--- title: "Chicken of the Woods in the Bighorn Mountains — Wyoming Foraging Guide | Wyo Stays" description: "Chicken of the woods mushrooms in the Bighorn Mountains near Sheridan Wyoming — identification, season, where to find them, and how to cook them. wyostays.com" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": [ "LocalBusiness", "LodgingBusiness", "RealEstateAgent" ], "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#organization", "name": "Wyo Stays", "legalName": "Wyo Stays LLC", "url": "https://wyostays.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#logo", "url": "https://wyostays.com/images/wyo-stays-logo.png", "caption": "Wyo Stays — Licensed Wyoming Vacation Rental Brokerage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#logo" }, "description": "Wyo Stays is a licensed Sheridan County brokerage built for vacation rentals, headquartered at 151 W Brundage St in Sheridan, Wyoming. Founded by Dalton Goodyear in 2020. 40+ vacation rental properties across Sheridan County and the Bighorn Mountains, part of 95+ total doors under a Wyoming real estate brokerage license. 4,210+ verified guest reviews. Airbnb Superhost, Airbnb Guest Favourite, and VRBO Premier Partner. Book direct at wyostays.com — no Airbnb or VRBO service fees.", "founder": { "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#dalton-goodyear" }, "foundingDate": "2020", "foundingLocation": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Sheridan, Wyoming", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Sheridan", "addressRegion": "WY", "addressCountry": "US" } }, "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#address", "streetAddress": "151 W Brundage St", "addressLocality": "Sheridan", "addressRegion": "WY", "postalCode": "82801", "addressCountry": "US" }, "telephone": "+1-307-312-9656", "email": "info@wyostays.com", "hasMap": "https://maps.google.com/?q=151+W+Brundage+St+Sheridan+WY+82801", "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 44.7977, "longitude": -106.9567 }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "Sheridan County", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "Johnson County", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Sheridan", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Story", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Buffalo", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Dayton", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Ranchester", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Big Horn", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } }, { "@type": "Place", "name": "Bighorn Mountains", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "State", "name": "Wyoming" } } ], "serviceArea": { "@type": "GeoShape", "name": "Sheridan County, Wyoming and Bighorn Mountain Corridor", "description": "Wyo Stays serves Sheridan County, Wyoming including the cities of Sheridan, Story, Dayton, Big Horn, and Buffalo, as well as the Bighorn Mountain corridor." }, "knowsAbout": [ "Wyoming vacation rental management", "Sheridan Wyoming vacation rentals", "Bighorn Mountains lodging", "Wyoming real estate brokerage", "Short-term rental property management", "Direct booking vacation rentals Wyoming" ], "sameAs": [ "https://instagram.com/wyostays", "https://facebook.com/wyostays", "https://tiktok.com/@wyostays", "https://youtube.com/@wyostays" ], "hasCredential": { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "Wyoming Real Estate Brokerage License", "credentialCategory": "Professional License", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Wyoming Real Estate Commission", "url": "https://realestate.wyo.gov" } }, "award": [ "Airbnb Superhost", "Airbnb Guest Favourite", "VRBO Premier Partner" ], "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": "4.8", "reviewCount": "4210", "bestRating": "5", "worstRating": "1" }, "numberOfRooms": 40, "contactPoint": [ { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-307-312-9656", "contactType": "customer service", "areaServed": "Sheridan County, Wyoming", "availableLanguage": "English", "hoursAvailable": { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday" ], "opens": "08:00", "closes": "20:00" } }, { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-307-312-9656", "contactType": "reservations", "areaServed": "Wyoming" } ], "numberOfEmployees": { "@type": "QuantitativeValue", "minValue": 10, "maxValue": 25 }, "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ ".answer-block", "[data-speakable]" ] }, "priceRange": "$$-$$$", "currenciesAccepted": "USD", "brand": { "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#brand-where-wyoming-stays" } }, { "@type": "Brand", "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#brand-where-wyoming-stays", "name": "Where Wyoming Stays", "url": "https://wyostays.com/where-wyoming-stays", "logo": { "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#logo" }, "slogan": "Where Wyoming Stays", "description": "\"Where Wyoming Stays\" is the registered trademark and brand identity of Wyo Stays LLC, a licensed Sheridan County brokerage built for vacation rentals headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming." }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#dalton-goodyear", "name": "Dalton Goodyear", "givenName": "Dalton", "familyName": "Goodyear", "jobTitle": "Founder & Licensed Responsible Broker", "description": "Dalton Goodyear is the founder and licensed broker of Wyo