While hunter when I was younger with a buddy of mine we came up to a bunch of berries growing. He called them huckleberries. They are blue almost a whitish color about the sie or smaller than a pencil eraser and grow in groups like grapes. I have been told they are elderberries as well. They seem ripe around hunting season (Mid Oct) in the North West (Washington/idaho). Sorry no pics since I am still in Afghanistan. What is the difference? Pics would be greatly appreciated. Also I know Grouse love them. Any help would be appreciated.

Don't sound anything like Elderberries. They get almost black looking and are real small berries that grow in a big group that is on top of the plant. If we had a picture of the berries in question, it would help.

sounds like foxgrapes...........like don said a pic would be helpful in indentifying the particular plant.

Huckleberrys are on a bush.Almost looks like short bush blueberrys.

I googles foxgrapes and it isn't like that. They are in clusters like elderberries. I have never seen them black though always a blue color like blueberries. I will try to see if the wife wants to take the ATV's for a road trip to get pictures of the plants. I know the plants/bushes/trees are well over 6-8 feet tall.

Huckleberries might be the other berries we have been finding while deer hunting. Always thought they were wild blue berries but the plants aren't the same.

If all else fails, I will take a camera next time I go out upon my return from this place.

I think I know the berries you speak of. Not sure of the name but their juice will make a real blackish-blue die. As a kid, I was always told they were poisonous. idk?

I know there were red ones that were poisonous but the grouse would get drunk from them.

We have a plant that grows around here that has very dark purple berries on them and the plant is 6 to 8 feet tall. I have always called them pokeberries. Hope this helps.

Dean

I have been following this thread. It would be a big help with pics of what each of you talking about.

wouldn't be poke would it?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed

Nope a buddy back home helped me out. It is a blue elderberry. Found a large crop when deer hunting last year since I was stuck to an ATV due to a broken foot. Thanks for the help.

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=254

these are elderberries, tons of the stuff around here just getting ripe