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Spring Morel Mushroom Hunting in Maupin Oregon

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morel mushroom hunting in maupin oregon

Known as America’s mushroom, the morel is wide-spread, easy to identify, and delicious. Morel hunting is a common pastime in the Maupin area, and spring is a perfect time for picking. Whether you harvest morels for yourself or for commercial use, they are one of the most popular types of mushrooms that can be found in Oregon.

Where to Find Morels

Morels can usually be found in and at the edge of forests. You’ll want to seek out aspen, ash, oak, and elm trees, which have a symbiotic relationship with the mushroom. Morels can generally be found peeking up around the base of the trees. At the beginning of spring when the ground first warms, morels are likely to be found on south-facing slopes in fairly open areas where the sun reaches the ground. As the season progresses, you can find them deeper in the forest and on north-facing slopes. Morels tend to prefer well-drained and sandy soils like that found near streams.

Morel Hunting Strategies

When hunting Morels in early spring, you’ll have to keep a sharp eye out. At this stage, most of the mushrooms will be small, making them harder to spot. Usually, if you come across one morel, there are sure to be others in the area, so fan out your search in a widening circle. One sign to look for is a dead tree. Morels can often be found around trees that are starting to decay. Old apple orchards are a great place to find morels. Look for signs of decay like bark slipping off the tree, and you’ll likely find morels close by. As the spring season progresses, the mushrooms will be a lot bigger and thus easier to spot.

To help make sure there are plenty of morels next season, break the mushrooms in half before bagging them and shake the spores around the harvested area.

Cooking Morels

The first step in preparing morels is to give them a deep clean by soaking them in water for a few hours. This will remove any dirt, debris and bugs that might have been living in the hollow crevices. Slicing them in half while harvesting makes them even easier to clean.

Morels are a versatile ingredient, adding a lovely umami flavor to pastas, pizzas, tarts, and more. For the purists, after the soak, give them a quick rinse and then toss them into a hot, buttered pan. Sauté gently and enjoy! Our favorite online resource for all things morel, including classic morel recipes, is The Great Morel.

We’ll see you in the forest!

 

Imperial River Company, Maupin OR
Lodging and Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River
https://deschutesriver.com/
irc@deschutesriver.com
(541) 395-2404

Choosing the Perfect Oregon Wedding Location

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Beautiful Wedding Venue in Central Oregon

Congratulations on your engagement! You’re wildly in love and ready to make it official. You already know that the choice of wedding venue sets the tone for your big day. It’s a decision that impacts the mood, timing, available vendors, and guest experience. And, to add to the pressure, the best locations start filling up 12 to 18 months in advance. Here are some helpful points to consider when searching for the right wedding venue for you.

1. Agree on the vision

Make time with your betrothed to discuss your visions for the event and be sure you’re on the same page. Will you hold the wedding in your current city of residence? Or do you want to get married in your hometown or on a distant tropical beach? Is it important to invite everyone you’ve ever known, or do you just want a few close friends and family members to be in attendance? Do you want a formal, gilded ballroom, or are you more comfortable with a casual outdoor setting? Once you agree on the high-level vision and guest count, you can start narrowing down the location options.

2. Set a budget (and stick to it)

Are you willing to go in to debt to put on the party of the century or would you rather keep your savings for a down payment on a home or to pay off student loans? Will you get help from family or are you paying for it yourselves? There are several budget tools, from apps to basic spreadsheets, depending on what you are comfortable with. Again, be sure you and your partner are in agreement on your fiscal priorities as this will set the tone for handling financial matters into the future.

3. Start early and be flexible

Now that you’ve determined your budget and that it will work with your wedding vision, start researching available venues. Give yourself plenty of time – a year or more is recommended. The best locations will be booked early, so you’ll have a much higher chance of securing your dream venue if you start ASAP and if you are flexible on the actual date. Many couples greatly narrow their venue options by deciding on a firm date prior to securing the space. Ask friends for recommendations and scour the internet, especially websites like marthastewartweddings.com, theknot.com, and brides.com for lists of wedding venues in your desired location.

4. Consider the entire experience

Visit your top 3 to 5 venues and ask a lot of questions. Is there catering on-site? If so, do you have to use it or are you allowed to bring in your own? Will out-of-town guests be staying at or near the venue? Is there enough parking for all of your guests? Is the venue the right size for your party (not too big, not too small)? Will you host activities before or after the event? Are there nearby activities for your guests to enjoy while they are in town for your event? Are there officiants, photographers, videographers, DJs or musicians, bakers, etc. near the venue or will you have to pay for them to travel? Evaluate how the venue’s wedding representative answers your questions. Do you feel confident that they will be on your side? Are you comfortable with how they addressed your concerns? You should listen to your instincts! If they don’t make you feel calm and confident during the initial visit, it will be difficult to feel that way during the actual event.

