A Good Spring Hunt

[SpearBrave]

Hello fellow skadites I thought I would share a very good spring hunt with you and a tale of a great adventure here in the Hoosier State.

It all started on a gloomy dark day filled with much lighting and thunder. After having a festive meal and and some good drink we decided to search for the most elusive prey that haunts this great forest in the hilly portion of the state.

All of the signs were aligned and it seem like the perfect weather. Warm rains have been in great abundance and everything seemed alive with all the signs of Spring we headed into the great wald( my backyard, literally ).

The first sign I came across was the ever present sign of spring in these parts the famous Jack-in-the Pulpit plant.

These only come up in the spring when the weather is just right for the prey I was pursuing ever deeper in the woods.

Next I noticed the brilliant white splashes of the Dogwood tree with their flowers in full show despite the heavy deluge of warm spring rain.


Not finding my ever elusive prey we continued to march deeper in the wet and dark wood crossing swollen streams that would make most city folk turn back.



Still we just could not find the living creature that we were searching for, although we did encounter another fierce beast that was a sure sign that we were getting closer to the purpose of our quest. This fierce beast that we encountered is none other than the Eastern Box Turtle.


After carefully avoiding the fearless turtle we came across another most beautiful and pleasing site a unknown and unmarked waterfall a nice place to rest after avoiding the fierce turtle. But still our prey eluded us and we decided to rest and regroup our plan for the hunt.


Finally we decided to head to higher ground and check the Pine groves, one of the lurking places for this rare and elusive species. Finally we spotted our prey and our hearts lept and we raced to capture in. First we examined the surroundings and made notes on how to approach this beast and to look for other of its kind nearby and not spook them away in the process. Then with great joy I grabbed a hold of the prey and wrestled it from its abode and quickly placed it into my hunting pouch. Then we discovered that there were more in the area and began arresting them quickly also. What is this rare and delicate prey that would drive us to these lengths you may ask it none other than the Yellow Morel mushroom.


Do you hunt mushrooms?

If not I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the read.

Sorry some of the picture are out of focus but it was raining very hard and water kept getting on my camera lens.

[Æmeric]

Oooooh... the great mushroom hunt! Never found one myself, I just assume the rabbits & deer have beaten me to them. But with all the rain this pass week there should be more then usual.

The only thing that rivaled the mushroom hunt is the ginseng hunt. I remember being dragged out into the dark hollows with my country cousins to hunt for ginseng, which at the time (1970s) was worth about $70 a pound, but it took several roots to add up to one pound & wild ginseng is hard to find. But wild ginseng has been declared an endangered species & is illegal to harvest, apparently even on private land.

[TXRog]

Beautiful photos, SpearBrave.

Thanks for sharing.

[Zimobog]

Dang, Spearbrave, for a minute there I thought that you were taking us on a snipe hunt!

[SpearBrave]

Whooooo... the great mushroom hunt! Never found one myself, I just assume the rabbits & deer have beaten me to them. But with all the rain this pass week there should be more then usual.

This is one of the best mushroom years on record, I know people have found them by the thousands because of all the rain we have had.

The only thing that rivaled the mushroom hunt is the ginseng hunt. I remember being dragged out into the dark hollows with my country cousins to hunt for ginseng, which at the time (1970s) was worth about $70 a pound, but it took several roots to add up to one pound & wild ginseng is hard to find. But wild ginseng has been declared an endangered species & is illegal to harvest, apparently even on private land.

Well Ginseng is quite rare these days, but we still have a season to hunt it, just not on public land.

I love to hunt ginseng or 'sang' but the only collecting I have done in years is for the seeds to scatter them in hopes that more would grow.

What hurt the Ginseng is the drug heads that harvest it out of season and don't scatter the seeds. It takes years and years for Ginseng to grow and reproduce. It is a shame we don't have as much as we used to.The last time I checked wild Ginseng was over $400.00 a pound dried.

[SpearBrave]

Dang, Spearbrave, for a minute there I thought that you were taking us on a snipe hunt!

Shh you know it is not snipe season yet, but when it comes around I should take some of these kind folk on a traditional snipe hunt.

[Northumbria]

Not finding my ever elusive prey we continued to march deeper in the wet and dark wood crossing swollen streams that would make most city folk turn back.

Yeah, city folk are soft. I've lost count of the amount of streams I've jumped or forded. Many rivers too.

Do you hunt mushrooms?

No, I don;t want to make any mistakes. Too many deadly ones in the UK.

That forest looks great, I used to play in places like that as a kid.

[SpearBrave]

Yeah, city folk are soft. I've lost count of the amount of streams I've jumped or forded. Many rivers too.

I guess you did not understand the whole cheekyness of the opening post.

No, I don;t want to make any mistakes. Too many deadly ones in the UK.

That forest looks great, I used to play in places like that as a kid.

And you talk about city folk, well a real rural woodsman would know the difference by age 7 or so.

[Northumbria]

I guess you did not understand the whole cheekyness of the opening post.

I did think the stream was small, but I do know of people who'd look for a bridge, I kid you not.

And you talk about city folk, well a real rural woodsman would know the difference by age 7 or so.

I have an encyclopaedia of trees, animals and most plants (my brain) and know a few mushrooms. I just never bothered with them, too much risk if you get it wrong.

[SpearBrave]

I did think the stream was small, but I do know of people who'd look for a bridge, I kid you not.

This quote should have gave you clue I was trying to be funny.

Still we just could not find the living creature that we were searching for, although we did encounter another fierce beast that was a sure sign that we were getting closer to the purpose of our quest. This fierce beast that we encountered is none other than the Eastern Box Turtle.

The Eastern Box Turtle is the most harmless creature in the woods.

I have an encyclopaedia of trees, animals and most plants (my brain) and know a few mushrooms. I just never bothered with them, too much risk if you get it wrong.

Books! you say Books!, we only chew on the covers of those things around here, plus they make good tinder for starting fires.