Foraging Thread

[streamer]

They're still out there!

[geogymn]

Originally Posted by streamer

They're still out there!

Nice Haul! It is a bumper year for morels!

[Creekwader]

Finally found my holy grail yesterday, black trumpets. Unfortunately, they were well past due but at least I know where to look i.e. a far back bay of a Fulton chain lake. Miserable brook trout fishing in the rain today was saved by a big and fresh chicken find. Pan fried them in panko, mmmmm! https://goo.gl/photos/TfBukbQSqPmqqP5U6

[geogymn]

Originally Posted by Creekwader

Finally found my holy grail yesterday, black trumpets. Unfortunately, they were well past due but at least I know where to look i.e. a far back bay of a Fulton chain lake. Miserable brook trout fishing in the rain today was saved by a big and fresh chicken find. Pan fried them in panko, mmmmm! https://goo.gl/photos/TfBukbQSqPmqqP5U6

Nice find!!!!

[Creekwader]

Epic fails on the foraging front for me lately. Before labor day I scouted my maitake trees and locally and there was a new one sprouting, only an inch high so I left it for a few days to grow and of course someone got it. Then yesterday I went fishing/exploring in the southern adk for something to do in this late summer weather. On the way into the pond, I spied a big perfect lion's mane on a dying beech 30 yards off the trail. I went through the hobblebush with my canoe and grabbed it but then realized I didn't have a bag to put it in such that it wasn't in my backpack with the fishing stuff so I set it down beside the trail to get it on the way out. After all, I was only going to fish for a couple hours and who would venture down the trail this early in the morning and also be a mushroom hunter. 0.5 miles down the trail I found another nice lion's mane on a dead tree right next to the trail. Again I figured I'd grab it on the way out. Needless to day, both were gone when I walked out. I was peeved to say the least but it was my own doing so I guess the blame lies with me. So for those venturing out, lions mane is hot right now and I've seen plenty of honey's if you're into those (I'm not).

[geogymn]

I took a walk this past Sat. and I was lucky to find some Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) and also several puffballs. Good luck and enjoy the hunt.

[geogymn]

Morels are popping!

[serotonin]

Quill Gordons, Olives, Fiddleheads, Ramps, and Steelhead as well.
Stoneflies, Black Flies, Caddis with Latin names.

[Creekwader]

Originally Posted by geogymn

Morels are popping!

That's great, I figured they would be. I don't have a spot locally so I'll have to wait for the northern ones to get rolling. I did pick a grocery bag full of nice young nettle the other day that I plan on using for beer making along with some birch syrup.

[Marj]

Originally Posted by streamer

They're still out there!

That is an amazing haul! I'm so glad I found this forum. I discovered last year I have morels growing in my yard and have been slowly learning about other wild edibles. Some of my research has led me to go back and correct decade old photographs from "neat fungus" to actual scientific and common names lol.

[Creekwader]

Found this chicken bloom over the weekend:

https://redd.it/8rs7l5

Don't often do this but if anyone is travelling between big moose and eagle bay, there was a humongous flush of chickens on a tree near Moss Lake. I had plenty so I passed it by.

[serotonin]

Cw,

What is your favorite way(s) to prepare the chickens?

[geogymn]

Originally Posted by Creekwader

Found this chicken bloom over the weekend:

https://redd.it/8rs7l5

Don't often do this but if anyone is travelling between big moose and eagle bay, there was a humongous flush of chickens on a tree near Moss Lake. I had plenty so I passed it by.

Growing on a Black Cherry ? That's a great find! Be wary of those on Hemlocks.

[Creekwader]

Originally Posted by serotonin

Cw,

What is your favorite way(s) to prepare the chickens?

Those I dunked in egg wash, coated with seasoned bread crumbs and fried in extra virgin olive oil. Topped with Cholula chipotle hot sauce.

Another favorite is to add to a stir fry. I have an oyster sauce beef stir fry that they pair well with.

More often than not I just saute them and make omelets.

Just don't dry heat/grill them or they will end up like cardboard.

[Creekwader]

Originally Posted by geogymn

Growing on a Black Cherry ? That's a great find! Be wary of those on Hemlocks.

In the Adirondacks, I've only seem them growing on standing dead, dying, or old black cherry. Usually in mid-late July so they're early this year. On downed timber I've found them on maple and yellow birch but never standing for those types. Haven't seen them on hemlock but will definitely avoid.

[geogymn]

Originally Posted by Creekwader

In the Adirondacks, I've only seem them growing on standing dead, dying, or old black cherry. Usually in mid-late July so they're early this year. On downed timber I've found them on maple and yellow birch but never standing for those types. Haven't seen them on hemlock but will definitely avoid.

How did you do with morels this spring?

[Creekwader]

Originally Posted by geogymn

How did you do with morels this spring?

None. The adjacent property cut down the white pine that I think was mycorrhyzal, now that its dead I think the morels are gone. Oh well, on to chants...

[geogymn]

6-24-18 Mohawk Valley
I figured the heat this spring would herald an early Chant season but the lack of rain curbed my fervor.
I went out today none the less and harvested enough Chants for a supper or two. A little dry but bug free. A heavy rain would bring them on strong.

Enjoy the hunt!

[altijay93]

Any good sites out there for references on what's edible and not?

[TCD]

I follow this thread from a distance. I'm not going to be getting into picking and eating stuff from the wild, except maybe blueberries (and I am careful to distinguish them from the similar looking juniper berries).

But if I were to want to get into picking mushrooms, etc., I would NOT CONSIDER trying to learn from a website or even from a book. The ONLY WAY I would get into this is to go out and get in-person field training from an expert. The expert would preferably be an older person, which provides statistical validation of their skills.