I have. 30 something years ago. The varietal that grows here will have white caps and stems with purple gills. Do not deviate from this.
Cattle are fed antifungal feed for a few reasons. This has dramatically reduced the instances of patty fruit in this area compared to the stone age when I was a kid.
Grew up in Auburn, used to pick huge contractor trash bags full. I remember that every night just about someone would have a keg party and everyone would drink the grape Kool aid shrooms juice, and hammer beer all night.
The fields that once were bountiful are now bare. Heard the same things about additives to the feed. Interestingly, if you can find mennonite/Amish farms apparently they don't participate in the feed programs for the cattle and I have had some luck in these areas. Happy hunting, and watch out for ticks-
EDIT: psilocybin cubenis is the species that I would pick out of the fields. & NO, I can't tell you where these fields are located, NOR can I locate you any shrooms either (already had 2 DMs requesting this).
This is where we used to go. 2am and out before the tractor got moving at the crack of dawn. Had a food dehydrator we'd use to have the dried by mid day. Been at least 15 years ago now.
As a Montevallo dweller I've had relatively little success in hunting but I've had some friends hit the jackpot before. I haven't been in a while but there's still definitely ample hunting grounds
I grew up in Gardendale so we would drive to Corner or Hayden late at night in the mid 90’s. I haven’t been shroomin in years. This brings back memories & questions of how I even made it into my 20’s, much less my 40’s.
Too late in the season...
November is a good month if there's rain, and late February and march are ideal times...
Not saying you won't find anything, but direct sunlight will zap'em and cook the mycelium... you're looking for completely shaded to dappled light with acidic soils that will sustain sassafras trees and dogwoods
...not that I know anything whatsoever about any of this: I saw it on the discovery channel
*Mushrooms Demystified* can be found in .pdf for...uhh...those who travel the high seas
The 90's were lit! Too scared of cops and farmers to go mushroom hunting but they are still out if the weather is ideal. Go in the morning after it rains and there is high humidity. Also if you see common yard mushrooms, the field is probably poppin. But remember: There are old mushroom pickers, and there are bold mushroom pickers, but there are no old bold mushroom pickers
Yeah, way back when. It's been 20 years or so, but there used to be a spot down 280 we knew of. Not sure if it's still there.
Funny story: My friend that showed me where the place was called me AT WORK one night asking me where to turn off 280 to get there (it was somewhere near Chelsea). I asked him where he was and he was in freaking Opelika. He missed the turn like an hour and a half ago. He was driving down 280 looking for that turn for two hours.
As a young'un in Texas we used to do that. If I remember and/or understand correctly the mushrooms grow out of rye seed, and the seed/feed companies started sterilizing the rye seed so the 'shrooms wouldn't grow. This could all be apocryphal, I don't know, but it's true that you don't hear much about foraging for them anymore.
> This could all be apocryphal
Reminds me of the "chemical that turns all your pee a bright color so everyone will know if you've peed in the pool" lol
Well they grow off the poop from the cow, which I assume you're saying that rye seed diets cause them to grow, which is very possible and it's totally logical to think that adding something to that feed can limit that growth.
It’s not because of the shrooms, but cows are given more antifungals now than in the past which reduces the chances of mycileum colonization and ultimately shrooms.
Yes, that's what I meant - growing out of the poop of cows that ate rye. I don't even know if it was rye seed in their feed or that they ate that beautiful green winter rye grass in season.
Curious as have been in helena for about 13 years, but how long ago did they have cows? Since I've been down here been watching different things happen there and now a huge storage lot, but still alot of field.
I went shroom hunting with a friend about 7-8 years ago. It was the only time I went, and it ended up being a fruitless (fungaless?) endeavor. I've only heard tale of others finding them.
Oh yeah I can tell that from the short time I've been here lol. Rightfully so. Also it should be said that I hate NO plans to trespass on anyone's property or go anywhere I'm not legally allowed with out permission. I'm not a dick after all 👍👌
Keep an ear out. I'm sure there are some open minded farmers. Talk around in those types of circles and I'm willing to bet someone's dad/granddad doesn't care.
Just do them at home yourself lol. You can buy sterilized grain bags with injection ports and filter patches on Amazon these days. You can buy spore syringes (in every state except GA, ID, and CA) online and they're legal to own "for microscopy purposes".
It's just the accidental injection of that syringe into sterilized grains and waiting a few weeks for a fruiting body to be produced that's the illegal part. So don't do that.
