Maryland Morels & Mushrooms Message Board
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Can you find good mushrooms at great falls park? Saw a bunch in groups but I’m new at this and don’t know which are edible.
Hi,
New to the area (just north of Baltimore) and I’m trying to see if anyone knows of good hunting areas or if there are any sort of groups that hunt together.
My husband, son and I would love to go hunting for mushrooms!
So I am new to the area (d.c.) and am wondering where a good park is that I can go hunting? anyone have suggestions
I know that I am in the minority but found more black shrooms this year then in the last five. The only differance was that I found the most abundance a week earlier then normal for my area. Things did slow up with the lack of rain but picked back up for the grey and yellows. This by far was the shortest window of a season then I can remember. I could normally find yellows through the end of May. I haven’t even been out looking since the first of May.
Several Factors made the morel season bad this year. First off it was a dry April until the end of the month,second April was hot for a few days which made the trees come out all at once early, then it got cold with frost several times not good for earlier mushrooms. Then by the time it got warm with rain late in April then in Early May it was time for the small grey and yellow and the big yellows which was a decent season for those kind. I black season was terrible. So the warmth, the rain, and the time it came was off some in relation to the earlier Morels. The later Morels were better but the season ended early. And as anyone that hunts mushrooms knows the timing of all the above weather factors has to be right.
I’ve been hunting hard in my current area for 10 years, and 2010 was my worst year ever. I found maybe 4 lbs total. Some spots that have been continuously productive for going on 10 years, producing a couple pounds a year, did not yield a single morel.
Luckily, I still have a lot of frozen morels left over from last season…
I’ve been hunting them for 30 something years. I agree 2008 was one of the best recent years. This year was a little less than normal for us so I’d give it a 40 overall (50 being normal).
Canning morels? I wouldn’t try it. Last year I had luck with freezing them (floured, slightly fried). I’ve already taken some out to eat (after 3 weeks). There were a lot of people asking what I did so I took pictures and posted it if you’re interested:
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/recipes/
DON’T CAN MORELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOTULISM. NEVER CAN MORELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well For the black ones I’d give it a 10 out of 100, 100 being the best. As for the later Morels I’d give it 50 out of 100. In my opinion not the greatest of seasons. Actually one of the worst I’ve seen for quite some time and I have been hunting them for 35 years. The BEST season was 2008.
Well Maryland Morel Hunters how would you rate the 2010 season? For us it wasn’t the best ever but it was darn good. I’d give it a 90 out of 100.
Went to Catoctin park this past Tuesday and then again on Saturday Found 2 bags full Mostly small grey and yellows and the big yellow.
The season is now pretty much over, woods are thick. Was a very good week though thanks to the rain.
anyone have recipes for canning morels have about 8lbs to preserve
Guided mushroom hunt with cooking demonstrations, and lots more! Next Monday and Tuesday. Brattleboro, Vermont. Call 478-318-2794
Thanks Janet. I’m 99% sure at this point having looked at hundreds of images. I think I’ll get one of the recommended books on mushroom ID this evening. Looking at the pictures on this site I think they were a mix of yellows, grays, and peckerheads. I can’t wait to eat them.
Brian,
You can find photos of morels using google, or check out some of the ones posted on this website.
The morels are going to be shaped like little Christmas trees, but brown or yellow or black. They feel sort of spongy.
The real key is to slice it in half. Real morels are hollow, fake ones are not.
But if all else fails, take them into a nice restaurant and ask to see the chef. Go in during an off time and tell him you found these (never disclose exactly where)and I”m sure they will be gracious and let you know if they are OK to eat.
Good luck.
I found some mushrooms yesterday that I am almost positive are Morels. I found some last year down in Virginia, but have never seen them in Maryland (because I never really looked). I’m new at this, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the best resource is for making absolutely sure that what I found is a morel and won’t make me sick? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Folks a Gallon= 4 Quarts.Period! Mushrooms are a dry measurement. So you need 4 Full Quart Boxes to equal a gallon. A breadbag full = 1 Gallon. My family and I used to run a fruit stand for decades and thats the true measurement. No matter how you slice it.
Rich - the term makes a perfect sense in that contex, thanks
In response to the “gallon thing” I do believe it is a colloquialism - further it is old school. Probably in days past many gathers did not have a scale to weigh their find and in terms of bragging rights gallons sound pretty good.
found 4 GIANT yellows today under a dead walnut tree, weighed about the same amount as the hundred I found a few days ago. this was in baltimore county, they were a little dried out but will make great risotto tonight.
I dont understand the gallon thing at all, on the west coast we measure in pounds, mushrooms are not a liquid. Volume vs. weight?
I already know how to measure a true gallon I just wanted to see the other responses. Liquid and dry measurements are different. The only way to measure mushrooms to get a real gallon is to measure them in quart boxes. 4 full quart boxe are a gallon. Not a ziploc bag “gallon” try to get 4 quart boxes from from that,not even close. A breadbag full is a gallon.
I would like to know the “gallon” thing too. My friend Dave has a can that measures a gallon. He used water to mark a quarter, half, etc. We normally use that to measure them. I have a bag that some ole’ timers saw full and said it was 2 gallons. When I measured, it was a gallon and a quarter. I usually have about 170-180 medium black morels when it is full.
I found 144 Thursday evening, all yellows. Found 70 last night mostly yellow with a few grays.
I went for a little bit today and got 19 in frederick md hope to get back out soon
I would like to know how most of you measure your “gallon” of Mushrooms. Last time I looked 4 Quarts are a gallon. So to have a true Gallon you need to have 4 full quart boxes of mushrooms for a true gallon. Love to hear other comments.
Found around 100 or so today up by thurmont, mostly greys but a few large yellows and blacks in the mix. There seemed to be a whole new flush of greys and yellows from this last rain. No small blacks though, seems they are pretty much done for the season.
How does this season compare to most years? This is my first spring here in Maryland and this trip today is the best i’ve done. the whole bag only weighed maybe 3/4 lb. I havn’t been able to find any in Baltimore or Anne Arundel counties, would love some recommendations.
I went out yesterday and today after school and found a bunch of yellow morels. 54 yesterday, 53 today. I found a bunch of large ones, largest was 6 inches and and very wide. They seem to be turning brown, which makes them alot easier to find. This is in Northern Baltimore County.
found some real nice grays yesterday with a black and yellow here and there
came to a total of 52 in the bag
Went yesterday after work, Hunt Valley area. One small yellow..
Anyone know where to find morels in CECIL COUNTY MARYLAND OR A REASONABLE DRIVE FROM HERE? THANKS
Hi Sue Guynn,
I love hunting ramps and am happy to talk to you. Please contact me at dc@southpawlitico.com or 301-799-8072. I look forward to hearing from you.
Went to harpers Ferry,WV yesterday and found a bag full of Yellows and a few whites and black ones. The rain was great. Should be mushrooms pretty much everywhere now!
