Where Can I Find the Delicious Chicken of the Woods Mushroom?

Foraging for edible mushrooms can be an extremely rewarding hobby. As a forager, being able to locate delicious and nutritious wild mushrooms like the chicken of the woods provides a real sense of accomplishment But many amateur mushroom hunters often wonder – where can I find chicken of the woods?

We’ll talk about everything you need to know to find this tasty fungus in this article. We’ll talk about how to identify them, their ideal habitat and growing conditions, and the places you can most likely find these beautiful orange flowers.

Whether you’ve been mushroom hunting for a long time or are just starting out, keep reading to learn how to find chicken of the woods and add this tasty treat to your basket.

What Exactly is Chicken of the Woods?

Before we dive into where to find them, let’s make sure we have a clear picture of what exactly chicken of the woods mushrooms are.

Chicken of the woods, or Laetiporus sulphureus, is a bracket fungus that forms groups of shelves on trees. It’s called “chicken of the woods” because when it’s cooked, it tastes and feels like chicken breast meat.

This mushroom is also known as the chicken mushroom and the sulfur shelf. Their bright orange to yellow color makes them easy to spot in the wild. On the bottom of the caps, there are tiny pores instead of gills.

A choice edible, chicken of the woods is treasured by mushroom foragers for its versatility in the kitchen. It can be sautéed, baked, grilled, or added to soups and stews. Some even use it as a meat substitute!

Now that you know what to look for, let’s get into the details on where you’re most likely to find this impressive fungus.

Where To Find Chicken of The Woods

Chicken of the woods mushrooms grow predominantly on hardwood trees like oak, chestnut, cherry, poplar, elm, and willow. Less frequently, you may also find them on conifer trees.

They are saprophytic, meaning they feed off dead or dying wood. More specifically, they thrive on the lignins and cellulose of wood, helping to break down and decompose trees.

Here are the top places for where to look for chicken of the woods:

1. At the Base of Mature Hardwood Trees

One of the best places to find chicken of the woods is directly at the base of mature hardwood trees, particularly oak trees. Scan the tree trunk near ground level for any shelflike mushroom growth.

They most frequently grow about 2-5 feet from the ground, but can occasionally be found higher up on trunks and branches. The mushrooms emerge from wounds or cracks in the bark and expand outward in fan shapes.

2. On Dead Logs and Stumps

Fallen logs and stumps of hardwood trees are another hot spot for chicken of the woods. As they work to break down the deadwood, the mushrooms will often colonize the sides and tops of logs and cut stump surfaces.

Scan any downed hardwood trees or stumps in the forest or woods. Also check logs that have been cut for firewood. The stump itself may have mushrooms growing from the cut surface while the log sections can harbor growth on the sides.

3. At Forestry Sites

Areas where trees have been harvested or cut down, like forestry or logging sites, tend to yield chicken of the woods. The disturbed wood and stumps provide ideal conditions for growth.

The mushrooms will colonize the fresh stumps as well as wood debris left behind like branches, logs or wood chips. Be sure to obtain permission before foraging at any commercial forestry operations.

4. In Old Growth Oak Forests

If you have access to an area with mature oak trees or an old growth oak forest, this is essentially prime mushroom hunting ground! The abundance of aging oak trees and deadwood increases your chances substantially of finding chicken of the woods.

The same goes for stands of elm, chestnut, cherry and poplar. Scan the bases of the trees and any fallen logs or branches for signs of growth.

5. Along Tree Lines and Fencerows

Chicken of the woods will sometimes grow along fence lines or tree lines where hardwood trees edge fields. The mushrooms can thrive on the trees in these transitional areas between forest and open ground.

Check both sides of the fencerow or tree line for mushroom growth. Also inspect any logs, stumps or wood debris that is present.

When To Look For Chicken of The Woods

Chicken of the woods mushrooms fruit in two main seasons:

• Spring: Late May, June, July
• Fall: September, October

They grow most abundantly in the spring and fall when conditions are warm, humid, and wet. Peak fruiting often follows rainy periods.

During hot, dry spells in the summer the mushrooms are less prolific. You might still find dried up specimens in the summer, but the best harvests happen in spring and autumn.

Aim to search for chicken of the woods after soaking rains during their peak fruiting seasons. The moisture kickstarts impressive clusters of fresh growth.

Habitat Parameters To Look For

Now that you know where and when to hunt for chicken of the woods, let’s talk about the type of forest habitat where they are most abundant.

Some key parameters to look for:

• Hardwood Trees: Oak, elm, chestnut, cherry – presence of edible host trees
• Moderate Elevation: Sea level to 5,000 ft. They are rare at higher elevations.
• Warm to Temperate Climate: Ideal temperatures in the 50s – 80s F
• Moist Conditions: Wet weather and humidity stimulate growth
• Decaying Wood: Rotting logs, stumps, snags
• Sun Exposure: Can tolerate partial shade but thrive with sun exposure
• Edges: Forest edges, tree lines, trails, fence rows

When you locate a forest area that fits this profile – mature hardwood trees, moderate elevation, warm and wet climate – you increase your odds of stumbling upon the orange beauty that is chicken of the woods!

Developing Your Chicken Mushroom Radar

Once you know what to look for, chicken mushrooms stick out like a sore thumb in the forest. Their vibrant orange shelves seem to scream “I’m over here!”

But it takes time to train your eyes to spot them effectively. Patience and an understanding of their ideal growth habitat will help you hone in on them more easily.

Here are a few tips for developing your chicken of the woods radar:

• Look high and low – Scan all elevations on trees from stumps to high up branches.

• Peer behind foliage – Mushrooms can hide behind leaves, vines, or brush.

• Note clusters of trees – Close hardwood groupings signal prime habitat.

• Watch for color pops – That orange color will grab your eye.

• Look for shape – Focus on shelf-like caps with a ruffled appearance.

• Smell for scents – There can be a fruity odor when they are growing.

With practice, you’ll be able to spot the distinctive form of chicken of the woods at a distance. Before you know it, you’ll be an expert chicken mushroom hunter!

Get Out There and Start Hunting!

As you can see, with the right understanding of chicken of the woods mushroom habitat and growth patterns, you can answer the question “where can I find chicken of the woods?” yourself and start seeking them out.

Now that you’re armed with expert tips on their identification, preferred growth conditions, and sneakiest hiding spots, it’s time to get out there and start hunting!

The thrill of the search and rewarding bounty of these woodland edibles awaits. We hope these foraging tips have prepared you to add chicken of the woods to your mushroom gathering basket.

As always, be sure to forage sustainably by leaving plenty behind to spawn future growth. With persistence and luck, you’ll soon be feasting on the chicken of the woods mushrooms you harvested yourself. Happy foraging!