understand the identification and edibility of these little white wonders and again in my[…]

Easy Pickled Fish Recipe: A Nostalgic Delight

July 31, 2022 rpolipnick Wild Food Recipes with Foraged Ingredients

Growing up in Minnesota, one of my favorite snacks was pickled fish, and to this day, I still relish it. A real treat for me was the opportunity to enjoy pickled northern pike when it was available. The texture of pickled pike is truly special; unlike store-bought pickled herring, it retains a firm and clean consistency that enhances the overall enjoyment. I’ve even managed to convert a few friends who claimed they didn’t like pickled fish! After moving to Alaska, where northern pike is abundant, I found myself in Florida, where this fish is harder to come by. In Alaska, I discovered a great substitute: pickled pollock. Like pike, pollock has a nice firmness and pairs beautifully with pickling spices.[…]

The Beautiful Catesby’s lily (Lilium catesbaei)

November 1, 2021 rpolipnick Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

Wild edible plants and mushrooms are typically our topic of discussion. However In a few recent videos and photos a beautiful Lily has graced us with its presence. Since it is not an edible plant I have not mentioned it much beyond its name. Today after enjoying another bloom of this magnificent plant I wanted to take a moment to feature it. This beautiful Lily is known as Catesby’s Lily, pine lily, leopard lily, tiger lily and southern-red lily. It loves to show off its large flowers that have six bright reddish-orange and reflexed tepals which are yellow with purple spots at their inner base and is the largest flower of any North American lily. Their Stamen is also conspicuous,[…]

Water to table: Forage, fish, and cook

October 25, 2021 rpolipnick Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Food Recipes with Foraged Ingredients

With clouds in the sky and rain in the forecast my decision was made. Stay home and do very little. The problem was I had been home and off the water for a couple months now due to a nearly life ending bout with covid-19. The day before I had forced myself to go out into the garage and organize my gear which would uncover the kayak. This was intended to motivate me to get back on the water but seemed to have failed. Finally after arguing with myself for some time I decided to simply go for a drive. Just in case the motivation hit me I also loaded up my fishing and foraging gear as well. After driving[…]

A Few Friends We Have Met Along The Way

April 24, 2021 rpolipnick Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

It’s always an adventure, that’s what we have said for over twenty years of marriage. In recent years we have moved from Minnesota to Alaska and then from Alaska to Florida. Before that our love of the outdoors took us all over the country. I have fished, hunted and foraged across the country and am looking forward to many more years of adventures. Time in the wild is critical if you are going to have encounters with wildlife. Sure, anyone can happen across a bear or deer. However to truly have a long list of unique and great stories you have to get out into the wild. In my short time in Florida I have encountered two panthers, this in[…]