Looking to do a story on ramps. Anyone in Frederick County a ramp hunter, too?
oh, for those who flour and fry morels in butter. I tried freezing last year and it worked for me. We ate a half gallon of morels for Christmas morning breakfast (14 of us). I did it again this year so I HOPE I get the same result.
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/recipes/
My neighbor said she just freezes them the way they are but mine turned out tasting bad and were mushy. We would rather have them without the flour (butter, a hint of garlic salt, cooked on the grill) but never had luck freezing them straight (nor with dehydrating).
I think we’re calling it a year for morel hunting next week but wait until we see what next week brings first. We’ve been picking a lot of old black morels and not so many gray, white, and yellow. It’s been a pretty good year for us but twice as much walking. Again, you can check out how our year went at:
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/morel-hunting/
Good luck to all!
Amy P I’m just up the road in Dickerson and I have a couple of productive patches on my property so I’m sure you can find them around Germantown. I found 8 yellows yesterday. Rain should bring more.
Sure is wet out….!
Couple days ago I found one yellow and it was dried and preserved… so I left it sit as a marker for next visit. Yesterday I walked by the mushroom and thanks to all the rain it had reconstituted itself and looked good enough to eat.
Wife, kids, and sister went yesterday. Found close to 300. Mostly greys, but a few blacks, yellows and a couple half-frees.
Near Cumberland. Found 5 within 10 mins of getting into the woods as base of poplar tree, then 3 hours with no more finds. Will try again early this week; give the weekend rain time to do its work.
patapsco on saturday with the wife and kids…found only around 12 yellows but all were around 4-5 inches tall. wife proceeded to make morel/scallop risotto for dinner yum!
Found 100 morels in the past 2 days in the poplar forest near my house. Most of them were small yellows and greys. I did find 3 larger yellow morels, largest was 5 inches tall. This is in Northern Baltimore County.
I spoke with a gentleman who said with the rain this weekend it will be great hunting come this M-W if anyone has the time after work to go this weekend or early this week who can teach me a little in montgomery co. Please email me. Thanks
found over 250 yesterday
most were nice size blacks and about 70 of them were those tastey grays
Amy P. That would be a yes
you can find yellows and grays
3 of us hunted 2 1/2 hours again in catoctins near smithsburg and found 320 but nothing very big yet
Found 66 this morning 15 minutes north of downtown Baltimore. Yellows and grays between 2-6 inches - very high quality. I have an idea for all shroomers - take 2 bags into the woods with you. In one collect all the morels you see and in the other put up all the trash you see. In this way we will have a positive impact on the land we love. I started doing this and when you come back with 2 full bags you feel really good.
I escorted a photographer from the FNP on a brief foray yesterday. Found a bunch of yellows and a couple greys
Hunted all over the Wolfsville area today. Not a single shroom. Bummer!
Hi. I am fairly new to Maryland. Does anyone know if morels can be found near Germantown, MD? I realize no one will give away their spots, but anything you are willing to tell me would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Last year i was introduced to hunting the Morel in Indiana now I want to find a person who I may accompany and learn from in Montgomery Co. Maryland. If anyone would like to explore new areas and would like to pass on some local knowledge by all means please contact me. Thanks
If we don’t soon get some good rain the season will be over. We only had .60″ of rain this April so far,that is nothing. The Morel season has been screwed up due to the lack of rain and the Hot weather mixed in with the frosts. It’s just been a strange season so far.It’s calling for rain Saturday-Tuesday,but also very cool weather.
Has anyone had any luck in lower areas like like creek deltas or more wet areas? There are so many spots full of poplars and other favorable trees very close to the water.
South Moutain last night, 1 hour = 2 small greys. Depressing. Not even enough to get the skillet off the nail.
Went yesterday again to catoctins in thurmont and between 3 of us found 238 although most were very small, they will be here in mass by the 1st of the week i believe.
everyone says that the snow should of made for a good season so far it seems to have hurt the season i hope things pick up im determined to grow them inside or in a climate controlled area like a fish tank lol
Rain might be a little too late for blackies.
It’s been a slow, weird season for me. Most of my yellow spots have produced at least something, but all have had a weak flush. There ground isn’t dry, the ground cover looks right, there just aren’t many morels.
It’s either going to be a really bad season or a really late season for me. Total for three days of hard hunting in good spots has been less than two gallons.
Went to Harpers Ferry Today Only found 9 Yellow Ones. Yes Yellow ones! Have only found about a quart all season.This season is not very good so far in my opinion,we need rain now. For those of you finding a gallon or more you are very lucky. I have been hunting for about 33 years now and so far this is the worst I have seen.
I have been looking in the poplar forest in the back of my house, in which I found around 100 yellow morels last year. This year however, I have only been finding very small yellow morels. I have only found around 20. Im thinking the rain this week may help. I live in Monkton, MD / Northern Baltimore County.
I found 33 yellow ones last night. Some of them were a little dried out. I hope we get some rain soon. This has been a strange year for morels, I picked some large black ones way back on April 7th this is very early for me. I think the season will be over in another week and a half. The redbuds are already out of flower and the oak flowers are already falling, both indicators of the end of morel season to me.
4-17-2010 I found 2 types Black and Yellow with in 100 yards of each other in Montgomery County.
well walked about another five miles thru south moutain to find 10 black i hope the white and yellow are better
the snow we got this year only helped this years crop !!!!!went to favorite spot and found all four types ,cappies,yellows,greys,big blacks,my son was so excited, all was so fresh. aprox 2gallons i will share with my sister and eat the rest
went to south moutain walked my butt off to find a total of 30 black morels did the snow hurt them or do they just need more time?
I found 13 here in Southern MD - Calvert County. All yellows. They were pretty fresh.
I went mushroom hunting for the first time on Thursday and found 21 white morels on South Mountain.
Found 58 in thurmont area yesterday, so they are getting close.
Hi,
Went to Virginia - with 20 others and I got about 15. Our group total got about 100 or so.
So there are here.
Hunted today in Wolfsville area. Nuttin there that I could find.
We headed to WV today. count: 121 (2 of us) It’s a new place for us so the deal is to walk your legs off finding where they are and “remembering”! L 7 miles later we ended up with a gallon. Pictures link:
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/morel-hunting/
I found 90 last night, they were yellow morels and very small. A good rain should make them pop.
We found 2 1/4 gallons today in Southern Pennsylvania. Like everyones been saying, go up high. They’re out there, you just gotta findem’. Walk, Walk, Walk…..
Photos:
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/morel-hunting/
Found 16 big blacks and 33 small to medium grays yesterday. Ony finding them in higher elevations.
Went to Harpers Ferry few days ago only found a few white ones and a couple of black ones. Everything is out perfect but not a lot of mushrooms yet. Will try again tomorrow. I think the hot weather kinda messed things up in the sense that every tree is out. and now we are really not getting the rain and it’s getting cool. Kinda worried that this season may not be that good.
Hi! (SW Pa.)
