Thread: Surprise find

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

I cant count how many yanks asked me about them this spring, not sure they was all eating them!!!!

They like the Psilocybin variety!!!

Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine

They like the Psilocybin variety!!!

It ain't just yank's that use those things.

Originally Posted by feeshrman

I've never picked any of my own, mainly because, like the others here I've never been taught the difference between good and bad 'shrooms. I do love to cook and eat them. Maybe you can educate us, I see a lot of guys north of here picking morels, do they grow here also?

There are morels around here, but I'm not sure how prolific they are. I have only hunted for them once; it was on a friend's land, a transplanted Hoosier who knew what to look for. Unfortunately, they were not plentiful that year. I do know that their season is over--you only find them for a short time in spring.

Chanterelles are much more plentiful here and have a longer growing season. I'm used to finding them late July-August, so I was thrilled to find them this early. They are easy to identify because of their appearance. In addition to the unique cap shape, they have false gills--they are depressed striations that run up the stem and under the cap. The color varies from a golden yellow to orange (my harvest yesterday covered the range). They have a lovely floral-fruity kind of aroma that's frequently described as reminiscent of apricots, and you can really smell it once you've got a few in your basket. BTW, it is preferable to use a basket when you forage so the spores can fall through. Also, harvest the mushrooms by pulling not cutting. Pull from the base of the stem so the roots come with it. From what I've read, it's better for future mushrooms if the roots don't remain behind.

I found these in the woods around Wallace Creek campground. The spot I've hunted for years is actually right in the middle of Oxford city limits. The picture above shows exactly where they like to live. Mixed hardwood and pines, slightly sloped topography so they have good drainage but not torrential runoff. I have also found them growing in/along empty creek beds within this type of woods. They are classified as "gregarious," if you find one you will likely find more nearby. They push up through the leaves so sometimes they are hard to spot despite their color. Like I said above, they only grow in soil and their only look alike grows on wood.

Thanks for the info Page. I have a spot behind my soon to be home place that may be loaded with these things. Will have to check it out.