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NW IL Driftless Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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NW IL Driftless

600–1,200 ft · IL🚗 Directions

S

Northwest Illinois driftless region along the Mississippi bluffs. Unglaciated terrain with steep wooded ravines of white oak, hickory, and elm. Apple Creek and tributary valleys are prime morel habitat. Cooler season than southern IL.

Trees:White Oak Hickory American Elm

Updated Aug 27, 4:10 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# NW IL Driftless – S Tier (Aug 27) You're in a perfect storm: 70°F soil, a week of sustained moisture (0.26 VWC average), and zero limiting factors. This tier is justified—the region is as primed as it gets for late-summer flush. Forget the noise about what *could* fruit; focus on what *will*: **Chicken of the Woods, Black Trumpets, Hedgehogs, and Wine Caps** are your workhorses right now. The polypores (Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk, Tinder Fungus) are simultaneously building across dead wood. Don't sleep on the puffballs—Giant, Gem-Studded, and Pear-Shaped are all hours away from prime harvest. No weather pressure system incoming means this window holds through the weekend. Moisture is your only variable; if precip stalls below 0.2" over the next 5 days, flush intensity drops. Otherwise, expect carpet conditions in rich hardwood and mixed stands. **Hot tip:** Scout aspen groves and disturbed edges now—the stinkhorns and Wine Caps fruit first in warm, open substrate, so they'll telegraph the main flush 24–48 hours ahead.

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

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

ChagaInonotus obliquus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch BoleteLeccinum scabrum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

HuitlacocheUstilago maydis

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

CordycepsCordyceps militaris

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Woolly Milk CapLactarius torminosus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

GrisetteAmanita vaginata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash CupScutellinia scutellata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Brown Roll-RimPaxillus involutus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Fly AgaricAmanita muscaria var. guessowii

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite BoletePseudoboletus parasiticus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Amethyst DeceiverLaccaria amethystina

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Amanita Muscaria

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Common StinkhornPhallus impudicus

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dune StinkhornPhallus hadriani

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 70°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — 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.