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Southern IA Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

Southern IA

Excellent

Southern Iowa rolling hills with oak-hickory forest remnants and old apple orchards. Stephens SF, Lake Red Rock area, and scattered timber along creek corridors. Dying ash and elm are reliable morel producers.

Trees:White Oak Hickory Cottonwood

Updated Oct 11, 5:08 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Southern Iowa is Excellent right now: soil sits at 69°F, volumetric moisture is holding at 0.22 today against a 0.24 seven-day average, and 4.12" over the last 14 days has the substrate primed. There's no drought, no snow influence, and no limiting factor. Nearly every species in the model is at high viability, so the real question is what's worth your time. The standouts for the table are Hen of the Woods, Chicken of the Woods, Lion's Mane, Honey Mushroom, Blewit, Hedgehog, Wine Cap, Giant Puffball, and Smooth Chanterelle. Wood-associated species like Hen, Chicken, and Honey have a full 7/7 days of favorable soil temps (Chicken at 6/7), so those flushes should be well established. The same conditions are lighting up the toxic lookalikes, with Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Deadly Galerina, and Green-Gill Lepiota all at high viability, so ID discipline matters on every Amanita, Galerina, and Lepiota-type find. The main thing to watch is rainfall: only 0.72" fell in the last 7 days versus 4.12" over 14, so the moisture pulse is tapering. Without another soaking in the next several days, expect the soil-dwelling and fleshy species to fade first, while polypores and conks hold longer. Hot tip: Hit oak and elm stands now for Hen of the Woods and Chicken of the Woods while the moisture reserve is still there, and prioritize fleshy, short-lived species like Shaggy Mane and Blewit early in the week before the drying trend cuts them short.

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(2)

Forest Lake Camp & Conference Center

developed

Iowa Baptist Convention~6.7 mi from center

Lake Wapello State Park Campground

developed

~7.3 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

Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hen of the WoodsGrifola frondosa

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

BlewitLepista nuda

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter PolyporePolyporus brumalis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elfin SaddleHelvella crispa

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Devil's CigarChorioactis geaster

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter Mushroom / Wild EnokiFlammulina velutipes

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Banded MottlegillPanaeolus cinctulus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Common StinkhornPhallus impudicus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.22 VWC, 7d avg 0.24 — 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.

Southern IA

AI Conditions Report

Found something?

Nearby Camping

Forest Lake Camp & Conference Center

Lake Wapello State Park Campground

Conditions History

Viable Species