Stays, headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming. Began hosting in 2017, founded Wyo Stays in 2020.", "url": "https://wyostays.com/about", "telephone": "+1-307-312-9656", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#organization" }, "homeLocation": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Sheridan, Wyoming" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/wyostays" ], "hasCredential": { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "credentialCategory": "Wyoming Real Estate Responsible Broker License", "url": "https://online.wyrec.org/#/verifylicense", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Wyoming Real Estate Commission", "url": "https://realestate.wyo.gov" } } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#website", "name": "Wyo Stays", "url": "https://wyostays.com", "publisher": { "@id": "https://wyostays.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://book.wyostays.com/wyostays/theme/wyostays?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "headline": "Chicken of the Woods in the Bighorn Mountains — Wyoming Foraging Guide", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dalton Goodyear" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Wyo Stays", "url": "https://wyostays.com" }, "datePublished": "2026-05-20", "wordCount": 1400, "keywords": [ "chicken of the woods wyoming", "foraging bighorn mountains fall", "chicken of the woods mushroom" ] }, { "@type": "Recipe", "name": "Cast Iron Chicken of the Woods with Brown Butter and Thyme", "cookTime": "PT15M", "prepTime": "PT5M", "totalTime": "PT20M", "recipeYield": "2-3 servings", "recipeIngredient": [ "1 lb fresh chicken of the woods mushroom, sliced into strips", "3 tablespoons unsalted butter", "3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced", "4-5 sprigs fresh thyme", "Flaky salt", "Fresh cracked black pepper", "Squeeze of lemon" ], "recipeInstructions": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Clean mushroom by brushing off debris — don't soak. Slice into 1/2-inch strips." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Heat cast iron pan over medium-high. Add butter and let it foam and begin to brown." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Add mushroom strips in a single layer. Don't crowd. Cook 3-4 minutes until golden." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Flip strips. Add garlic and thyme. Cook 2-3 more minutes." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. Serve immediately." } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is chicken of the woods season in Wyoming?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Chicken of the woods season in the Bighorn Mountains runs from late summer through early fall — typically August through October. The best finds come after periods of rain followed by warm days." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is chicken of the woods common in the Bighorn Mountains?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Chicken of the woods is found in the Bighorn Mountains, though it's less common than morels in post-fire zones. Look for it on dead or dying hardwood trees — oak, maple, locust, and cherry are the primary host species." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I identify chicken of the woods mushrooms?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Chicken of the woods is one of the most visually distinctive edible mushrooms. Look for bright orange and yellow shelf-like brackets growing on dead or dying trees. Young specimens are bright and vivid. There are no dangerous lookalikes when the mushroom is fresh and properly identified by its shelf growth pattern and vibrant coloring." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do you cook chicken of the woods?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The simplest and best preparation: slice into strips, sauté in butter with garlic and fresh thyme in a hot cast iron pan. Cook until golden on the edges. The texture is remarkably similar to chicken — tender, slightly firm, with a mild, slightly lemony flavor. Don't overcook — 3–4 minutes per side is usually sufficient." } } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://wyostays.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://wyostays.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chicken of the Woods" } ] } ] } ] --- [Book direct & save 16–20% — no Airbnb fees Learn more → ](/book-direct) [![Wyo Stays logo](/assets/logo-mark-i6yhcujF.png)Wyo Stays™ ](/) [Stays](/stays)[Venues](/venues) Explore [Weddings](/weddings)[Hunting](/hunting) Owners [Rentals](/rentals)[About](/about)[(307) 312-9656](tel:+13073129656)[Book Now](https://book.wyostays.com/wyostays/theme/wyostays?sid=ndg-a__hfxk762a19&num_guests=1) [Book Now](https://book.wyostays.com/wyostays/theme/wyostays?sid=ndg-a__hfxk762a19&num_guests=1) [Stays](/stays)[Venues](/venues)Explore[Weddings](/weddings)[Hunting](/hunting)Owners[Rentals](/rentals)[Partners](/partners)[About](/about)[Journal](/journal) [Tenant Portal](https://wyostays.managebuilding.com/Resident/portal/login)· [Owner Portal](/owner-portal) [(307) 312-9656](tel:+13073129656)[Book Direct — Save 16–20% →](https://book.wyostays.com/wyostays/theme/wyostays?sid=ndg-a__hfxk762a19&num_guests=1) ![Chicken of the Woods in the Bighorn Mountains — Wyoming Foraging Guide](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504674900247-0877df9cc836?