Getting Interesting

It is finally starting to get interesting out there in the woods. It seems as if every rain shower brings on spurts of mushrooms. I know that many people enjoy looking for morels foe a couple of weeks every spring. I am not one of them. I would rather spend my time trying to get a few fish into the freezer at morel time.

There was a bumper crop of chanterelles out there in early to mid summer. I'm going to say this once. I don't like chanterelles. To me; they are bitter and leave a lingering bad aftertaste. The pink ones are even worse than the apricot variety. I don't like any of them.

Chicken of the Woods season has opened up early this year and I am happy about that. I didn't find any last year until mid-September. From that time on I found more than I ever have. I was still getting them well up into October. I ate the last ones from my freezer 2 weeks ago. August 18 seems to be the date that they started popping out in the mountains this year. I have already put around 25 pounds into the freezer; plus I've eaten quite a few over the last 3 days.

I depend on Chicken of the Woods and Oyster Mushrooms for my mushroom fix. They are without a doubt my 2 favorites and can be found in adequate numbers to get more than just a taste. It looks as if 2015 may be my best year ever for edible fungi. I have been finding Oysters fairly steadily since May.I have spots where I can harvest Oyster well up into December if the temperatures are favorable.

Shaggy Manes are always numerous throughout the rainy season of October. It looks as if we are going to have a very nice hunting season for the next few months.I harvested these Chicken of the Woods and Oysters in about 45 minutes on Backbone Mountain in Tucker County this morning.

(c) 2015 High Virginia Outdoors  Photo (c) High Virginia Images ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Too Small & Too Old

Lion's Mane

The first part of my Tucker County mushroom search didn't go very well today. I did see one white spot on a tree that showed promise. The closer I got to it; the smaller it seemed. Yep, a Lion's Mane one of my fall favorites. I haven't picked one for several years. Don't let my photo fool you, this one isn't much more than thumb-sized. Oh.well.

I was able to find a really nice clump of Chicken of the Woods. They would have been a very nice find; last week. Yep, too old.

I traveled on and searched a location that has never failed me in October while the Shaggy Manes are up. Today it failed me.

Things got a lot better, later on. Never give up.

Chicken of the Woods

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Freezing Chicken of the Woods

Keeping Chicken of the woods for future use is very simple. You just have to clean them thoroughly and saute them. They are then ready to freeze, This was my 4th batch today, All were about the same size. I think I have enough to make it through the winter, now. These were heated and stirred into olive oil and chopped garlic. You can use your imagination for what you want to use. Butter or chicken broth work well, too.

Things Change

The first week of September was coming to a close and I was accepting the fact that I wasn't going to get any Chicken of the Woods this year. I always have found most of them during the first week of July and the first week of September. Not this year. the only little skillet full that I had was in late May. I didn't have any trouble finding these mushrooms on just about every trip; my problem was that they were all way too old when I found them.

I have found a lot during the last 7 days or so and now have close to twenty pounds of frozen Chicken of the Woods. They will sure make our seven month winter a little more tolerable. I have yet to find ANY oyster mushrooms this year. You would think that with all of the rotting stumps in this country they should be everywhere. I an hoping that our fall rains will result in a good bloom before everything freezes up. Shaggy Manes should be popping up soon, too. Yep, things can quickly change; if you don't give up.

Note: To freeze Chicken of the Woods you must first saute them in olive oil or butter and then freeze them Chicken broth is another simmering option. Try whatever you want, but they must be heated before freezing.

 (c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors Photos (c) High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

Jackpot !!

I have had the worst mushroom season that I have ever experienced. Yes, 2014 has been epic in futility. I haven't had trouble actually finding any mushrooms. My problem has been that everything I have found should have been found during the previous week. I haven't found much of anything that was fit to eat. I had a grand total of 3 chanterelles. Things have gotten so bad between me and the Chicken of the Woods that I just look at them from the truck with binoculars. I usually haven't had to take a better look to see that they weren't any-good.

