The Fall Hunt

After a dry August, punctuated by the occasional downpour, the foraging is hit-or-miss. Now is the time to head for the deep, dank belly of the forest and discover explosions of yellowfoot chanterelles and hedgehogs in mossy glens and bogs. Follow a streambed, or visit a vernal pool. Pursue pockets of moisture beneath the shelter of cliffs, gorges and waterfalls.

Or, focus your hunt on saprophytes like lion’s mane and oysters. These species colonize dying trees or downed logs, and their woody substrate can hold moisture longer than the leafy forest floor.

If you find the right microclimate, you will be rewarded with a spectacular flush of fall fruiters including blewits, black trumpets, yellowfoot chanterelles, hedgehogs, lion’s mane, lobsters, oysters, and a panoply of boletes. Maitake, an unsurpassed and prolific delicacy, will be arriving with the next cool rain at an oak tree near you. My nostrils are already primed for the musty cinnamon aroma of matsutake.

As our regular readers may have gleaned, I have been unusually busy this August between guided forays, a move, and new job. I must confess that I have not spent as much time in the woods this summer as I would have liked.

If you have befallen a similar fate, be assured that fall is my favorite time to forage. As the air grows crisp and fragrant, and yellow maple leaves curl up among yellowfoot chanterelles, only the hardy and hearty species remain.

ForageCast for the next two weeks!