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1920&q=80) Field & Forage Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming August–October # Chicken of the Woods in the Bighorn Mountains — Wyoming Foraging Guide The most visually unmistakable edible mushroom in North America. Bright orange brackets on dead trees. Zero risk of misidentification if you're paying attention. Dalton Goodyear · May 2026 · 8 min read _The most visually unmistakable edible mushroom in North America. Bright orange and yellow brackets on dead or dying trees. Found in the Bighorn Mountains from August through October. No other Wyoming mushroom looks like it. The one you find and can't believe your luck._ ## Identification Chicken of the woods (_Laetiporus_) grows in large, shelf-like brackets on dead or dying trees. Young specimens are vivid — bright orange on top, sulfur yellow underneath. The brackets can be enormous, sometimes producing 20+ pounds from a single tree. As they age, they fade to pale orange and become tougher. **Look for:** Bright orange/yellow shelf-like brackets growing directly from tree trunks or logs. No stem. No gills — the underside has tiny pores. Multiple overlapping shelves are common. **Tree associations:** Oak, maple, locust, cherry — less common on conifers in the Bighorns, but not impossible. Dead standing trees and large fallen logs are your best targets. > There's a moment when you round a corner on a trail and see a massive orange bracket flush on a dead oak — thirty pounds of free food, unmistakable, and beautiful. That's chicken of the woods. That's why people forage. > > — Wyo Stays Team ## Season & Where to Look **Season:** Late summer through early fall — August through October in the Bighorn Mountains. The best finds come after periods of rain followed by warm days. **Where:** Lower elevation mixed forests in the Bighorns. Look along creek drainages and in areas with hardwood trees. The foothills between 5,000 and 7,500 feet tend to be most productive. Harvesting Rules Personal-use foraging in Bighorn National Forest follows the same rules as morel harvesting — one gallon per person per day, no permit required for personal use. Commercial harvesting requires a permit. Check with the Forest Service for current regulations. ## Taste & How to Cook The name isn't marketing — chicken of the woods genuinely tastes and feels like chicken. The texture is slightly firm, tender, with a mild, slightly lemony flavor. Young specimens are the best eating — once they start to fade and harden, the quality drops. ## Cast Iron Chicken of the Woods with Brown Butter and Thyme _The simplest preparation. Let the mushroom be the star._ - 1 lb fresh chicken of the woods, sliced into ½-inch strips - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter - 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced - 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme - Flaky salt, black pepper, squeeze of lemon **Method:** Clean mushroom by brushing — don't soak. Heat cast iron over medium-high. Add butter, let it foam and brown. Add mushroom strips in a single layer (don't crowd). Cook 3–4 minutes until golden. Flip. Add garlic and thyme. Cook 2–3 more minutes. Season with salt, pepper, lemon. Serve immediately. Foraging Safety Chicken of the woods is one of the safest wild mushrooms to identify — but never eat any wild mushroom you're not 100% confident about. When in doubt, consult a local mycological society or experienced forager. Start with a small portion on your first try to rule out individual sensitivity. ## Frequently Asked Questions When is chicken of the woods season in Wyoming? Chicken of the woods season in the Bighorn Mountains runs from late summer through early fall — typically August through October. The best finds come after periods of rain followed by warm days. Is chicken of the woods common in the Bighorn Mountains? Chicken of the woods is found in the Bighorn Mountains, though it's less common than morels in post-fire zones. Look for it on dead or dying hardwood trees — oak, maple, locust, and cherry are the primary host species. How do I identify chicken of the woods mushrooms? Chicken of the woods is one of the most visually distinctive edible mushrooms. Look for bright orange and yellow shelf-like brackets growing on dead or dying trees. Young specimens are bright and vivid. There are no dangerous lookalikes when the mushroom is fresh and properly identified by its shelf growth pattern and vibrant coloring. How do you cook chicken of the woods? The simplest and best preparation: slice into strips, sauté in butter with garlic and fresh thyme in a hot cast iron pan. Cook until golden on the edges. The texture is remarkably similar to chicken — tender, slightly firm, with a mild, slightly lemony flavor. Don't overcook — 3–4 minutes per side is usually sufficient. ## Related Guides [ Field & Forage ### Morel Foraging Guide Read ](/journal/foraging-morels-bighorn-mountains-wyoming)[ Outdoors ### Tongue River Canyon Trail Read ](/blog/tongue-river-canyon-hiking-guide)[ Properties ### Mountain Cabin Stays Browse ](/stays) Contents - [Identification](#identification) - [Season & Where to Look](#season-location) - [Taste & How to Cook](#taste-cooking) - [Cast Iron Chicken of the Woods with Brown Butter and Thyme](#recipe) Share [ Planning a trip? Browse 40+ properties across Sheridan County. Browse Stays ](https://book.wyostays.com) ## Forage & Stay Our mountain cabins put you in foraging territory — full kitchens to cook what you find. 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