Once you’ve addressed these four main planning points, you’re ready to select your venue, put down your deposit and focus on the other hundreds of details that will make your wedding day special for you. Just remember to stay calm, keep breathing, and know that even if something goes awry, the main purpose of the wedding is to pledge your love for each other. You’re making the commitment to be in this together, and any wedding snafus should only serve to bring you closer together. Cheers to you, and cheers to love!

 

Imperial River Company, Maupin OR
Lodging, Rafting, and Weddings! on the Lower Deschutes River
https://deschutesriver.com/
irc@deschutesriver.com
(541) 395-2404

Four Steps to Planning an Awesome Company Retreat

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Nike Corporate Event Team Building

Your employees work hard all year long. A company retreat that combines a little R&R with strategic planning and team-building activities can be an effective way to improve employee morale and get the creative juices flowing. With proper planning, you can create an event that is memorable for being fun and productive.

Step 1: Define the goals

Setting clear, simple, and achievable goals will help structure the rest of the retreat plan, including selecting an appropriate venue, scheduling the activities, and deciding on the attendee list. For example, if one of your goals is to increase cross-functional team cooperation, be sure to invite representatives from various departments and divide them into mixed teams for trust-building activities.

Step 2: Plan ahead and secure a venue

Schedules fill up quickly – for employees and venues. Be sure to book your retreat at least 3 months in advance, or more if the event will take place during high seasons for travel. Select and book the venue as early as possible, then quickly follow up with staff invitations to improve your chances of a great turnout. When selecting a venue, be sure to consider the activities and facilities available on-site, and what you will have to bring with you or travel to. Shuttling people from a hotel to a venue can add extra cost that might justify a more expensive hotel that has meeting facilities and activities on-site.

Step 3: Create the agenda

Once you have your goals, venue, and guest list you can create the agenda. The schedule should allow for some relaxation and downtime as well as reinforce the underlying goals. Too work heavy? People will burn out and wonder why you didn’t just schedule the meeting in the office. Too much downtime? Focus can be lost, and your event will fail to meet its objectives, making it much harder to justify a company retreat to leadership in the future. You may also want to form an event committee that includes representatives of the teams that will be attending. This will bring more ideas to the table and help ensure the activities are appropriate for your attendees.

Step 4: Communicate the agenda and expectations

Publish the goals and the agenda ahead of time and schedule a pre-retreat meeting with all attendees to review the goals and to set expectations for the trip. This will help gain alignment around the objectives and keep the event on-track.

Proper planning and communication will make for a memorable and effective company retreat that your employees will remember for years to come. At Imperial River Company, we have the facilities to host your next company excursion: comfortable guest rooms, on-site catering, fully-equipped meeting room, and a top-rated whitewater rafting company for the ultimate team building experience – conveniently located on the gorgeous Deschutes River in Central Oregon, just 2 hours from Portland. Call or email us today!

 

Imperial River Company, Maupin OR
Lodging and Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River
https://deschutesriver.com/
irc@deschutesriver.com
(541) 395-2404

Winter Fishing on Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River

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Deschutes River Fishing Maupin Oregon

The Lower Deschutes River is often known for its fun and raucous whitewater rafting during the hot summer months. But did you know that the river in and around Maupin is open year-round for hatchery steelhead and trout fishing? Once the summer crowds have gone, those seeking the peace and tranquility of fishing our beautiful high desert return.

The Maupin area is perfect for both novice and experienced anglers. Our town is home to numerous guide services and two fly shops. Go on your own or book an excursion, and stay overnight in one of Imperial’s riverside lodge rooms. Pets are welcome for a small fee, and you have close access to prime fishing areas on the river.

Know Before You Go:

  • Get a license before you arrive in Maupin. You can now download the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife app to store your e-license on your smartphone or use the traditional paper version.
  • Be sure to look for posted signs and regulations as some specific areas of the river may be closed to fishing at various times of the year.
  • Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Temperatures and precipitation can vary widely – pack extra layers and your fishing waders.
  • Limits: 2 rainbow trout per day, 10-inch minimum and 13-inch maximum length. In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year.
  • Angling from a floating device is not allowed.

