Horse Shoe Fungus

[mudd turtle]

I asked this question some time ago and did not get an answer so here goes again. I am looking for a large horse shoe brackett or fungus to add to my fire makeing kit. I have looked for it here in North Carolina and can not find it. I would be happy to buy some from anyone who is able to find it where they live. Please get in touch with me. mudd turtle.

 

[crockett]

I'm not really into the tinder fungus thing but I thought that horseshoe shaped type was only found far to the north (Canada).

 

[Billnpatti]

Here are a few videos that may help you find some tinder fungus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrMYNl7itEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FieMPZqLjI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaV_7RGJBh4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1UgT6JM63s

 

[Flint311]

Good links. Thanks for posting. I've seen both around here in Michigan. Haven't been out lately to check, but will if I ever get the chance. Snows finally leaving.....

I have some of the "shelf fungus" in the garage drying...does NOT work. Doesn't get the fuzz the horse shoe stuff did in the video.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Personally I'm not a big fan of items in my fire kit that can't be sourced locally. Knowing what to use locally througout the year is a valuable skill to have :2

 

[Brokennock]

+1 on locally sourced tinder. Part of why I prefer tinder fungus, cattail tops, milkweed pods, punk wood, and the like to char cloth. Can source it while out and about in my areas.
As far as fungus for use as tinder in The Carolinas? Not sure. I could be wrong but my understanding was that types of fungus used for tinder grow on birch trees. How far south do birches "swing" ?

 

[necchi]

There are several "fungus" that can be used for starting fire, Chaga is just one. Some can/need to be charred others do not.
Look at Billnpatti's links.

It sounds to me like the OP just wants something different for his kit, I'll keep this in mind in my wandering as the snow melts.

 

[joe sebia]

I see it occasionally. Fishing season starts in PA in a few weeks and I will be keeping my eye open for you. Not uncommon but not one every tree either. SHould I find a hunk I will be gald to email you.

 

[Billnpatti]

Not only would I like to try using Chaga for tinder, I'd love to taste the Chaga tea.

We don't have any Chaga here in Texas but we do have plenty of cedar from which we can get cedar bark. It makes a pretty good tinder but crappy tea.

 

[mudd turtle]

And Sir ! Your two cents are well taken and sound advise. I want to have several kinds of material so that I may be able to demonstrate how to use them at a local military battle field park we have here every year. I use chared punk wood and char cloth here for my fire kit for my walk abouts . Thanks to all who responded and were willing to help. Mudd Turtle.

 

[mudd turtle]

We have River Birch and White Birch ,maybe called Paper Birch here but we don't have the polly pore or chagga'at least I have never found it here. Mudd Turtle.

 

[mudd turtle]

Necchi : You are correct ! That is all I want. Thank you. Mudd Turtle.

 

[Brokennock]

Check the paper birches. Especially dead ones or ones near streams. If I find some nice textbook ones while I'm out scouting for spring turkey I will mail you some.

 

[necchi]

Your right,
The Fungus is actually a disease, it'll kill the tree

 

[DTCoffin]

If your looking to use horse shoe fungus as a tinder , there are 2 ways to use it.First you have to separate the hard outer "shell" (labor intensive) and the pores from underneath it, then you are left with the amadou layer.Then you can either char it (it will become very brittle)or you can process it in water and wood ash and pound it out to flatten it and make it like chamois(pretty labor intensive process also).
Chaga is indeed a fungus that grows on a birch, it is not what kills the tree but is a result of injury sustained on the tree and it grows from that injury.The tree will indeed die but not a result of the chaga (at least not from what I have read in my pursuit of chaga).Reported to be found on 1 of every 10000 (some people say 20k) trees.It makes a very good spark catcher if using modern ferro rods and an ok spark catcher with flint & steel (look for pieces that have a more yellowish tint then orange and it will catch a spark easier). The tea has a nice earthy taste to it and is an awesome cancer cell fighter.I could go on about these a little more but I need to head out for work.

 

[tenngun]

:thumbsup: