The Eagle Outdoors

Can you feel it? Fall's here. She's not only in the air, which this morning is a chilly 49 degrees, but in our little red house, too. First fire, albeit a small one, in the Quadrafire this morning for the cats and myself. Still, by the time this issue hits the newsstands, it will have warmed back up to the high 70s and early 80s. This is typical for this most fickle time of year.

Per usual, there's quite a bit happening in the Great Outdoors now that September is winding down. Elk archery season ended on Sept. 16. While the weather cooperated tremendously, if not a little too well, I've not heard of anything big coming out of the Elochoman Valley. The short band-tail pigeon season ended on Sept. 23. More about those interesting game birds will be discussed in an upcoming column. The little blacktail spikes across the street are sparring and, just last night (9/21), began showing an uptick in interest in the young doe sharing the fallen King apples. Ah, to be young and in love! Muzzleloader deer season begins on Sept. 27, followed by muzzleloader elk on Oct. 4. Then it's onto rifle deer, ducks, geese, razor clams. Simply put, if the outdoors is your bag, this, my friends, is your favorite time of year.

Why mushrooms are better than elk

No, I'm not looking to ruffle any feathers, per se, but I got to thinking about this while mowing the yard the other day. If you'll recall, mowing gives a body a whole lot of time, good or not-so-good, to think random thoughts. Don't get me wrong. I dearly love Julie's venison shish-ka-bobs, and I'll walk 1,000 miles for elk cube steak with egg noodles smothered in mushroom gravy. Still, as my mind wandered, I realized, speaking of wild edibles, that there are several advantages, we'll call them, that fruiting fungi hold over Cervus canadensis roosevelti, or as they're commonly known 'round these parts as Roosevelt elk. What might those be? In my honest opinion, these would include –

Three months versus one week

Weather permitting (and if we don't get a freeze), mushroom 'season' can start as early as late June at the coast and continue through the end of the year. My muzzleloader elk season, on the other hand, lasts seven days, half of which will be filled with the responsibilities of employment, otherwise known as living indoors and eating. Which is fine - and necessary - but we have the time difference.

No limit on mushrooms

One elk, which is plenty, versus an unlimited number of mushrooms. True, a bull might weigh 900 pounds, which is a lot of venison and, personally, more mushrooms than I want to clean and prepare for the table. Again, there's a difference.

Edible mushrooms in western Washington

We amateur mycologists are blessed here in western Washington to have more than 30 species of edible mushrooms often and, quite literally, right at our fingertips. Chanterelles, lobsters, morels, cauliflowers, hedgehogs, Lion's mane, and the list goes on and on. Conversely, we have but one subspecies of elk which, again, is a god's plenty. Maybe it's just a numeric thing? Still, the fact remains.

No pre-dawn wake-up calls

Mushrooms don't care if I get into the field at 8 a.m., noon, or sometime right after supper. They're there waiting, and it doesn't matter where Mickey Mouse's hands are on the dial.With elk, I'm often on stand long before daylight and out until dark; that is, if I'm so inclined. With mushrooms, we're on 'banker's hours.' I'll admit it, I'm a fan.

Mushroom gear is very elemental

A mushroom basket or mesh bag, a mushroom knife, (perhaps) a small cooler in the back of the truck, and a bottle or two of water; that's my mushroom gear. When it comes to elk, there's the daypack weighing 8.23 metric tons, muzzleloading rifle, binoculars, hydration, snacks, more snacks, knife, another knife, sidearm, shooting sticks. See where I'm going with this?

Clothing optional

No, it's not what you think; however, I reckon that is a viable option if one might choose. I prefer pants myself. What I'm actually referring to is the fact that while elk hunting traditionally involves the wearing of camouflage clothing, mushrooms, on the other hand, aren't at all bothered when I show up in cut-off Dickies, rubber knee boots, and my Bruce Springsteen t-shirt from The River Tour in 1980. Now there's a visual.

Mushrooms don't run, and they're orange

This one is simple. Elk run, often fast and far. Mushrooms aren't all that mobile nor are they easily frightened. Standing still in the jack firs, a 900 pound bull can be damn near invisible. Mushrooms don't require 2,500 feet of cable, friends and great eyesight.

Upon being successful in harvesting mushrooms, I require neither friends nor 2,500 feet of cable and a winch to relocate my prize from where it fell to my pickup. I'm a lot of things, but lazy is not one of them. However, let's just say there's a lot to be said at 61 for a lightweight sack of fine-eating fungi.