Well, perhaps mycology isn't my strong suit, but I've picked in the same area for the past 7 years and found all I needed within 30 minutes. Not so this time. The people that showed me the spot and everyone who had told me about mushroom picking all told me to cut them off at or near the ground and be sure to leave a couple in every patch so they can go to spore. I assumed the reason for cutting them instead of pulling them (which would be faster) was to protect the mycelium from excessive damage; I wasn't of the opinion they regenerated from cut stems. If you guys say it makes no difference, I guess I have no reason to argue otherwise.

Sounds like the issue where I have been picking is simply too many pickers.