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Post by ec rob on Sept 1, 2015 13:46:59 GMT -6
I found one! Wasn't very big, but there it was. Also found a bunch more golden chants, another couple of trumpets, a couple more really nice hedgehogs, some Clavariadelphus americanus and a couple of boletes which I have tentatively identified as Boletus pallidus (the slightly blue stained one) and Retiboletus ornatipes (the yellowish one.) Attachments:
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Post by ec rob on Sept 8, 2015 10:49:03 GMT -6
I found a total of 5 more hens over the weekend. I found two baby hens (chicks?) by one tree, thought about leaving them, they were only about fist sized, but I picked them anyway. Then I stumbled across the tree in the picture, my first triple. I think I have enough hen-of-the-woods in the freezer now to last me a while. I had to cook them all down in the 8 quart cast iron/porcelain pot - ended up with almost 2 gallon freezer bags full of yummy mushrooms. Found another decent patch of black trumpets too. Now I just need to find some kings this year and I should be set. Abortive Entolomas are pretty tasty in my opinion too, so I'll be looking for those soon as well. I saw a small cluster of honey mushrooms this weekend too, but I didn't grab them.  |
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2015 Hens
Sept 8, 2015 18:51:25 GMT -6
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Post by josette on Sept 8, 2015 18:51:25 GMT -6
I've been on the hunt for hens but haven't had any luck yet! I'm in northwest Wisconsin. Is it too early to find them??
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Post by ec rob on Sept 9, 2015 7:12:40 GMT -6
Not too early up here, I'm up in Polk County, they are out there. Good luck!
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Post by gramacrocodile on Sept 11, 2015 19:09:56 GMT -6
Hens are up in Northern Sheboygan county. Since I saw EC Rob's post, I thought "what the heck, I'll go check the old oak". Sure enough! A baby hen was there! I never look for them until the 20th of Sept. and then it is father north of here. I was really surprised to see the little guy.
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Post by josette on Sept 12, 2015 19:38:15 GMT -6
 Is this a young hen? |
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Post by ec rob on Sept 13, 2015 7:42:22 GMT -6
Possibly? I don't really want to give a positive ID from a photo, and I am not by any means a mushroom expert, but if it is growing on the ground near a tree trunk there aren't too many other things it could be.
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Post by josette on Sept 14, 2015 6:07:24 GMT -6
  We found a hen! After about 9,863 oak trees!!! lol We had a good day in the woods! Found a dead oak FULL of old chickens, a few lobsters, some elm caps and bunch of black trumpets! |
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Post by gramacrocodile on Sept 14, 2015 19:04:16 GMT -6
Josette - Congrats on your 1st find!
Spent some time in Calumet county and came home with about 12 pounds of hens. Also a handful of chants and 2 bears head. Hens are one of favorites, nice flavor and minimal bug activity.
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Post by gramacrocodile on Sept 22, 2015 8:34:45 GMT -6
Yesterday, Sept. 21st, 10 days after finding the baby hen, I picked it. It weighed almost 12 pounds. It was almost 3 pounds bigger than our new baby grand daughter born yesterday! Exciting day  (her big brothers are the kids that gave me the grama crocodile name) |
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Post by josette on Sept 26, 2015 10:42:03 GMT -6
 We were out yesterday and found this giant! Is she too old? |
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2015 Hens
Sept 27, 2015 13:14:29 GMT -6
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Post by marinetteco on Sept 27, 2015 13:14:29 GMT -6
Looks good to me. The can grow up to 25 pounds or so, and turn white when they are too far gone.The insides of a old one will crumble instead of pealing.This has been a stellar year for hens, and i am suppling my co workers with all they want. Made a cream of mushroom soup with hens, dryed chants, and dryed morels. Came out great. Nice finds !
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2015 Hens
Oct 13, 2015 10:49:22 GMT -6
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Post by marinetteco on Oct 13, 2015 10:49:22 GMT -6
Still finding plenty of these. but already have to many.Some real brutes also.Anyone know of a market for these, or any other edible? Thanks.
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Post by gramacrocodile on Oct 22, 2015 20:00:12 GMT -6
Marinetteco - finding a market can be a bit tricky. We had 1 specialty type store in our area that used to buy morels, hens, etc. but now have changed their policy and will only buy from certified hunters.
Gourmet type restaurants, the type that actually create their own recipes (not the chains that pretty much heat and serve) will sometimes buy them if they have a chef that is comfortable identifying the mushroom themselves. In our area, we just do not have enough of those. The restaurant in our area wants about 10 pounds to be able to offer them on the menu.
This year I pickled about 10 pounds of my surplus as I already have a lot frozen.
You know - I really don't need anymore, but just can't help looking! I'm keeping my eye on 2 of them that just came up last week.
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