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Big Thicket Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Big Thicket

50–400 ft · TX🚗 Directions

Excellent

Big Thicket National Preserve — biodiversity hotspot where eastern hardwood, southern pine, midwest prairie, and southwest desert overlap. Outstanding diversity of fungi: chanterelles, lion's mane, oyster, indigo milk cap, and rare boletes. Multiple units along the Neches and Trinity rivers.

Trees:Loblolly Pine Water Oak Sweetgum

Updated Oct 11, 5:11 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Big Thicket is rated Excellent. Soil is sitting at 72.7°F and has held above threshold all 7 of the last 7 days, with soil moisture steady (0.21 VWC today against a 0.23 seven-day average) and no drought. Rainfall has been modest (0.65" over 7 days, 0.75" over 14), but the moisture trigger is met and the soil is holding it, so nothing is limiting right now. Every species in the model is flagged high, but in October at these elevations the realistic targets are the wood-rotters and mycorrhizal staples: oyster, chanterelle (including smooth), chicken of the woods, lion's mane, honey, hedgehog, bear's head tooth, jack-o-lantern, and the stinkhorns and inkcaps in disturbed or mulchy ground. Treat the soil temp as a ceiling to watch: it's warm, so fast-maturing flushes will age quickly and bugs will get to them fast. Snowline and SWE are irrelevant here, so the only variable that matters over the next few days is whether rain keeps topping up the moisture. If the 7-day total stays this light and the weather dries out, the flush tapers off within a week; a fresh soaking rain would extend it and likely push a second wave. Hot tip: Hunt hardwood drainages and the edges of creek bottoms first thing in the morning, and prioritize young, firm specimens, because the warm soil means anything that popped a few days ago is already past prime.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(0)

No campgrounds within 10 mi. Try widening the radius.

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Oyster MushroomPleurotus ostreatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter PolyporePolyporus brumalis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Devil's CigarChorioactis geaster

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter Mushroom / Wild EnokiFlammulina velutipes

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden TeacherPsilocybe cubensis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Banded MottlegillPanaeolus cinctulus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blue MeaniesPanaeolus cyanescens

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.