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Francis Marion NF Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Francis Marion NF

10–100 ft · SC🚗 Directions

S

Francis Marion NF in coastal SC — longleaf pine flatwoods, bottomland hardwood swamps (cypress-tupelo), and live oak hammocks. Hen-of-the-woods on water oak, chanterelles in pine-oak edges, and oyster mushroom year-round. Year-round foraging due to mild climate.

Trees:Longleaf Pine Live Oak Bald Cypress

Updated Jul 13, 4:15 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**Francis Marion NF – S Tier (July 13, 2026)** You're looking at a textbook summer flush across the board: 81°F soil, sustained moisture for a full week, and zero drought stress have unlocked the entire catalog. This is the rare moment when cosmopolitan saprobes, wood-decayers, and even the finicky boletes are all simultaneously viable—oysters, chanterelles, COTW, black trumpets, and choice boletes (Aspen, Two-Colored, Frost's) are all legitimate targets right now. The only constraint is moderate desiccation risk; the moisture window is open but won't stay that way indefinitely in July heat. Fruiting bodies will abort or dry out if we don't get rain in the next 7–10 days, so anything that fruits now is peaking *today to tomorrow*. The wood-decayers (Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk, Birch Polypore, Berkeley's) and jelly fungi (Witch's Butter, Wood Ear, Green Elfcup) are your insurance policy—they'll persist longer than fragile ground fruifers if conditions dry. **Hot tip:** Hit any dead hardwood within a mile of the forest floor; COTW and Aspen Oyster are at absolute peak flesh weight and won't hold that texture if the soil moisture drops even 0.05 VWC.

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(6)

Honey Hill Recreation Area

developed

USFS~2.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Buckhall Campground

developed

USFS~8 mi from center

Halfway Creek Trail Camp

developed

~8.1 mi from center

Buck Hall Recreation Area

developed

USFS~8.1 mi from centerFee required/night

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Elmwood Recreation Area

developed

USFS~8.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Elmwood Campground

developed

USFS~8.2 mi from center

⚠ 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 Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Black Trumpet

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Golden Teacher

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Banded Mottlegill

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 81°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

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.