Odd find today

[fasthunter]

I was taking the trash out in my apartment complex and I found something that I least expected. No it wasn't a morel, but oddly I found a couple dried up flattened hen of the woods where there were some wood chips put down where an old stump was. Obviously, being flat as a pancake from the weight of the ice, and snow, and being dry as a bone I didn't eat it or anything. I picked one of the flattened petals and looked under it. I could tell it was a hen. The underside was white and porous, but dry as a bone. I'll take a pic of it in the morning. (Feeling kind of lazy right now:lol:.) I know I'll be the wierd guy out in the yard picking the mushrooms come Sept now.;):D

[fasthunter]

I took them on my cell and they are kind of crappy. The hens were flattened and pretty dry. There were bigger clumps of it too, but this is what I picked off to take a photo. Not like how you see it in the fall. I just thought it was odd to find a preserved dried up crusty one:chillin:.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/medium/04-22-08_0951.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/04-22-08_0951.jpg)

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/medium/04-22-08_0952.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/04-22-08_0952.jpg)

[twohats]

I realy like the Hens. They have a very earthy taste. Think I will put some on the grill tonight.

[Michigan Mike]

Nice find Fh, I'd probably use them as an indicator for others in your area
but would pass on those for the table considering where they are growing.

Good idea two hats, I like them better than morels and had my best season
for them last fall.
Maitakes on the grill lightly brushed with seasoned EVOO, a few onions, lil garlic and nice piece of venison are simply the best imo.
Maybe I'll toss in a few morels just to mix it up a bit.

Mike

[twohats]

Thats the way I cook them up also. Seal it all up in foil and flip it a few times on the grill. I also have one pack of Morels yet. Shroom feast tonight.

[StumpJumper]

Turkey Tail fungus. Not hen

[fasthunter]

Turkey Tail fungus. Not hen
I typed turkey tail fungus and man does that look similar to a hen, but not large. Turkey tail looks identical, but grows flat on dead wood. That looks identical. Man I thought I found a hen. However, I did just learn something from you. Thank you.:) Just in case though........I've gotta see if it's big and fat in the fall. However, I'm sure you're right though. That would probably explain why I didn't see it last fall while taking out by the trash. It was flat then as well. However, I know where some real hens grow for now so I'm still ok. I got all excited:lol:

[twohats]

I dont know,maybe. The stalk looks a little thick.I have never seen Turkey tail with a heavy stalk. But I am no expert.

[Oldgrandman]

I find those too in the spring but do not believe they are hens. I don't think a hen could last (intact) through a normal winter let alone one as wet as we had this year.

[StumpJumper]

Yeah I had the same ones growing on the stump in my yard back when I was new to fall shrooms.. I almost mistook one for a hen also.

[fasthunter]

Yeah I had the same ones growing on the stump in my yard back when I was new to fall shrooms.. I almost mistook one for a hen also.
Thanks for the tip. I learn more everyday!:) Now I know there's a possible look alike to look out for. I wouldn't pick a hen that flat and small anyways, but the more knowledge the better.;):)

[StumpJumper]

A hen won't ever get hard and woody like that, they dry up and crumble away.. Normally they get full of little black beetles with red heads (or vise-versa) that tunnell through them and eat them away anyways.

[fasthunter]

A hen won't ever get hard and woody like that, they dry up and crumble away.. Normally they get full of little black beetles with red heads (or vise-versa) that tunnell through them and eat them away anyways.
That makes sense. That's why I found it so odd. I know I found a couple other hens after the big one I found last year in the same area and those things were starting to rot, and get eaten up and it was already the day or two before bowseason. Also, if you want my honest opinion I love the taste of morels, but the taste of a hen and the sheer size honestly makes me like them quite a bit more. I've never seen my wife want mushrooms so much in my life after I found one of those babies. They are AWESEOME!! If you can't tell I've been hanging out in the mushrooming forum a bit lately. I must admit, mushrooming isn't a trial fun thing for me now. I like it quite a bit. Now I need to learn to find chanterelles as well.:)......this is a fun hobby that tastes good.:cool:

[MUSHY1]

New to Shrooming, does anyone have a Pic of this "Hen"????? And if anyone has pics of the most disirable Mushrooms for a Beginner would be appreciated...;)

Mushy

[StumpJumper]

Mushy, just do a search for a Grifola frondosa, that is the Hen of the Woods.

