FALL IS TIME FOR HUNTING OF A DIFFERENT KIND

kyle_mushrooms1
 

After Labor Day, it seems that our mindset begins to change. Summer is over, the kids are back to school, and we switch into our “work-harder” routine. But as outdoorsmen and women, we look forward to the sights and sounds of fall— leaves turning colors, a slight drop in the temperature, or a flock of geese honking overhead. Our thoughts turn to autumn crappie fishing, preparing for opening day of the archery deer season, or upcoming goose hunting.  The arrival of fall also brings another treasure to the woods — wild mushrooms.

Any seasoned outdoor person knows that the holy grail of mushroom hunting is the spring morel. But fall sheepsheads are just as fun to find, and they are great table fare.

The Sheepshead mushroom (Scientific name: Grifola frondosa), is also know as Hen-of-the-Woods. It has a very spongy texture and grows in somewhat of a “bracket” style. In fact, it’s in the family of bracket mushrooms.  Unlike conventional umbrella mushrooms that consist of a single stem with a cap, the sheepshead mushroom grows in a clump, with many stems and petals emerging from a large central base. There are several varieties of sheepsheads, but most of them look similar to a round sea sponge, or have the appearance of the top of a sheep’s head—hence the name.

WHEN TO LOOK

Sheepsheads typically start to grow around the second week of September, and can be found frequently until the middle to end of October. Of DSC_0055course as with other mushrooms, the conditions have a huge impact on their abundance.

Precipitation is one primary factor—mushrooms like moisture. Most mushrooms thrive with a little rain, and so do the sheepsheads. After a good amount of rain (anything over an inch), you should hit the woods within a day or two.

Many people ask me how often they should hunt for them in the woods. The growth cycle for mushrooms is very short, I mean hours. They literally can sprout and grow overnight. I recommend checking your spots once every three to four days. Even when you find and pick some mushrooms in one spot, go back to that same spot in a few days and there’s a good chance there will be a few more there.

WHERE TO LOOK

Sheepsheads usually grow in abundance in stands of old oak timber. The bigger the oaks, the better chance you will find mushrooms. A good rule of thumb is to judge the size of the tree— if you cannot wrap both arms around the tree, there’s a good chance you will find sheepsheads there. They grow on the ground near the base but can also be found within several feet of the tree. Once you find a giant oak, make sure you look all around the tree. I usually find more on the north side of the tree, but they will grow on all sides.

The key is finding giant oak trees.  That is what makes sheephead hunting a little easier than morel hunting, just walk through the woods and look for the biggest oak trees. After a couple of years looking in the same spots, you will quickly discover which ones consistently produce. That makes the hunting a little easier when you know which trees will have mushrooms under them.

HOW TO EAT

Are sheepsheads safe to eat? Absolutely. They can be prepared in a variety of ways —sliced and pan fried, diced for mushroom soup, or battered and deep-fried. They are usually best when you eat them within three to four days of picking, but you can freeze them for a few months to enjoy later. After harvesting, cut them up and rinse under cold water to remove dirt, leaves or bugs. Let them dry on paper towels and start cooking.

Fall mushroom hunting is great fun for the entire family, and a fantastic way to spend time in the woods while you are waiting for hunting season to open.

Leave a Reply

 
 
 

Your browser is out of date. It has security vulnerabilities and may not display all features on this site and other sites.

Please update your browser using one of modern browsers (Google Chrome, Opera, Firefox, IE 10).

X