No mushrooms today, but my luck is still better than this deer's.
Last week I gained permission to hunt in a wood near my home, and today I went on a recon mission to scout my new mushrooming domain. And while I found numerous polyporus squamoses (also called pheasant back or dryad’s saddle) just starting to fruit, I saw nary a morel. I knew that it’s still a bit early, it’s not been quite warm enough.
Polyporus squamosus, just starting to fruit. Common names include Pheasant Back or Dryad's Saddle
That didn’t stop me from toting a couple bags with my in my pockets. You know. Just in case.
Despite being shutout today, I’m very excited about my new hunting grounds. The terrain is rolling, and a nice mix of deciduous and conifers, with lots of elm and ash, and lots of trees in various stages of life, death and decay.
A promising section of The Woods.
There are a few oaks, but because the forest I hunt in Wisconsin is primarily oak, I’m happy to have a different environment available to me.
I’m in a bit of a dither, I’ll admit. Temperatures are going to be spotty this week, between the mid- and high 50’s. Maybe by the latter part of the week, we’ll see the morels pop. Fingers crossed!
“That didn’t stop me from toting a couple bags with my in my pockets. You know. Just in case.”
You can call it “scouting for trees.” 🙂