OUTDOORS & REC
B2 — THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD
FUNGI
Continued from Page B1
Granted my mushroom
picking self-esteem is a little
low right now. I went out for a
little bit on a recent afternoon
to see if any were out yet, even
though I knew they wouldn’t
be but I don’t want to take a
chance of missing the short
season. I found zero. Zilch. I
feel like Punxsutawney Phil
the groundhog. I stuck my
head out, didn’t fi nd any mush-
rooms and am ducking my tail
and going back down in my
hole for another week or so.
But despite painting such
a doom and gloom picture,
surely any day now they are
going to start popping up. And
when they do, you want to be
there. Morels are the tastiest
fungi in the world next only to
the truffl e in England. They are
not only my favorist (is that a
word?) outdoor food but prob-
ably my favorist food ever.
Mushroom hunting gives
you an excuse to go hiking in
the mountains and if you’re
up there bear/turkey hunting
why not kill two birds with
one stone? There are multiple
edible mushrooms, but I only
feel safe picking two species.
One time I thought, you know,
this is dumb. I’m up there
going to all of the expense and
spending time hunting so why
not learn to identify all of the
edible species? So I found out
about a mushroom picking
club and started attending their
meetings. Unfortunately, I still
only feel comfortable picking
my original two species.
So to get you started, the
fi rst season go with an experi-
enced picker who can train you.
If you don’t and make a mistake
and pick the Angel of Death. ...
Let’s just say, you and God had
better be on pretty good terms
because you will be in the judg-
ment room muy pronto.
So where do you fi nd them?
I’ll tell you some generali-
ties but as soon as I say that,
I’ll fi nd them in some random
spot. When you fi nd them at
one elevation everyone will tell
you to move higher after a few
days. I do fi nd some by old logs
but I also fi nd plenty just ran-
domly throughout the woods. I
fi nd a few on the uphill banks
on old logging roads.
I don’t recommend looking
on grassy slopes but one year
I found a ton on a grassy hill-
side in the forest. But haven’t
found them there since. Usu-
ally it’s smart to go recheck
the same good spots every
year. Check out old stump
holes, especially in old burns.
My old buddy Roger Ross said
to look under fi rs. Problem is,
I can hardly diff erentiate the
diff erence between a pine tree
and an aspen.
I’ve got one spot on an old
logging road that isn’t a low
spot but slightly so. I fi nd them
there every year. I fi nd them in
semi open areas that are some-
what shaded.
The indisputable world’s
best scenario is last year’s
forest fi res. They can be mag-
ical. I remember at one such
old fi re I found 17 almost
underneath a fallen lodgepole.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
The stump holes had a mil-
lion. The open burn area had
a quadrillion. So if you know
where old burns are from last
summer/fall, hit them. If you
don’t know of any, go check
with the Forest Service.
One year I knew where
some prescribed burns had
taken place. No one else had
hit it yet. I thought that I had
scored big time. Unbelievably
I didn’t fi nd a one there.
If you fi nd some on a
steep hillside, check above
and below. The spores will
fl ush downhill and I’ve found
a bucketful in one spot in
this scenario.
I’ve never actually done
this but one time I was the-
orizing with a lady at the
Forest Service offi ce. We were
kicking ideas back and forth
and she said she’d always been
tempted to check the soil temp
but kept forgetting to. I bet she
is onto something. I bet their
popping up is directly linked
to the temp of the soil.
Well, we’re out of room.
Good luck.
MUSHROOM PERMITS, PICKING ADVICE
Mushroom pickers on national forest land can keep up to
one gallon per day, or fi ve gallons in Washington, for per-
sonal use, with no permit required to harvest, possess or
transport amounts up to those limits.
People who plan to collect more mushrooms, or who want
to sell them, will need a commercial permit, which are on
sale now at Forest Service offi ces around the region. Com-
mercial mushroom picking is prohibited in wilderness
areas, research areas, or any areas that are currently closed.