We’ve been to all our usual spots over the last 4 days. We found one tiny gray fella, and I mean tiny. Some of the area’s look ready,blooming and nice and green, but still seem dry, even after yesterdays rain. Other popular spots, higher on the hills, still look under developed, I mean there isn’t ANYTHING budding or sprouting. No green or any sign of spring. Very unusual start to the season, we should have at least 2-3 qts. by now, but we’ve had a strange winter and spring and I wonder what impact this has on the season. We’ve had off year’s before due to hot, dry weather, so I’m not sure what to think. We need more rain here!
OK…went to a couple of my tried and tru spots in the last couple of days…found just 3 on friday, and 3 on saturday…these spots should have produced hundreds by now…anyone else seeing the same things out there…I noticed that the leaves are all “layed down” where I look instead of all disturbed which I think is due to all the snow this winter, I think they might be insulating the ground more because of this and will cause a later than normal morel season…anyone have any comments?
(Virginia) Looks like we got “close” to a gallon today. It was just not good. Again, they were mostly up high. A few fresh ones were low.
Found 1 small one in Calvert County…. Looked like something was chewing on it.. I looked around a saw a Turtle.. Guess they like them as well
found 23 black through an area that was already hit several times this week. Hate when people have tear up the ground two find every one…
my yellow spots are not producing yet
Looks like we’re heading to Virginia tomorrow. Last week we got pretty close to 3 gallon.
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/morel-hunting/
Good luck to all!
Ed, in howard Co. I found one small black ten days ago and it looks like this weekend is going to my weekend for the yellows.
have been out between hag and frederick and boonesboro. everthing i’ve seen in the forest points to they should be out…..but i’ve found notta. this coming wknd for sure.
good luck
redbone
Went yesterday around Hunt Valley. Nothing. Is anyone having any luck in Northern Baltimore County?
Found my first ones yesterday in the Hagerstown area. Not very big but will check again this weekend. Supposed to rain today so that will help. Alot of the ground was dry. Ran into another hunter and he had about a dozen. My buddy found some yesterday but no larger than 2″ tall. Looks like mushroom season is officially on!
Looked in some good yellow spots yesterday, and nothing was up. The lilacs are blooming though, so it will be any day now.
Found 100 plus big fattys in cumberland yesterday….it is very on!
Found 4 today. Not sure what kind. I have a couple pics on my blog, any help identifying would be awesome. Going back tomorrow!
Phil,
Ramps are out in Frederick.
I live Cumberland,MD.I went out on the hill behind where I live and looked for 2 hrs.I found 1 popular tree by accident and found 22 black mushrooms.Yup they do grow in citys.
Native of Fairview Mountain checking in…. although I grew up on a mountain it took finding the internet and reading the many “morel hunt’n tips” before my luck really took off.
It’s just about midnight and weatherman says it’s 43 degrees in Hagerstown but just up the road in PA they are at 32 degrees and falling. So…. with a flashlight strapped to my head…. I just returned from tarp’n up the garden to be extry safe.
I plant a “hail mary” garden as soon as I can roto-till the ground: lettuce is 3 inches, spinach is 2 inches up, cukes just broke ground, beans worried me so I dug one up and they will be up soon. Tomatoes are at about 10 inches and well protected.
Total joy would be to build me a chickn shed so I can have fresh eggs with my fresh morels. With the cold tonight I’m way worried this is gonna mess up the season ???? Looked on Wednesday for morels no luck.
i found one in central maryland on 4/5/10,went back today and found nothing after the rain. I found about 50 in the same local a year ago, i think its toearly for us. my mom in indiana has had good luck finding several already this year. April 15 on is the best time for this area. GO COLTS!!!
found 63 blacks and gray today in 3 hours
I found 87 in Northern Virginia today. I think together we probably have 240. Here’s a link my find for the day!
http://midmented.wordpress.com/
Good luck to all! I don’t go out on the weekends so this should be it until Wednesday!
I know this is a mushroom chat, but does anyone know if ramps are in season in Garret county?
HI
Anyone located in the Silver Spring/DC are who’s interested in teaching a newbie a bit about mushrooming? My husband was an avid collector back in Russia but hasn’t been since he moved here (I won’t let him go until we talk to someone experienced).
Thanks!
Danielle
Puterguy,
Nice. I’ll see what happens this weekend..
went out monday to patapsco sykesville area with my 3 yr old son to look for some signs of life. no mushrooms yet but we did find 2 box turtle shells, deer skeleton, snail shells,garter snake,baby crayfish, frog and 3 worms. had alot of fun with him out there and I think he will be good at spotting due to him being lower to the ground. need some rain maybe some will be up saturday?
We found about 2 gallon today in Pennsylvania.
I found 134 and “Dave” found 94.
I took a picture of mine on todays Hagerstown, Md paper for those of you want to see:
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/morel-hunting/
Headed to Virginia in the morning! This rain should bring some more up!
Well I’ve been waiting to give some good productive news. Unfortunatly I only found 1 black (3″) on 4/4/10 as soon as I hit one of my spots, no more after that.
Gorilla Fingers reported finding a small few small blacks on the south facing mt. slopes of Southern Washington co. last weekend.
Now here’s the tasty little nugget everyone wants to here. Ole Barney Outfitters Deanerman said it won’t be game on in western MD & in the Panhandle of WV until 4/11/10. You can bet when Deanerman speaks about shrooms its like the mushrooms gods have spoken. You just have to trust over 100 years of living and handed down experience.
Just got as report from a farmer at my ranch who checked around. Saw two sprouting, but for that area of Western Maryland, they are waiting for 3 consecutive 50 degree nights followed by a hard rain. Just FYI. It is also very exciting to see everyone’s enthusiasm regarding mushroom hunting! A wonderful hobby
Hopefully it will rain tonight and if it does it WILL be mushrooms pretty much everywhere I would think. With the hot weather all the trees are coming out fast.It is now finally late enough. I did find 2 black ones a day ago near Harpers Ferry.
Gee, the last one didn’t post. Hopefully I won’t get a dup!
Heading to Virginia Thursday. If I have any luck, I am off to Pennsylvania Friday. I’ll post here or on my blog of whatever I find.
http://midmented.wordpress.com/category/morel-hunting/
Good luck everyone!
Anyone know of anyplace near Ft Washington MD to hunt? I used to hunt Western MD, but moved to the city….any advice or assistance would be great.
Thanks
Chris
I’ve looked in a few places in Howard county but nothing yet. This is my first year hunting in MD so I’m still learning the ropes. If anyone nearby wants to team up, I wouldn’t mind the company. Planning to hit Patapsco on Wednesday.
puterguy, gotchya. We have a place a couple miles from home that was famous for its shrooms. It was logged in late 90’s and is starting to produce a bit now. Dad & I found a few dozen blacks today, prob should have left some of them, but I know they won’t make it a week if I do. Left some in other spots. Havn’t seen near the small ones compared to the last couple of years, so we will wait & see hope for good growing weather.
thunter: I just remembered. I looked in the logged area in 2006. Right around a tree that had been pushed over from logging (they killed it) were yellow morels. There were only a little over a dozen but pretty big. Here’s a pic of the 2 largest:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48905371@N07/4492169900/
Don’t give up hope on a logged area. I’ve seen them come back.
thunter: Starting about 200 yards from where I took those pics, yes I’ve found black morels. There are big tulip poplar that run for about 3 miles. I just posted a pic from last year if you follow the previous link again.
