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Red Hills / Gyp Hills Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Red Hills / Gyp Hills

1,500–2,200 ft · KS🚗 Directions

A

The Red Hills (Gypsum Hills) of south-central Kansas — red-rock mesas and canyons around Medicine Lodge and the Barber County gyp hills, an island of rough breaks rising from the mixed-grass prairie. Cottonwood, hackberry, chinkapin oak, and soapberry crowd the spring-fed draws and the Medicine and Salt Fork rivers. Morels in the cottonwood-elm bottoms in spring; oysters on dead hardwoods after rain. Banded Mottlegill (Panaeolus cinctulus) fruits in the ranch pastures.

Trees:Bur Oak Cottonwood Hackberry

Updated Sep 15, 4:26 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**Red Hills / Gyp Hills — Tier A in Name Only** You're looking at a technically viable region hamstrung by one factor: soil VWC at 0.12 is frankly too dry for reliable fruiting. The 0.44" rain over two weeks hasn't penetrated meaningfully—this is a desiccation-risk zone. That said, Tier A persists because the species list is broad and includes drought-tolerant wood decomposers (Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk, perennial polypores) and saprotrophs that don't demand fresh moisture (Fairy Ring Champignon, puffballs on marginal ground). The real opportunity is wood-based species and lignicolous opportunists that still have residual substrate moisture. Moisture is the hard ceiling here—the "moisture trigger" hasn't been met, and the 7-day trend shows stagnation. Watch the next 48–72 hours for any convective activity; even 0.2" of rain would flip this into high-confidence territory for Oyster, Honey, and Chicken species. **Hot tip:** Focus on dead standing timber and heavily shaded ravine floors where substrate holds moisture longer; skip open ground entirely.

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 Potential80/100

❌Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

MODERATEPrimed

Oyster MushroomPleurotus ostreatus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

HuitlacocheUstilago maydis

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

CordycepsCordyceps militaris

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

GrisetteAmanita vaginata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Elfin SaddleHelvella crispa

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Eyelash CupScutellinia scutellata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Parasite BoletePseudoboletus parasiticus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Common StinkhornPhallus impudicus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Dune StinkhornPhallus hadriani

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Banded MottlegillPanaeolus cinctulus

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

MODERATEPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

moisture marginal (today 0.12 VWC, 7d avg 0.10 — sustained dry)

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.