A mushroom guide is available at https://www.fs.usda.
gov/main/wallowa-whitman/home.
In Oregon a pound of fresh morels can sell for over $50,
a dried pound for over $200, in an upper scale restaurant
they might sell for $200 a plate.
The Forest Service off ers advice for collecting mushrooms:
• Use a knife to cut your mushrooms at their base. This
reduces disturbance to the soil and can help mushrooms
to continue growing in that location.
• Carry your mushrooms in a net bag, which better pre-
serves them and allows spores to spread for future
production.
• Give wildlife plenty of space and leave newborns alone.
• Practice “leave no trace” ethics, and please take all your
trash home with you.
• Be aware that some forest roads may not be accessible
due to mud and snow. Traveling on wet mountain roads
and terrain can be dangerous.
• Keep in mind that many wild mushroom varieties are
poisonous. When in doubt, leave it out! Always invest in a
local mushroom guide.
• Also be sure to tell a friend or family member where you
are going; stick to your plan and let them know when you
will confi rm your safe return.
C lassifieds
Published by The Observer & Baker City Herald - Serving Wallowa, Union and Baker Counties
PLACING YOUR AD IS EASY...Union, Wallowa, and Baker Counties
Phone La
Grande - 541-963-3161 • Baker City - 541-523-3673
On-Line:
www.lagrandeobserver.com
www.bakercityherald.com
Email:
Classifieds@lagrandeobserver.com
Classifieds@bakercityherald.com
103 Announcements
by Stella Wilder
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you are quite soft-spoken, and
yet in spite of this, everyone knows just exact-
ly who you are and what you stand for,
because your personality is always so clearly
on display. You are a strong and confident
individual, even to the extent that you rarely, if
ever, have to announce your intentions or
advertise your actions before setting out to do
something. You simply do it, knowing full well
that everyone will soon know all there is to
know about the endeavor because of the way
you go about it.
SUNDAY, MAY 1
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’re sure
to be noticed today, but not necessarily for the
reason you had anticipated. This may require
a total shift in thinking.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Whether you
are standing center stage or supporting anoth-
er from the wings, what you do will surely
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
make a difference today. Think ahead.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You are
eager to learn a lesson or two today from
someone who is in a position that you all but
covet. You can be there yourself very soon.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You have more
time available to you today than you think, but
that doesn’t mean you can slow down. In fact,
the opposite is true: Speed up!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- The balance
with work, rest and play may well be disrupted
today by someone who doesn’t know what’s
going on with you. Explain it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You are in the
midst of a change that you don’t fully under-
stand -- yet. You may benefit from walking in
another’s shoes for a while today.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You are
missing something that you can’t quite iden-
tify. Take time to reflect -- and write things
down in order to remember minute details.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You
may be feeling somewhat separated from
those who share your overall attitude about
how things are going. Reach out to them!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- It may
be time for you to explain, in no uncertain
terms, just what you intend for the next few
days or weeks. This will require planning.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You may
not be able to move forward on your own
today, but there are those who wish to join you
in your efforts, and that can work wonders.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- How you
organize your thinking will make a big differ-
ence today and prepare you to take a stand
when it’s no longer an option to be silent.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You can
surely excel today, but you’ll want to explore a
few new options as well -- which may limit
your progress as you experiment a little.
COPYRIGHT 2022 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION FOR UFS
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
104 Community
Calendar
VFW POST 460
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday
of the month at 7pm.
Corner of Main at Birch in Union
PULL TABS
ACCEPTED
AT THE FOLLOWING
BAKER CITY LOCATIONS
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
∙
Baker City Herald
Dollar Tree
Black’s Distributing
Ryder Bros
VFW
Baker Elk’s Lodge
Main Event
Lefty’s Tap House
Baker City Fire Dept.