Timbered woods: I have a spot in Pa I’ve hunted since 1993. It was timbered (only the large trees) in 1999. In 2008, I found 3 gallons but only 1 gallon last year. It’s taken 10 years for them to come back.
puterguy, You find blacks at the location in the pics? Kind of strange. I shy away from timbered woods, they just have never produced for me. I prefer big timber.
hi has anyone been checking around greenridge any yet should be finding them any day now.and how long after a mountain fire should i wait to look for morels there
Thanks thunter. I found a lot of black morels in those woods. Looks like I’ll not be finding many elm because I hunt a lot of moutains.L
Thanks for the tips! Gotta run to sunrise service. Happy Easter.
puterguy, I’m seeing hickory/possibly some sassafrass too. Looks like a young woods there, all but clearcut, 15 maybe 20 years gone by.
Elms prefer moist to downright wet conditions. Usually won’t find them close to the ridges unless the ground is “springy”… shelves along hillsides and of course bottom areas. Any kind of depression atop a ridge or where ever. Key is they like to keep their feet wet.
Friend of mine took an hour hunt in Indian Springs this morning and found nothing. Might take a walk here this afternoon. Still thinking it is going to be mid month before we really start seeing them. It’s nice to get those mushroom eyes working again though. How many of you have found them and then all of a sudden you haven’t found another one for about 20 min and you take one that you already found and put it on the ground just to get your mushroom eyes back…lol! You gotta find that first one though!
Saw the first may apple popping out on Thursday. I agree it’s too early, but I’ll take a couple walks in Ijamsville today none the less.
Went to the River today at Harpers Ferry West Va. Still too early yet.
Hi everyone! I’m new to the site but my boyfriend and I love to mushroom hunt! We lived in Falling Waters, WV and have recently moved to Cumberland, MD. I know we were finding them last yr in WV around this time or maybe a week later. Has anyone found any in MD yet? I was thinking here we would be a week or so behind.
Walked 3.5 miles in northern Va (mountain)today and found nothing. Mayflowers are just starting to pop through the ground.
It was a nice day to be out scouting though! I need some help. I’ve always just looked for tulip poplars and am trying to get familiar with elm. I spotted what I think are a lot of dead elm today. Someone please verify?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48905371@N07/
(and a couple false morels to id too!)
Thanks!
oops! That was WV not Va (but nearby). LOL
thunter: Everything you said I’ve found to be true. In Southern Pa, I’ve had my best finds on the west slopes though. We are headed to Va to do some scouting. I hope to find a couple but it’s not likely. It was late last year (http://www.flickr.com/photos/48905371@N07/4480324578/) when we found them there.
I am from Baltimore, but used to live in Hagerstown when I was young where we often found morels near our home. I would like to take a trip back there. Are there any tour guides who know how to fund them and offer outings for morel hunting?
puterguy / rhondo, Just throwing in my 2 cents…I’m assuming your on E-NE facing slopes if you are hunting amongst the Tulips? I’ve had similar results way over here in S. Ohio. I like a mature woods with at the very least 50% poplar. 100% poplar is not nearly as good, for whatever reason…and puterguy, yes you want to be towards the top early on, bout 3/4 of the way up in my area. The “bowls” or the apex of ravines are very good too, again up higher. All my best patches of blacks will produce good amounts of half-free’s/tulip morels down below as the weather warms up.
City shrooms eh? Never found a single one in the city limits (never really looked that hard) but it does give me an idea to look! Soon, there won’t be a lot of woods left in the city limits.
Rondo: Yes, I’ve been hunting them for 33 years and you’re right, it seems there has to be a mix of trees. There is a place in Pa I’ve walked for 3 years, nothing but tulip poplar. Same thing, never found a morel.
Last year I found a place in WV with a lot of ash and an oak here and there. Found 200+ there.
I found a place in Va last year (April 16th) that had more poplar trees than I’ve ever seen in one place. I found a dozen morels in a higher area where ash grew but not a single one lower among the poplar. Maybe I was too early.
————————–
Hunted a forest with predominant Tulip Trees, didn’t find many, I think if there is a few Tulip trees, and some Assh and Oak predom. then its better than all Tulips.
kevin i hunt alot of the woods in hagerstown to probly seen u around and just never said hi but yeah i love those city mushrooms.they will be up by this weekend id say found some early ones already.
Took a walk through the woods today. Dogwoods were just starting to bloom. Some ground cover starting to grow. Probably be 2 weeks yet in Hagerstown before we can actually get enough to eat and then IT IS ON! Hopefully beat my count of 600 last year! Most of them found in the city limits believe it or not! We call them “City Shrooms”. Then off to the mountains a little later on once we start finding them.
on removing sand, first you need to cut them above the root when you harvest them, and wash well because sand is the least of your worries. Morels are great hiding places for ants, worms, and even tinier critters. It is recommended that you split each morel to be able to clean well and to check that they are actually morels and not a mimicking species(morels will be hollow on the inside)and DO NOT EAT THEM RAW!
Headed to Northern Va Thursday morning. I don’t think I will find many if any but I got the fever.
I’ve had most of “finds” around tulip poplar, Ash, and dead elm. I found a place in Va last year (April 16th) that had more poplar trees than I’ve ever seen in one place. I found a dozen morels in a higher area where ash grew but not a single one lower among the poplar. Maybe I was too early.
Later that day, about 30 miles north of there, I found 85 (among poplar) high on the mountain. Early high, late low?
does anyone know wher the burn area near white tail ski resort is? I hear that is a good place to go
Does anyone have good tips for removing the sand from morels? What kind of brush, if any, should I use?
Thanks,
Matt
Well, we have a stretch of nice sunny days ahead so I’m gonna hit the woods on Wednesday to start scouting out likely spots. The leaves on the tulip poplars are coming out around here, although not quite “silver dollar size” yet, and there are some may apples up.
And I know from previous mushroom and rock hunting in Hawaii that even when “the good stuff” is there, it can take a couple of visits to tune into their “vibes”. So I’m gonna get an early start and enjoy the spring woods even if it’s not quite prime time yet.
To everyone who asks “do morels grow in XXX in Maryland?”
Yes, morels grow there. They grow right up to the tideline on both shores of the bay. They grow up in the mountains. They grow along streams and rivers. They are everywhere with the lone exception being salt-marshes and true wetlands.
Wait until you are reading posts here of people finding mushrooms by the dozen, and right away go look in some woods close to your house. If you look carefully, and don’t give up, you will eventually find some.
Anyone hunting morels in Anne Arundel County or near Annapolis? I have hunted the last two years and haven’t found any. I was wondering if they grow close to the bay or not.