FH, shrooming is quite addicting :) well, habit forming anyways...

I second you on the Hens, they are hard to beat, but Chanterelles are wonderful, so are Matsutakis, I wish they grew around here. My buddy just sent me some dried smoked matsis, omg are they good!

[fasthunter]

Mushy, just do a search for a Grifola frondosa, that is the Hen of the Woods.

FH, shrooming is quite addicting :) well, habit forming anyways...

I second you on the Hens, they are hard to beat, but Chanterelles are wonderful, so are Matsutakis, I wish they grew around here. My buddy just sent me some dried smoked matsis, omg are they good!
You aren't kidding I was out turkey hunting yesterday and I noticed a bunch of OLD pear shaped puffballs on a large dead tree. (Had the little holes in the top after the spores came out.) It's also in the same area where the short footed suillus mushroom grows that I didn't know I could eat that grows like mad in that area. Seems like I'm forever on the prowl for some type of edible shroom now. The weekend of my birthday (May 9th.) My wife and I are headed up north to look for morels. I enjoy it quite a bit.:corkysm55:D

[fasthunter]

New to Shrooming, does anyone have a Pic of this "Hen"????? And if anyone has pics of the most disirable Mushrooms for a Beginner would be appreciated...;)

Mushy
I have a pic of a hen I found last year in my photo's. The color isn't that great because of the lighting in the trunk of my wifes car, but it'll give you an idea.(Tried to copy and paste it, but my computers acting up. It's the 2nd page up top in the middle.)There are better ones on the internet. Just type Hen of the woods, or Maitake.:)

[MUSHY1]

I have a pic of a hen I found last year in my photo's. The color isn't that great because of the lighting in the trunk of my wifes car, but it'll give you an idea.(Tried to copy and paste it, but my computers acting up. It's the 2nd page up top in the middle.)There are better ones on the internet. Just type Hen of the woods, or Maitake.:)

Thanks for the info Fasthunter.......Sweet pics on Iraq, Just hope you dont have to go back there......Man, Ive seen those Shrooms now and again, wish i would have known i could eat them.....Love my Mushrooms. Im gonna have to get me a book on edible shrooms soon.....

Mushy

[shimmy]

Thanks for the info Fasthunter.......Sweet pics on Iraq, Just hope you dont have to go back there......Man, Ive seen those Shrooms now and again, wish i would have known i could eat them.....Love my Mushrooms. Im gonna have to get me a book on edible shrooms soon.....

Mushy

Mushy, I've been looking around my house nothing yet but I'll be at the folks house this sunday. going take a walk-about might find my to your folks... I did find a nice antler shed though:) Let me know when your out in my area will look together.
Shimmy

[twohats]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/551/P9080014.JPG

Here is one from last fall. They sure do have a lot of flavor.

[fasthunter]

Thanks for the info Fasthunter.......Sweet pics on Iraq, Just hope you dont have to go back there......Man, Ive seen those Shrooms now and again, wish i would have known i could eat them.....Love my Mushrooms. Im gonna have to get me a book on edible shrooms soon.....

Mushy
Thank you Mushy. I'm not in the military anymore so I should be ok and my inactive ready reserve time is almost up. (That's where you can still get called even though you have no military obligations whatsoever.) My little brother is going later this summer though. Also, if you remember where you saw the hens they tend to grow in the same spot year after year. May help on the searching. They taste phenominal too. Here's a super easy way to cook them. Mix salt, pepper, and flour in a bowl. Just barely wet chunks of the petals from the mushroom and coat it in the flour. Deep fry it until it's golden brown and dip in ranch dressing:corkysm55:corkysm55:corkysm55 They go good in alot of other dishes as well. I really like it in sherry chicken with some pasta.

[fasthunter]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/551/P9080014.JPG

Here is one from last fall. They sure do have a lot of flavor.
That's a nice one!!