You're offline — showing cached data

Loading conditions…

Flint Hills Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

🚗 Get Directions

Flint Hills

1,000–1,600 ft · KS🚗 Directions

S

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and surrounding Chase/Morris county ranchlands. The Flint Hills are the largest unplowed tallgrass prairie left in North America — limestone benches with bur oak, shagbark hickory, hackberry, and cottonwood along the Cottonwood and Neosho river bottoms. Morels concentrate in riparian strips around dying elms; chicken-of-the-woods and oyster on hardwood snags in summer.

Trees:Bur Oak Shagbark Hickory Cottonwood

Updated Aug 27, 4:18 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**S-tier conditions, zero limiting factors—this is a fruiting bonanza.** Soil temps holding steady at 80°F with seven straight days above trigger threshold and consistent moisture (0.15 VWC today, 0.16 seven-day average) have primed the region across all guilds. Every major edible and medicinal is lighting up: Chicken of the Woods, oysters, chanterelles, all milk caps, polypores, and puffballs are live. Even the wood-decayers and grassland specialists (Shaggy Manes, Meadow Mushrooms) are dialed in simultaneously—rare alignment. The lack of any limiting factor means you're not watching for rain or a cold snap to trigger emergence; emergence is *already happening*. Focus on phenology and substrate specificity instead of weather. Aspen boletes want their host trees; wine caps prefer disturbed ground; polypores need established wood. Scout accordingly. Watch the next 48–72 hours for boletes and milk caps to flush heavily—peak window for Aspen Boletes and Indigo Milk Caps before heat stress sets in. After that, watch for the moisture to drop; even at 0.15 VWC you're not in danger, but anything below 0.12 will start shutting down the flush. **Hot tip:** Hit your Shaggy Mane sites at dawn before they deliquesce—they're at full go and have a 12-hour window max in this heat.

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

Found something?

Log your find on iNaturalist to help the community and get expert ID assistance. Photos, location, and habitat notes all help with identification.

Log on iNaturalist View recent finds nearby →

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 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

HuitlacocheUstilago maydis

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

CordycepsCordyceps militaris

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

GrisetteAmanita vaginata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash CupScutellinia scutellata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite BoletePseudoboletus parasiticus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Common StinkhornPhallus impudicus

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dune StinkhornPhallus hadriani

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

All conditions met (soil 80°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

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.