That’s interesting to hear about Osage Orange. I know there are Osage Orange out almost on the shore W/NW of Centreville on the peninsula because the kids were playing with the fruit last fall when we went out to camp there (they called them monkey brains). But I wonder if morels will grow that close to the shore. I’m not going out there to hunt, but who knows if some of the locals might get lucky.
There are mostly tulip poplars in the woods around the part of Rockville where I live, so I’m gonna start checking there. There’s an old two-track that’s along the side of a hill, always rather wet — north side of the hill though — but it’s only a ten minute walk away. Will hit some south facing slopes first and see if I get lucky this weekend with the good weather on tap.
I’ve been asking some of my local friends, haven’t found any morel hunters yet, but one person said they heard people hunt on Roosevelt Island for other edible mushrooms. Comments?
I moved here from Hawaii where I’ve hunted mushrooms for years, but they don’t have morels there, and over here they don’t have the kind I hunted in Hawaii Missed last year’s morel season so this is my first try
I’m interested in learning about Morels. I don’t know the first thing, and it seems like a family knowledge that people get from their families. Is there anyone out there willing to take me along when they go out looking? I live in Baltimore and could come on a Tuesday or Wednesday or the weekend.
That is interesting. I always thought they were talking about the Osage Orange tree. Looking up Asimina sp. makes me want to look about the wood again.
Jim H.- that’s interesting about Paw Paws. I have never heard anyone say that, but a new morel spot I found last year was right inside the only big grove of Paw Paw’s that I know of. I hadn’t even made the connection at the time. I will have to hunt that stand a little harder this season.
Paw Paw is not the same as Osage Orange (aka Monkeyball tree) though. Anyone into foraging should keep their eyes out for stands of Paw Paws. They taste terrific and it’s a lot of fun picking your own fruit in the woods in September.
Looked in a park here in Calvert county. Nothing yet!
found them right in my back yard today and it totally made my weekend and I have been doing the mushroom dance since I saw them
Thanks Jim H, I remember finding mayapple when I first moved here last summer, very distinctive looking. I still cant quite figure out how to confidently identify tulip poplars, but I have a few beech groves I will check out next week. Curiously beech trees have been the only places I’ve found black chanterelles and hedgehogs here as well. Looking forward to finding some morels in the coming weeks!
Perry,
I look for Elm, Poplar & Beech groves. Rocky , mossy soil, not grassy. I’ve never found them before the May apples [http://is.gd/b3Nj4]come up. So rocky, mossy areas under Poplar & Beech amongst the may apple and fiddle head ferns.
I’ve also heard they are prolific amongst the PawPaw, also known as monkey ball or officially osage orange, but I don’t have any in my forest. You won’t find any natural burn areas in the state, aside from NW Baltimore
I am new to Maryland but have found morels in burned areas in California (where I am from). I have heard elms, poplars and apple trees are the main things to watch out for (no apple trees near baltimore that i have found), any other specific things to keep an eye on to improve the odds of finding them? sandy soil/flood plains, presence of certain plants, anything like that? any help at all would be appreciated.
Hello again!
I’m staying down here in Bedford/Pittsyvania Counties, VA. on a mini vacation,(Nascar)… I said I was going to check the area out for morel’s when I came down, and today we did. First, much of the soil down here is RED.(I’m from the central Md./Pa. border) We found suitable soil along the James river, flora here looks like mid April in my area,everything’s in bloom! areas looked great, nothing. Talked to local’s about the morel hunting in the area, most had no idea what I was talking about, but a few said they don’t grow here, and one said they themselves travel up to Hagerstown to hunt in April.
Is this true that they don’t grow in this area of Virginia?
i found about ten today….IN PENNSYLVANIA..adams county to be exact….and im so damn excited
Just finished the last of last years morels. Hope they’re coming soon!I don’t think I’m going to start until April 9th (Va). No dogwoods blooming, no lilacs trying to bloom, no may apples peeping out of the ground. It’s just too soon.
I noticed some may apples starting to come up. I am thinking I may see some coming up after these showers this week. I am in New market.
Scott, the ground *would* be a good place to start (LOL). But seriously, what part of the state are you in? Deep Creek and Eastern Shore are totally different places.
new to area. any advise where to look on public ground??? Thanks scott
The flora in my area is not doing anything at all yet, except a few burdock shoot’s poking through.(Damn opportunistic weeds) It seem’s it may be a little while yet here before any morel’s show themselves.
Hey Jim and Everyone else LOOK at the calender it’s March!! It’s too early for Mushrooms,just because it gets warm for a few days and it rains doesn’t mean mushrooms. When April gets here and the weather gets right then they will be up. Mushrooms have a season, some earlier some later and the season is not in March.
No signs of ‘em here in Ijamsville. Went on two wlkas on Sat-Sunday. No signs of May apples or fiddle heads in my neck of the woods, yet. Maybe the T-storms yesterday brought some out, but still think we’ll need a drenching downpour to bring them up.
Happy hunting and keep us updated.
Greetings to all , A speical Hi to Big Head Gordie and Barney Outfitters. A little cool out today might take a walk to see if the over night rain might of pop a few black ones out here a little later . Big Head Gordie i still got that x-large cace for you if you want to follow me this year ! To all morel hunters better days are in the forcast . I wish every one best of luck and be safe outdoors . Goriilla Fingers will let you all know how this afternoon went later to day . Take care pop pop pop pop gotto go later.
Found 5 about 1/4″ tall. Clearspring MD
Found 2 poking their heads through the soil this past saturday in my “Early spot”. Gonna keep an eye on em and watch em for a week. NO MORE COLD WEATHER!
I’m new to Maryland this year. I’ve been hunting morels in Iowa for 10+ years, lots of good finds there. Are there many morels on the eastern shore? I’m near Chestertown, on the east side of the Chesapeake.
Eureeka!
Found the first of the season folks! Went for a walk in WVA today and found a baby button Morel on the pass back. I was lucky to see it hiking my average 3 miles an hour. It’s a fluke, but I was excited. I’d say another good rain, and if the temperature and humidity is right, two more weeks.
A bad day hunting shrooms is still a nice walk in the woods.
Yeah, your right. “Dates, Shmates”, when you see an area that looks potentially shroomy, you know. Let mother nature tell you.
L I guess the years are flying by! 1981 was 29 years ago! I’ve been hunting morels since 1976 SO, 33 years.
If I average by date (Southern Pa and Northern WV), April 20th averages out as the first “good find” day from the last 33 years for me. April 11th as the first morel found date. LOL
All in all, the dates don’t matter! The weather, trees, soil, landscape, and luck does.
@008 was a good year for morels. We have found a few morel’s the last week of March several different year’s, but I would have to say, it’s been at least 5 year’s since a March sighting. I’m having hope’s for this year though of finding some in March. I’ll be in Martinsville Va. near the NC border the last week, so we’ll see how THAT goes…………=)
Last year I found 4 blacks in northern VA on April 4th.