Today (9/19/14) started out the same. I decided to check out a Barbour County road where I saw some too old chickens last year. I hadn't gone very far up the road and there was an oak log that was totally covered with Chicken of the Woods; way too old ones. I barely had to slow down to make that determination. Yep, same old same old should have been there last week. I continued onward and after a short distance there was an old, very nasty yellow and orange looking Lion's Mane growing on a beech tree.

I guess mushroom hunting is about like turkey hunting; you sure aren't going to get anything if you are not out there. I was thinking that at least I'm headed towards a spot where the dogs like to walk. Then I saw it; a small clump of fresh chickens on a stump. Not many, but enough for a meal. It was the little clump on the right side of the photo. Well, at least it wasn't another couple of gallons wasted on a foraging trip. I gathered them and headed on.

I was nearing the end of productive mushroom woods and happened to look up on the hill and there they were; a nice bunch growing in the top of a Sandy snapped tree. I could barely reach them but i managed to get them all and only fall over the hill, once. I now have enough to eat this weekend and enough to freeze for Thanksgiving. This is the latest in the season that I have ever found any good Chicken of the Woods. I figured we are about into the period of nothing except for Oysters and Shaggy Manes. Things look up when you don't give up.

(c)2014 High Virginia Outdoors Photos (c) 2014 High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

Oysters !

(c) 2012 High Virginia Images

I went out early this morning, hoping to find some interesting migrants in the clear-cut. The birds didn't seem to cooperate; as far as the warblers go. There were plenty of robins, cedar waxwings, catbirds and goldfinches; but little else was to be found. Therefore Ralphie and I went to plan B. Search for some Chicken of the Woods.
Well, that didn't go so well, either. But we did come up with enough Oyster mushrooms for a meal. We found several other clumps which were too old and badly insect infested.

FROZEN MUSHROOMS

I just ate some Chicken of the Woods mushrooms that I had put in the freezer.  They were just frozen in zip-lock freezer bags; nothing fancy.  I was suprised.  They kept their texture and flavor.  This was the first season that I have ever had enough to freeze.  Just something that may be useful to others.

Edible Autumn Mushrooms

Fall has finally arrived and the numerous autumn edibles appear to be in abundance. Giant Puffballs, Oyster Mushrooms, Chicken of the Woods and Lions Mane are a few that may be found at this time. The Giant Puffballs are good; as long as they are pure white inside. They are a rather bland mushroom, but they take on the flavor of what ever they are cooked in, quite nicely. Browned in butter and garlic salt works just fine.

The Chicken of the Woods is my favorite, they are superb when young and tender. This orange mushroom tends to stand out on a rainy day and can be spotted from quite a distance.

I found this Lion's Mane earlier this week. This is the first one I have ever had the chance to try. It was quite good sauteed in olive oil and garlic. This one was a little bitter at the core, the rest was really tasty. Most of the ones I have seen in the past have either been too old or too high up. this species is usually found on beech trees. Get a good book or a knowledgeable person and go out and see what you can find this fall. Good Luck.
Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians by William C. Roody is an excellent reference.

Photos (c) High Virginia Images 2011 All Rights Reserved
Posted by High Virginia Outdoors

Chicken of the Woods-Tomorrows' Meal

These Chicken of the Woods mushrooms were photographed on the morning of September 1. I am going to pick them tomorrow morning Sept. 3rd. They will be simmered in garlic and olive oil and will be topped with a nice juicy Brandywine. Kind of makes you want to drool dosen't it?






The Complete Mushroom Book: Savory Recipes for Wild and Cultivated Varieties

Chicken of the Woods

The Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus var.) is without a doubt; my favorite edible mushroom. It is a shelf mushroom, which grows on decaying wood.
The color really stands out, especially on a rainy day. I saw these on a stump yesterday; from about a hundred yards away.
I was only fortunate enough to find one clump last year and wasn't able to enjoy the delectable flavor. I had the Hog Flu and couldn't taste anything.
These, which I found yesterday are just about enough to make you want some more.