Student doubles with first deer, big maitakes for Mushroom of the Week.

On fall break from college, Ben Epley bagged his first deer in the south suburbs and earned Mushroom of the Week honors.

By Dale Bowman

Resized/Sun-Times — Ben Epley with a couple big maitake mushrooms found after deer hunting on Oct. 14 in the south suburbs.

Nice fall break for Ben Epley from his first year of college.

While home, he bowhunted in the south suburbs with his father Nick and bagged his first deer, a doe, on Oct. 14.

Then, walking the woods later that morning, they came across two maitake mushrooms at the base of a “massive oak tree.’’ Maitakes are also known colloquially as hen of the woods or sheepshead.

One maitake “was the biggest I’ve ever seen at what felt like at least 15 pounds,’’ emailed Nick. “It’s a solid two feet wide. ... What a memorable day for us. I’ll never forget it.”

MOTW, the celebration of mushroom gathering (the stories matter) around Chicago outdoors, runs Wednesdays in the Sun-Times as warranted. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).

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Taking a college break, Ben Epley doubles up with his first deer and big maitakes for Mushroom of the Week

On fall break from college, Ben Epley bagged his first deer in the south suburbs and earned Mushroom of the Week honors.