The earliest I have ever found morels in the past 25 years is March 24th. I keep a log too, LOL I found 8 in Fulton County, Pa in 1981. In 2008 (a good year around here (Western Maryland)), I found my 46 on April 10th. Those are the 2 earliest dates I have recorded for black morels.
OK, I’ll be more helpful. I have been looking for morels pretty seriously for about 15 years, and I have about 20 different spots that I reliably find morels (in MD). I’ve paid pretty close attention to the timing, including keeping daily notes on what I find.
In my area, the best cue has been that I will start finding morels just as lilac blossoms start to show color. Though my notes, through the years in Maryland, with rare exceptions I don’t find yellow morels before April 15th, and I don’t find them after May 15th. Black morels come up earlier, but most areas I hunt don’t have black morels.
Well Gee Mike if you just want to walk around in the woods looking for Morels that are not up yet thats fine. For the rest of us that really know when the season is in your going to have to wait to the 1st of April or later, depending on your location and weather of course.
Theres a time and season for everything ,including morels. And all the wishful thinking in the world is not going to make them come up.
Thanks Mike, well put!
Never too early to get lucky folks. I have seen them as early as mid-march, but most will be coming into early to mid-April.
It’s never too early to look. It’s too early to find any right now, but why let that stop you?
Uh Don’t you folks think it’s too early for Morels yet?? My heavens it’s only March,there is no Morels up yet,I don’t care if was 80 degrees this weekend. There are no trees out and nothing coming up on the ground,heck the ground is not fully thawed yet.Morels have a season just like anything else and believe me they are not up yet.
Rain is done…70 degrees this week…may go out Saturday. I’ll keep everyone posted!
Hey, I live in St. Mary’s County. Has anyone found any of these wonderful treats in this area? I grew up in Missouri and NC where we would find them in mid-Mar. Never thought they might be in my backyard. If anyone needs a foraging partner, I’d love to go!!!
I’ve been going out to friends in Illinois every year for the past 21 years hunting morels. I live in Silver Spring, MD and would love to team up with someone local who has property to search that has been fruitful in the past. Happy to share my knowledge.
I have been looking for a group to join too. Let me know if there is room!
jlfulmer@gmail.com
Jim H. If you’ve still got room, let me know when and where and I’d like to take you up on the offer to go hunt up some mushrooms! My email is Jonnyreb00@aol.com
JBro & Janet,
There should be good hunting coming up in the next 3-4 weeks. Drop me a line by clicking this link: http://is.gd/aCqSI if anyone else is interested.
Jim H. I would love to be your second pair, or third if you have already chosen. It is nice to have property of your own to search rather than mixing into someone else’s land. I have in the past asked permission to enter lands and it has always been no problem. I am a chef and amateur hunter, but I know how to find ‘em. Let me know if you’re willing to have me along.
Jim H,
I’d love to come up and hunt with you. I am a novice and it sounds like you both know where to go and what you are looking for. How would I connect with you? My email is janetmce@starpower.net
Thanks,
Janet
I’m north of urbana and have had good luck hunting on my propert and ajoining CSX lands. I’ve already promised one other couple a teaching tour, but can always use a second pair of eyes. I’ve found bounties of not just morels, but the oysters, entalomas, honey, chicken (which I can’t eat because I had an allergic reaction but they are awesome and DO taste like a chicken breast), various boletes & Hen of the Woods.
anyone in Fredrick county? went hunting in Thurmont last year but didnt find any
In Frederick, I found some good ones around April 20th, but found a lot more that were 2 weeks old and wilted. I am going to start looking mid next week, 3 days after this drenching rain over the weekend.
Hi,
I”m in DC - willing to drive wherever.. Have never been morel hunting here, but I’m from Oregon where tons grow. Are there any groups that hunt here? I’d love to join.
Thanks, Janet
Im in Hagerstown and went back and looked at last years posts and found my first ones on April 20th in 2009. Went to the same spot starting the first of April and none till then. I’ll still start around the first of April this year just in case! lol
I know everyone is a bit eager to get out after morels but be patient. Northern Frederick County still has feet of snow still on the ground. I think mushrooms will arrive about the same time as always, mid April.
Almost time. Typically, after the first drenching rain in April is when you’ll see the first ones. I think we should all start looking after the 2″ rain expected this weekend and mild temperatures after having snow cover since December.
Is it time yet? I found over 200 last year and with all of the snow this year it should be just as good if not better.
Corey…found so many last year we couldn’t eat em all. What area you from?
Hello all,
I am super excited to have found a shroom hunting message board. My dad and I are avid chefs (him professionally) and have recently been trying to get out of the industrial food chain by growing and canning, buying from farms and the like. Our next step is to learn about gathering, a skill that will prove useful after the impending end of the world :).
Anything anyone could show us about this would be awesome. I know how sacred your morel spots are so I would love to barter some good or service for your trade secret.
Looking forward to getting to know you all.
Corey
Awesome, I will post again a little later in March and to try to get in touch.
I’m Buying Morels this year.
My husband and I are always interested in learning and helping out. We are in Annapolis, but would love to hunt and learn to ID with others nearby.
Stan,
I am willing to lend a hand. I am in Frederick and can’t wait for Morels to start after 1st heavy rain in April. AA county is significantly ahead of Frederick in terms of climate, so you may start seeing them after a heavy rain last week in March!
I also enjoy looking for all other forms of edible ’shrooms, like Oysters, entoloma, chickens, hens, shaggy mane, honey and Boletes of all shapes and sizes.
I’m learning more and more each season, but those are the varieties I an very confident in ID’ing.
I am interested in joining with groups whom will be out searching for all types of wild varieties in MD, DC, area to learn to identify them myself. Once I gain some insight I would be open to share our farm in Southern Anne Arundel county for searching if I find anything productive there.
Looking for people to harvest Ramps & Fiddlehead Ferns. I pay well for them. If intrested email me we can talk further
RE: JEREMY/DC— Try along, and in the vicinity of the C&O Canal trail out of Georgetown there. You might have to go up Great Falls way a little, but we’ve found them there on trips in the past. Use a bike, you get there faster. Good Luck!
Wow…for a mushroom message board there is a lot of beef on here!
I’m hoping we can move ahead as the season for hunting morels is coming up soon. I live in Washington, DC and have never ever been hunting before. A true first timer. I have a small group of people– 4 or 5– that would like to go hunting this year. Basically we are looking for someone who might invite us along and show us the ropes. We are a fun group and are passionate about cooking and eating– so the mushroom hunt is just the next step.
Please let me know if you might be gracious enough to invite us along.
Thanks in advance!
- Jeremy
Yes, I’ve got those “spring time blues” creepin’ up….trying to keep my mind off it with some x-country skiing. We’ve had tons of snow this year, making the best of it, 7 weeks still feels a long way off when you’ve been waiting almost a whole year for the hunt.
