Spore prints can be a huge help in identifying also!
There are some mushrooms that have very few known lookalikes (varies by geo/region), which have a handful of strong identifying factors. Morels, oysters, and a few others come to mind, where if you can confidently confirm these factors, you can be reasonably sure that you’ve identified them correctly.
That said, people sometimes convince themselves of these factors, especially when they haven’t had much experience identifying them before.
I do know a number of members of the IMA that have been there longer than me, and don’t forage at all!
There are some mushrooms that have very few known lookalikes (varies by geo/region), which have a handful of strong identifying factors. Morels, oysters, and a few others come to mind, where if you can confidently confirm these factors, you can be reasonably sure that you’ve identified them correctly.
That said, people sometimes convince themselves of these factors, especially when they haven’t had much experience identifying them before.
I do know a number of members of the IMA that have been there longer than me, and don’t forage at all!