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Kisatchie NF Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Kisatchie NF

80–400 ft · LA🚗 Directions

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Kisatchie NF — Louisiana's only national forest, spread across central LA in seven ranger districts. Longleaf pine, loblolly, white oak, magnolia, and beech in stream bottoms. Excellent chanterelle and indigo milk cap grounds; oysters and chicken on hardwoods.

Trees:Longleaf Pine Loblolly Pine Water Oak

Updated Aug 27, 4:17 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Kisatchie is running hot and flush—S-tier is warranted. Sustained 84°F soil with a full week above threshold and consistent moisture (0.16 VWC) has unlocked virtually everything in your field guide, from choice edibles (Chanterelles, Chicken of the Woods, Hedgehogs) to the toxic lineup you need to know by sight (Death Caps, Destroying Angels, Deadly Galerinas all firing simultaneously). The lack of meaningful precipitation in the last two weeks hasn't mattered because soil moisture is locked in; that's your real edge right now. Prioritize the wood-decayers and grassland species that thrive in this heat window—your Oysters, Chicken, and the Inky complex (Alcohol, Fairy, Magpie) are going to fruit hard over the next 48–72 hours before either rain resets the flush or heat starts aging out the substrate. Polypores (Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk, Birch) are also peaking. No limiting factor means you're not constrained; the only real variable is whether the next weather shift (rain or cooler temps) redirects the fruiting. The twin warning: toxics are equally abundant. Amanitas (Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Caesar's, Coker's) are high-confidence IDs in this region and season, so dial in your field marks obsessively if you're working mixed patches. Hot tip: Focus hardwood deadfall and disturbed soil edges first—Chicken and Oysters flush earliest in this heat, and you'll beat the slower fruiters to the prime material.

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

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Nearby Camping

Within(1)

Stuart Lake Recreation Complex, Camping/Day Use

developed

USFS~5.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Kisatchie National Forest

⚠ 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 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

HuitlacocheUstilago maydis

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

CordycepsCordyceps militaris

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

GrisetteAmanita vaginata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash CupScutellinia scutellata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite BoletePseudoboletus parasiticus

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Golden TeacherPsilocybe cubensis

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 VWC, 7d avg 0.15)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 84°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.16 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.