Wow, I’m with you Hollytrailfinder. First check of this site since last spring. Things are hoppin’. Just seeing if anyone else is starting to get the itch? Won’t be long now. Hopefully with all the snow we’ve been having will allow the ground to stay nice and moist. We will just need the sun to add warmth this spring and shrooms will be popping everywhere!! Grocery bags full! HaHa
To troll jeff:
“blah. blah, blah…”
All you ever wanted was to cause trouble. My position stands and I welcome those who respsect the land.
Happy Hunting Everyone!
To all on this board, this will be my last response to a farmer jane. Ok, jane i sadly have to repeat ive never been on your property, don’t ever plan on being on it, and frankly i dont believe you actually have property worth being on. You act like no one else in the world has property.
First im noticing theres a consistent theme to your postings, about people coming onto your property and how they are doing you wrong. it seems a name change to victimjane is in order. you seem to be obsessed with playing the victim role. Constantly ranting about how people take things from you and leave a mess in their wake. yeah, i have a feeling someone has taken something from you but id wager it wasnt anything off your land or anything physical for that matter. (by the way the thin veil of you “having such respect for the land and its cycles” as reason for your concerns is a rather weak one. again nobody cares, no one wants anything off your land. id bet there isnt even anything worth being on your land for)
Secondly, it seems youre in desperate need for validation. You claim to own huge swaths of land, that youre an author, youre on tour, that people ask for the “priviledge” to be on your land….it goes on and on. theres an old saying “the EMPTY drum makes the loudest noise.” who cares?! trust me there are more impressive people on this board who dont feel the need to try impressing STRANGERS on a mushroom board.
My Grandmother once said “You cant reason with crazy,” and thats exactly why i am done trying to reason with you. no matter what people post here you will simply interpret it as “people are coming for my land.” (i’m sure your also familiar with the quote, “theyre always after me lucky charms,” which seems to be the theme of all your postings) trying to reason with you seems to be a fruitless endeavor.
Lastly, i just wish you well. such anxiety is not good for the psyche and will affect your health. constant worrying (especially about seemingly imagined situations) will give you heart disease, an ulcer, or worse cancer.
So to everyone else on the board (jane excluded) my apologies. i hope you all know that my intention was to defend everyone here who are simply good honest people trying to have fun, find information, and help each other out. Have a good season!
CHEERS! Drink one for me.
I joined this group to find like minded folks in the DC area and learn more about mushroom hunting.
As of late it resembles a bunch of high school girls arguing about who made the drill team.
Stop bitching, act your age, if you don’t have anything topical to contribute THEN DON’T POST.
ok, um, ok…seriously my remark was made in jest and since I am on a book tour, I do travel in a timezone of one hour previous to the east coast. I love morels too. I love animals too. I caretake many on the land, including deer. The biological, natural instinct of said animals are synchronized, I follow natures rule. Morels have the same respect. I follow that one also. All of those who are just gungho happy hunters fail to understand the laws of nature, of the land and that is what incites such discord. When you ask a land owner, they actually synchronize the life of said plants and follow the laws accordingly. We respect nature, that’s why we’re here. So please, if any message I can convey is this: Please ask, many will allow, forbidding over harvesting and greed and disrespect of nature. We try to maintain balance.
Enjoy your eve of inebriation….
farmerjane do you sleep well at night ?or do you sleep at all i’ve keep my mouth shut and hands off the key’s usually but today i’ve been drinking and i love morels im not perfect nor will i ever clam that i am but all the fuss just makes my laugh.cause i still can…. and weather animal or human who cares who eats them or where their gotten as long as their not going too waste…i am proud you own land and you have made that clear congrats who cares i get hungrey for morels and if i get them on state land or yours just know i won’t waste them happy hunting next season….
Whoa man, you been eatin the wrong kinda mushroom! LOL…
hope you see my mispelling.lmao
ignoance is bliss no matter how you try to explain you side. it don’t matter unless it matters
Hi, JAW! Freaked out? no way. I welcome such stimulating debates between such “passionate” folk, we learn a lot from others debating, I frequent the same locale as farmerjane, and I learned couple things that I was not aware of.
I’d like to clarify just one point.
Invited guests into my home, my property, are most welcomed. Colleges (biology students) often ask and recieve entrance for specific studies.
4-H, scouts and other family oriented clubs are also invited and welcomed. Mind you, no financial exchange. I love when families come, when they explore and share mushroom hunting…a wonderful bond families create.
It’s only those disrespectful, uneducated few that ruin it for all. Don’t sneak up on me, I might just “get scared” and that trigger might just be a hair one! After all, all us “farmers” are just maniacal, paranoid, nothing to do in our lives, ignorant farmers…backwood justice from backwoods justice electives would sway, “which way?”
I’m hoping the previous poster and other illegal poachers understand trespassing/gun laws. I sure do.
Hey HOLYTRAILFINDER don’t let the conversation freak you out, it’s usually a great place for info and meeting people to hunt mushrooms with or just for some inspiration for the first timer. Not sure why the intense conversation is take place, they should have gone to venting.com…lol. I on the other can’t wait for the season to get started! Only about 2 1/2 months till the morels start poppin up.
I usually wouldn’t dignify the conversation between two misplaced debating individuals, but I have to inform farmerjane that she may want to check on the gun laws in the great state of Maryland, which it doesn’t seem that she has…pull a firearm on anyone less known shoot them and that the property you worked so hard for will be a sad memory when the person you assault sues you and become the new owner of your property you are so proud of…just an FYI. You can only pull a firearm when in fear of you life, shoot them and you better make sure you have that fear is on video or kill them so they can’t testify.
WOW! That was interesting! First time here, wasn’t expecting that conversation to be the first one I read. cool. I’ll be watching…
Jeff-You have no clue what you are talking about and obviously haver not read about all those in here who do poach. It is a real problem. I also think the moderators in here should think twice before letting a troll in here who just wants to stir up discord.
I have not visited this site for a very long time, have spoken with members who are invited to the property and have serious safety nets in store for poachers, it’s the law and DNR take it very seriously, just since my latest trip to Houston I have been notified of three hunters on my property which have been heavily fined. I’m so happy about that! And yes, I own lots and LOTS of land
Stay off my property, Jeff and happy public hunting!
Find my own farm? i dont have to. Maryland is filled with PUBLIC State parks(90,239 acres to be exact), where it is a welcomed activity! Thats what I’m trying to get across. Nobody is after your mushrooms, or whatever you seem to think theyre poaching. Stop being so paranoid. Nobody is going on your land, or invading your privacy. It just seems like youre either making an incident that may occurred once and decided to blow it out of proportion, (or as you noted being a writer) you have an active imagination.
The idea someone going onto someones “farm” to pick something is so incredulous to begin with. I know farmers who have actual purposely-planted crops, that are attractive to pick, Who’ve never complained of someone coming in and harvesting them. Why? because most people arent stupid. they know not to invade private property and have respect for others. Also i agree with you that you own the land you deserve your privacy. Then again SO DOES EVERYONE HERE, self included, who OWNS land. Again, this is what im trying to emphasize, most everyone here owns land and understands the respect for private property. Also, even non-landowners understand the fairly basic respect for other peoples property.