The Deschutes River Angler, a local guide and fly shop, is a great resource for information, gear and supplies, and expert-led fishing trips. Check out their Fishing Report before your trip for the latest information on river conditions. Happy angling!

Other Resources:
Oregon Fishing License Information
Central Zone Regulations & Map
Central Zone Exceptions
Oregon Water Level Information

Imperial River Company, Maupin OR
Lodging and Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River
https://deschutesriver.com/
irc@deschutesriver.com

Upland Bird Hunting in Central Oregon – Chukar

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Chukar Partridge Hunting Central Oregon

ODFW Season: Oct 6, 2018– Jan 31, 2019; Daily Bag Limit:8 (24 in Possession)

Upland game bird hunting is a popular activity in Central Oregon. One of the most common game birds is the chukar, a type of partridge that can be found on the steep, rocky slopes of the Deschutes River valley. Both the Chukar and its food source, cheat grass, were introduced to Oregon in the 1950s. Since then, the bird population has flourished in the Oregon high desert.

The birds’ preference for treacherously sloped habitats makes them among the most difficult game birds to hunt. “They have the disconcerting habit of running uphill, usually faster than a hunter can follow, and they fly downhill at hissing speed.” To increase your chances of bagging these birds, try approaching them from uphill or from a contour and go with a trained birddog.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) also suggests bringing the following:

  • Good, sturdy boots
  • Plenty of bottled water
  • Sufficient food and shells for the day
  • Binoculars

Hunters can search for chukar (and pheasants) on both private preserves and public (BLM) land. We recommend booking a hunt with Sage Canyon Outfitters to ensure the best time and increase your chances of bagging this elusive bird.

Additional hunting hints & tips: https://myodfw.com/articles/how-hunt-upland-game-birds

Oregon Game Bird Seasons http://www.eregulations.com/oregon/game-bird/game-bird-seasons/

2018-2019 Game Bird Shooting Hours: https://myodfw.com/articles/2018-19-game-bird-shooting-hours

Lower Deschutes Wildlife Areas Map: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/maps/wildlife_areas/lower_deschutes_features_ownership.pdf

 

Imperial River Company, Maupin OR
Lodging and Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River
https://deschutesriver.com/
irc@deschutesriver.com

September Knitting Retreat in Maupin, Oregon

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Fall is a time for cozy crackling fires, warm apple cider and trading in the flip-flops and tank tops for sweaters and boots. In Maupin, along the banks of the Deschutes River, fall makes its appearance majestically, dressing the trees in unmatched golden foliage with cool, crisp, sunny days that ease into delightfully chilly evenings. For those looking to take in the colors of the season without saying goodbye to the sun, September offers you the best of both worlds.

Calling all Crafters!

In addition to being a paradise for white water rafting, trout fishing, hiking and general outdoor recreation: Maupin offers some prime ranching and farming land. This year, the Imperial River Company & Imperial Stock Ranch will host a four-day retreat for knitters and yarn enthusiasts. The event is organized by the Interweave Escapes September 6 to 9, 2018 for four days of yarn fun on Oregon’s scenic Deschutes River.

The event will feature a variety of activities and amenities including:

  • Classes with Vicki Twigg
    The Twigg Stitch is a new technique for creating completely reversible knitting. You will discover a new type of color knitting that produces a fully reversible fabric with mirrored or completely different sides. The Twigg stitch will take you further into fascinating new techniques that produce fabric with two or more colors.
  • Tour of Imperial Stock Ranch
    Meet owners Dan and Jeanne Carver and learn about their sheep-to-fiber operation. Imperial Stock Ranch is fresh off its stint as suppliers of yarn for Team USA’s Olympic uniforms in Korea. Experience daily ranch operations, including sheep dog herding demonstration.

The entire event is hosted by Interweave Escapes.   Coordinator Doreen Connors will be on hand to lead each day’s activities, answer questions and make sure everyone is having fun!

Fashion-Forward Meets Timeless Comfort

As part of the retreat you will have all of the tools to try your hand at creating some signature looks for the season ahead. A good sweater is a truly timeless wardrobe piece and this will be your chance to design, experiment and create pieces made of some of the finest quality yarn to be found anywhere.

A Place to Unwind While You Cast On

Imperial River Company is pleased to be a partner in this event, providing participants the opportunity to relax in its signature mix of rustic charm and luxurious décor. Meals are included as part of the retreat package including a 5-course wine paired dinner and live cowboy music.