The “trifulau”, the license and the regulation

Yes, but only in some regions: in Piedmont, Lombardy and Liguria. In fact, only here there are no time limits for the truffle hunter, which can freely choose what time to go in search of truffles with his trusty dog. Some people prefer the night because the darkness allows them not to be seen by someone who could discover their secret truffle ground. And there are those who prefer the day because they love seeing their dog at work and want to enjoy all the research phases. In other regions the search is allowed only during the day, from one hour before dawn to one hour after sunset (a somewhat interpretable rule).

You have to take an exam and, passing it, you get the license valid for 10 years, with the possibility of renewal, throughout the national territory. It is also necessary to pay an annual fee for the truffle hunting activity (only if it is planned to do so in that year), which is around € 140 in Piedmont. At this point the “trifulau” can try the search, but strictly respecting the collection periods that are indicated on the site of the Region: each type of truffle has a precise period of time during which it can be collected. In addition, there are one month in early spring (April or May) and another month at the end of summer (September) during which it is forbidden to collect truffles. These rules were introduced in order not to ruin the fragile balance of truffles' life, leaving them the time to be born and grow and then be collected only when they are ripe.