Traditional Muzzleloading Association

The Center of Camp => Camping Gear and Campfire Cooking => Topic started by: Swamp on November 19, 2011, 08:43:20 AM

Title: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Swamp on November 19, 2011, 08:43:20 AM
While deer hunting this past week, I came across a huge piece of tinder fungus growing on a birch tree. The large piece is 12" X 6" X 6". A good find for sure!
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Riley/MN on November 19, 2011, 11:08:18 AM
:hairy

Good find!
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Roaddog on November 20, 2011, 06:21:46 AM
You are a lucky ole' cus. I look and look for it and so far no luck and we have a lot of birch around here. Good on you Swamp.
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: 2 Locks on November 20, 2011, 09:49:00 AM
For four days sitting in my deer blind, I was sure that I was staring at a large tinder fungus on a birch log.  After I got my deer, I went back the next day to get the tinder...  well, lets just say that staring at something in the forest from only a single angle (and a little too much unjustified confidence) can be really deceiving.  :Doh!
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: rickevans on November 20, 2011, 09:43:50 PM
Well dang Dave, what were you a starin' at?
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: 2 Locks on November 22, 2011, 10:20:38 PM
Nothin' - literally.

Apparently when it fell the log separated about a foot from itself.  I was staring at the empty space & somehow the leaves in the background looked like fungus in the foreground.  :oops:
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: rickevans on November 23, 2011, 09:14:24 AM
Ha! No there's a story.  Swamp, I found several fungus trees on the in-laws property up by the Ocqueoc River. We need to have a fungus fire starting seminar soon.
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: pathfinder on February 21, 2012, 08:42:34 AM
I recently had a freind over and he saw my large box of tinder fungus and he told me that the stuff is a type of cancer on birch tree's and it's transferable to human's! NEVER heard of such a thing.

 Anyone hear this too?
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: biliff on February 21, 2012, 03:43:24 PM
Quote from: "pathfinder"
I recently had a freind over and he saw my large box of tinder fungus and he told me that the stuff is a type of cancer on birch tree's and it's transferable to human's! NEVER heard of such a thing.

 Anyone hear this too?

Sounds like a good story to keep other people away from HIS tinder fungus!
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: R.M. on February 21, 2012, 04:39:48 PM
Quote from: "pathfinder"
I recently had a freind over and he saw my large box of tinder fungus and he told me that the stuff is a type of cancer on birch tree's and it's transferable to human's! NEVER heard of such a thing.
Anyone hear this too?
Yup, sounds like a big load of road apples to me.  :rotf
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Snapper on February 22, 2012, 10:49:06 AM
I have read that the tinder fungus is a type of cancer on the tree itself but nothing about it being able to be transferred to a human being.  I kind of think that latter part is at best an old wive's tale.

That's all for now.  Take care and until next time...Be well.

snapper
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: MeatStick on April 15, 2012, 02:56:58 PM
We always called it Brack Fungus, it's actually called Bracket Fungus and will provide nutrient to a dieing tree. I usually find it on locust trees and prepare it like char cloth to carry with my fire fixens. Around here you can't swing a dead cat around and not hit one.
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: greggholmes on May 28, 2012, 04:40:11 AM
my wife got me a book published in 1905, called "The Field and Forest Handy Book. In the section on fire it says  "Charred cotton rags, raw cotton, paper soaked in a solution of black gunpowder and water, baked rotten wood and baked Fungus , When perfectly dry, make good punk and should be kept in tightly corked bottles or horns"
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Bigsmoke on May 28, 2012, 12:21:08 PM
Quote from: "pathfinder"
I recently had a freind over and he saw my large box of tinder fungus and he told me that the stuff is a type of cancer on birch tree's and it's transferable to human's! NEVER heard of such a thing.

 Anyone hear this too?

I don't think you cold get cancer from that anymore than you could get Dutch elm disease from chewing on a toothpick.
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Loyalist Dave on September 18, 2012, 10:48:19 AM
Well if cancer was contagious, it would be cause for rejoicing, for we could discover the cause and come up with a cure...,

As for a pathogen going from a plant to a human...., not likely at all.  From a primate to a human, sure, from other mamals to humans, possible, and from warm blooded animals to humans, occasional, but not from trees.  

LD
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: greyhunter on September 18, 2012, 01:28:45 PM
Hey Swamp, send me a hunk o that tinder fungus an I'll check it out an make sure it is safe fer you to use!  ;)
Title: Re: Tinder Fungus!
Post by: Swamp on November 01, 2012, 06:44:56 AM
I'll send you a chunck Buddy!

Whats yer addy again!