Haines Sell-Rite
Idle Hour
Salvation Army
104 Community
Calendar
LA GRANDE LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
of each month @ 12 PM
Union County Senior Center
1504 N. Albany St., La Grande
PINOCHLE
Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
Senior Center
2810 Cedar St., Baker City
Public is welcome
Don’t give it away — sell it!
Affordable person-to person ads
reach thousands of readers. Cash
in today!
Baker County United
“freedom rallies”
3rd Thursday each month
6 p.m. at the Sunridge
1 Sunridge Lane.
The public is invited
KEY OF DAVID
Starting May 7th - 2PM
Baker County Library
Taught by:
Gary Robinson
& Blaine McKnight
Kiwanis Club of Baker City
Tuesday at 12:00 PM
Sunrige Inn Restaurant
1 Sunridge Lane
For more information call:
(541) 523-6027
ROTARY CLUB
of Baker City
Meets every Monday
Noon - 1 PM
Baker Towers
Meeting Room
POWDER RIVER
SPORTSMAN’S CLUB
Meets 1st Tuesday
of every month
8th & Broadway, Baker City
6 PM - Pistolettes
7 PM - Regular Membership
114 Group Meetings
AA MEETINGS - La Grande
Wednesday Nights, 7-8:15pm.
Fort Union Grange Hall, corner of
McAlister & Gekeler Lanes. For
more info, call 541-786-1222
DEADLINES:
LINE ADS:
Tuesday: 10:30am Monday
Thursday: 10:30 am Wednesday
Saturday: 10:30 am Friday
DISPLAY ADS:
2 Days Prior to
Publication Date
114 Group Meetings
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
541-805-2229
neo-na.org
AL-ANON
Keep Coming Back Family
Group
Mondays, 7 pm
at NKWest, 1208 Adams,
La Grande, OR
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Calvary Baptist Church
Third & Broadway
Baker City, OR
EVERY THURSDAY
6:15 - 8:00 PM
DO YOU HAVE....HURTS,
HABITS and/or HANG UPS?
12 Step Biblical Support
Harvest Church
3720 Birch St. Baker City
Thurs., 6:30 - 8:30 PM
LA GRANDE
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
Every Friday Night @ 5pm, 2107
Gekeler Ln, LG, Church of Christ
basement. For more info please
call 971-219-8411
Someone’s
drinking a problem?
AL-ANON Meetings
are available by phone
Info for Baker City Meetings
Call: 541-239-7323
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Goin’ Straight Group
Meetings:
Mon., Tues. Thurs. & Fri.
Start at 8 PM
Episcopal Church Basement
2177 1st Street, Baker City
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
Would you like to
stop compulsive eating?
For Information Call
541-523-5128
Leave a Message
Email: ecapoa@live.com
PEOPLE with PARKINSON’S
Caregivers, Family, Friends
SUPPORT GROUP
Contact Judith at
208-855-9199
Meetings resume @GRH
when restrictions ease.
BAKER COUNTY
AA MEETINGS
BAKER CITY
CALL or visit
MONDAYS
Survivor’s Group
12 -1:00 pm
Baker Presbyterian Church
1995 4th St.
(4th & Court, Side Door)
The Observer
WEDNESDAYS
Survivor’s Group
12:05 pm
Baker Presbyterian Church
1995 4th St.
(4th & Court, Side Door)
541-963-3161
TheObserver.com
or
Baker City Herald
541-523-3673
BakerCityHerald.com
THURSDAYS
Survivor’s Group
12:00 pm
Baker Presbyterian Church
1995 4th St.
(4th & Court, Side Door)
SATURDAYS
As Bill Sees It Group
10:00 am 2970 Walnut
(Corner of “D” & Grove St.)
Grove Apts. Community Rm
SUNDAYS
Been There Done That
5:30 pm
Grove APartments
Community Room
2970 Walnut Street
Questions call AA Hotline:
541-624-5117
www.oregonaadistrict29.org