Well maybe not a Boone and Crockett but I think it would make Pope and Young. It is a big bugger.

This is real, not AI.

Chicken of the woods.Very good eating if fresh.

Are they usually that big?

I have seen those but am no mushroom expert.

Had one in our woods that covered 4-5’ of a 12” fallen log. Went back get photo of it next day and it was pretty well mush. Guess they don’t last long.

The clumps of chicken of the woods are often much, much bigger. They are great to eat at there peak.

Keith

I've seen much bigger, usually on an upright tree.

Picked a couple this summer.
Seems like the biggest ones around here grow from the exposed tree roots.
Just my opinion.

160, I'm thinking your photo is of a Burke's Polypore. They are edible, but some think the Chicken of The Woods (Sulphur Shelf) is better. I am not, however, any kind of shroom guru.

Oh Tatiana..... your expertise is needed here..........

It is definitely a chicken of the woods. Tree chicken, sulphur shelf mushroom.
However,, the ones160 found are past prime.
You want to harvest them when they are bright orange with tinges of yellow.

I like to tear them into nugget size pieces. Batter them in fry krisp instant batter mix, then deep fry until golden brown
Tastes identical to chicken strips.

https://virginiawildflowers.org/2024/06/12/chicken-of-the-woods/

i rather find some hen of the woods

I've seen bigger.
Bigger is not always better. These old ones are too hard and not juicy enough.

Old, big, and hard isn't a bad thing.....

An old horse won't ruin the furrow, but he won't plow deep either.

Lol

That was great !!

Picked a very large cauliflower mushroom about 2 weeks ago here in Missouri - first I had ever seen. Very dry now.....

Booner for sure