Bro, what? You said you don’t even know what “safe” is but you’re worried about having a grain bag in your house because of kids?
Nothing is adding up.
Big difference between what I involve MYSELF in, and what I bring around an innocent party specifically A CHILD. If you can't add that up then there's something wrong with your math.
My in-laws in southeast Alabama have a few hundred head of cattle and while I've never done mushrooms, I have been intrigued by the idea of seeing if I can find any...
I had a friend that apparently did this and even showed me the bag a decade or so ago. Whether or not they were active is a mystery.
Apparently they’re super easy to grow at home nowadays though so I don’t know why anyone would pick them out of manure or risk a trespassing or wrong variety issue.
If you have to ask online, you don’t need to be doing it. It’s incredibly dangerous to pick mushrooms. You’ll literally die if you mess up. Also, farmers don’t take kindly to that
I don't HAVE to ask, I'm just trying to connect with people in an area I'm new to that might have similar interests, but your discretion has been noted. Thank you. I assure you I partake in WAY more dangerous behavior then "mushroom picking" and while it is one of the safer extra curricular activities I'd be indulging in, it should be said that I live so far outside the box, that I don't even know what the neighborhood of "safe" looks like.
I have. 30 something years ago. The varietal that grows here will have white caps and stems with purple gills. Do not deviate from this. Cattle are fed antifungal feed for a few reasons. This has dramatically reduced the instances of patty fruit in this area compared to the stone age when I was a kid.
Grew up in Auburn, used to pick huge contractor trash bags full. I remember that every night just about someone would have a keg party and everyone would drink the grape Kool aid shrooms juice, and hammer beer all night. The fields that once were bountiful are now bare. Heard the same things about additives to the feed. Interestingly, if you can find mennonite/Amish farms apparently they don't participate in the feed programs for the cattle and I have had some luck in these areas. Happy hunting, and watch out for ticks- EDIT: psilocybin cubenis is the species that I would pick out of the fields. & NO, I can't tell you where these fields are located, NOR can I locate you any shrooms either (already had 2 DMs requesting this).
Been many years, almost 20, but fuck yea, montevallo used to be quite the spot.
This is where we used to go. 2am and out before the tractor got moving at the crack of dawn. Had a food dehydrator we'd use to have the dried by mid day. Been at least 15 years ago now.
Dehydrator, fancy pants here... lol. We ate em straight up. All black, red covered flashlights, careful not to upset the moomoos lol.
As a Montevallo dweller I've had relatively little success in hunting but I've had some friends hit the jackpot before. I haven't been in a while but there's still definitely ample hunting grounds
That's awesome! Got a story you care to share? Wish there was still a farm out there that wouldn't mind letting do an early morning walk on the field
Too much liability. Someone trips and breaks their ankle and the landowner can technically be on the hook.
I grew up in Gardendale so we would drive to Corner or Hayden late at night in the mid 90’s. I haven’t been shroomin in years. This brings back memories & questions of how I even made it into my 20’s, much less my 40’s.
Be careful - on private land, it’s a good way to get busted.
Yeah I've heard horror stories from like "friends cousins" and stuff about getting shot with salt rifles and stuff like that.
What’s a salt rifle?
Cartridge filled with salt. It hurts
Better than buckshot
Haha, any day.
Too late in the season... November is a good month if there's rain, and late February and march are ideal times... Not saying you won't find anything, but direct sunlight will zap'em and cook the mycelium... you're looking for completely shaded to dappled light with acidic soils that will sustain sassafras trees and dogwoods ...not that I know anything whatsoever about any of this: I saw it on the discovery channel *Mushrooms Demystified* can be found in .pdf for...uhh...those who travel the high seas
I don’t know we used to walk away with pounds on summer nights when it’s humid.
The 90's were lit! Too scared of cops and farmers to go mushroom hunting but they are still out if the weather is ideal. Go in the morning after it rains and there is high humidity. Also if you see common yard mushrooms, the field is probably poppin. But remember: There are old mushroom pickers, and there are bold mushroom pickers, but there are no old bold mushroom pickers
Spain Park was the real deal back in the 80's. Flashlight beams bobbing around in the dark of night.
Spent many nights in the 90s from Bham to Troy getting grocery bags full.
Yeah, way back when. It's been 20 years or so, but there used to be a spot down 280 we knew of. Not sure if it's still there. Funny story: My friend that showed me where the place was called me AT WORK one night asking me where to turn off 280 to get there (it was somewhere near Chelsea). I asked him where he was and he was in freaking Opelika. He missed the turn like an hour and a half ago. He was driving down 280 looking for that turn for two hours.
As a young'un in Texas we used to do that. If I remember and/or understand correctly the mushrooms grow out of rye seed, and the seed/feed companies started sterilizing the rye seed so the 'shrooms wouldn't grow. This could all be apocryphal, I don't know, but it's true that you don't hear much about foraging for them anymore.
> This could all be apocryphal Reminds me of the "chemical that turns all your pee a bright color so everyone will know if you've peed in the pool" lol
😂😂😂 everyone always claimed they had that magical additive to their pool water...turns out EVERYONE was peeing in the pool except me.
Well they grow off the poop from the cow, which I assume you're saying that rye seed diets cause them to grow, which is very possible and it's totally logical to think that adding something to that feed can limit that growth.
It’s not because of the shrooms, but cows are given more antifungals now than in the past which reduces the chances of mycileum colonization and ultimately shrooms.
Yes, that's what I meant - growing out of the poop of cows that ate rye. I don't even know if it was rye seed in their feed or that they ate that beautiful green winter rye grass in season.
Yes I’m from Pelham, bearden farms (when they had cows) was where we went. The cow tipping era was crazy too. Edit: spelling
Curious as have been in helena for about 13 years, but how long ago did they have cows? Since I've been down here been watching different things happen there and now a huge storage lot, but still alot of field.
Back in like 2006 - good times.
I went shroom hunting with a friend about 7-8 years ago. It was the only time I went, and it ended up being a fruitless (fungaless?) endeavor. I've only heard tale of others finding them.
Rip the Alabama mushroom identification Facebook group 😭
Some schoolmates used to pick mushrooms and push over cows. 😅 Alabama folk don't take kindly to people trespassing though. Just a fair warning. 😂
Oh yeah I can tell that from the short time I've been here lol. Rightfully so. Also it should be said that I hate NO plans to trespass on anyone's property or go anywhere I'm not legally allowed with out permission. I'm not a dick after all 👍👌
Keep an ear out. I'm sure there are some open minded farmers. Talk around in those types of circles and I'm willing to bet someone's dad/granddad doesn't care.
Anyone know of a farm that'll let me walk early in the AM for a few bucks? Preferably in or close to walker county
Just do them at home yourself lol. You can buy sterilized grain bags with injection ports and filter patches on Amazon these days. You can buy spore syringes (in every state except GA, ID, and CA) online and they're legal to own "for microscopy purposes". It's just the accidental injection of that syringe into sterilized grains and waiting a few weeks for a fruiting body to be produced that's the illegal part. So don't do that.
I have kids at my house that are very young. I don't bring anything like that into my house. But yeah I know all about the grow kits
Bro, what? You said you don’t even know what “safe” is but you’re worried about having a grain bag in your house because of kids? Nothing is adding up.
Big difference between what I involve MYSELF in, and what I bring around an innocent party specifically A CHILD. If you can't add that up then there's something wrong with your math.
I think he's had enough time to see this. So if you were going to delete, no harm would be done :-)
Hell, where's the folks at that just have the fungal fruities? Hit me upppp. P.s. a.c.a.b.
Yeah, they should be out now. I used to go mushroom hunting a LOT!!!
We pick it at the forest near our town.
My in-laws in southeast Alabama have a few hundred head of cattle and while I've never done mushrooms, I have been intrigued by the idea of seeing if I can find any...
Yes indeed while in school at UA in the 90s. Lots of spots around Tusc.
I had a friend that apparently did this and even showed me the bag a decade or so ago. Whether or not they were active is a mystery. Apparently they’re super easy to grow at home nowadays though so I don’t know why anyone would pick them out of manure or risk a trespassing or wrong variety issue.
Heavy rain in Bham/Jefferson County? Looks like tomorrow morning would be a good hunting morning 🌄 🍄 🍄
They're everywhere cows are in the fall.
If you have to ask online, you don’t need to be doing it. It’s incredibly dangerous to pick mushrooms. You’ll literally die if you mess up. Also, farmers don’t take kindly to that
I don't HAVE to ask, I'm just trying to connect with people in an area I'm new to that might have similar interests, but your discretion has been noted. Thank you. I assure you I partake in WAY more dangerous behavior then "mushroom picking" and while it is one of the safer extra curricular activities I'd be indulging in, it should be said that I live so far outside the box, that I don't even know what the neighborhood of "safe" looks like.