Another point of your story i have trouble believing is when you noted someone came and took 3 shopping bags worth of mushrooms off your property. Ok unless you own HUGE swaths of land, or you live in a world similar to that found in Super Mario Brothers, its just not likely. To top it off you said he came a day later to take another shopping bag full. Seriously, i doubt anyone here can anyone here say they found 4 SHOPPING BAGS full of Morels in one small location!
Also, I did not assume hey farmer=dumb. Anyone can be crazy. it doesnt matter what profession, class, or socioeconomic level.
It’s quite telling how you quickly assumed i did not own land, have “greedy disrespect” for nature, and that i go into other peoples property. Congrats you managed to get none of those right. you seem to be an angry person and in need of something to be angry about. Maybe the mushrooms youve been eating werent the “edible” kind that make you see things that arent there.
Lastly, take time to actually read some of the posts on here. everyone here is trying to help each other by “posting how nice of a hobby this would be”, “how great it would be to meet someone to show them…”, “what wonderful exercise…”, “its the season for…”, and “how happy they were to find…”, not “hey anyone want to go poaching on some private property and disrespect the land.”
So in closing i hope happiness finally finds its way over to you. All the negative energy and the negative prejudgement of the intentions of your fellow man cant be healthy.
Find my own farm?
Maybe it’s because most of us do not own a farm, and therefore not aware of the “problem” of “poachers,” but after reading your ramblings im almost convinced youre just some whacked out paranoid who doesnt seem to have much better to do but complain about something that just doesnt seem real. “Quted by Jeff”
LOL! Again, how ignorant of you! You have no idea that most farm owners are retired lawyers, doctors and I for one am a writer, currently touring Houston Texas! We’ve paid our dues for Privacy. Find your own farm.
I’d like to also add, thesse are some of the things we as land owners have to watch for.
Poachers: Deer, coyote, bear, birds - Many of us feed our animals, have our own “wild” animals roaming our property to NOT be hunted.
People dig up plants, trees, mushrooms, flowers, herbs-trapsing all over the property-with the low mentality it is “just them” or “just one” when many do it causing over harvesting upsetting the balance.
People enter the property and leave garbage everywhere, even to the point of leaving sofas, refrigerators, hot water heaters, old toys, etc.
There are clear signs that say no trespassing-they are ignored by ignorant people.
So, Jeff, until you become a land owner, (which I hope never happens as you have a clear greedy disrespect of what it is all about,) SHUT UP. OR pay my taxes and clean up and replenishment costs FOR ME. How about that?
Jeff, It’s people like yu who give hunters a bad name. I used to be a burb girl, for nearly all of my life, full of children plaaying in my yard. I’ve worked hard to finally purchase my land and tend to it according to the laws of the land. Over POACHING deprives the land and I do have signs posted. there are a few respectful members in here which are now allowed to hunt my property,they ASKED and let me know when they will be here. Others will get buckshot. You obviously are NOT a land owner, your ignorance screams. For all the acres across the land can and is shared by many, but not those who are greedy, disrespectful and ignorant of keeping the land flourishing. Come on up to my property, non invited or any other land owner (that we BOUGHT AND PAY TAXES ON) and you’ll get a real nice welcome
To Farmer Jane,
Maybe it’s because most of us do not own a farm, and therefore not aware of the “problem” of “poachers,” but after reading your ramblings im almost convinced youre just some whacked out paranoid who doesnt seem to have much better to do but complain about something that just doesnt seem real.
Maybe i’m too optimistic about the decency of the common person, but i just think most people on here wouldn’t intentionally say to themselves hey look over there lets get her shrooms and screw here over. its really not worth that much, and frankly most people have better things to do. People are generally respectful of both the law and private property. Quit yer
Btch!n. Put up some signs and move on.
And by the way THANK GOD you dont live in the suburbs. you seem like the type to yell “stay of my lawn” when people are passing through on the sidewalk. take your meds and move on ok? thanks!
.”ive lost a couple spots to jonny sneekum in the last couple years. so ive been in the stealth mode lately full camo no loose clohtes nothing to rattle and carry a camera,/fishing pole /anything to stay on the down low”
This is what infuriates me as a farm owner. People thinking because there is land, they are free to roam and scavenge whatever they choose. If there was more respect of our land, most farm owners wuld gladly welcome you to come and hunt for SOME, allowing a taste for all. If you have to hide what you’re doing, then it’s wrong to be doing it.
id like to ask everyone if they commonly harvest shaggymain from md area or if thers a looka like found some in w.md but noy sure if edibal or deadly also halffree,s is there a look a like of them ive been gathering morels since i was a toddler and had no idea so many people did like wise .ive lost a couple spots to jonny sneekum in the last couple years. so ive been in the stealth mode lately full camo no loose clohtes nothing to rattle and carry a camera,/fishing pole /anything to stay on the down low. march is coming fast walk softly and carry a big stick! good luck to all hope someone can help me on halefree,s and saggy main id r.muir
Rob,
At this time of year, my favorite are Oyster mushrooms. I find them typically on dead Tulip poplar and Oak. They’re pretty easy to ID and will grow through the winter if it’s mild. You may still find some puff balls or the Giant puffball on the ground. The Giants I’ve found near Black walnut groves in wet areas, but usually gone by mid-November.
Spring brings morels, of course. And Fall (October-Nov) you can find the aborted entoloma, Chicken mushrooms and Hen of the woods amongst others.
Hi All,
What are the top mushrooms to hunt in Maryland and their seasons? Im really interested in starting, but not sure which species to start with. I work a lot out doors in forested areas and am pretty good at identifying trees/soils.
Thanks,
Rob
Hi. I am looking for some folks to harvest Fiddle Head Ferns/Ramps for me this comming spring $$$. If interested email me for more info.
Is there anybody in Harford County that knows their mushrooms. Ever since my father-in-law (who knew all kinds of mushrooms) passed away I don’t trust my husband to identify any thing but hen of the woods and giant puffballs! I miss the variety we used to get in the fall, but I don’t want to take the chances he is willing to take.I would love to go out hunting with someone who really knows their stuff!
Hi. I am looking for help. I believe my dog has eaten some mushrooms and she is now in the pet ER and very sick. I have collected some of the mushrooms that I believe she ate and the vet has asked me to find a botantist or look into mushroom hunter websites to find some to identifty what type of mushroom we are dealing with. I can email pictures or even meet up with someone. I really need help and soon she is sick and could possibly get worse. I would really appreciate help from anyone. My email is dontforget_tobreathe@yahoo.com any help would be great thank you
-Britney
Sharon,
This is the time of year when a lot of shrooms pop up.
First things first: do any of them have “gills” on the under side of the cap or are the “sponge like” polyphores?
You won’t find any morels at this time of year, so don’t eat anything until you are certain what you have.
Can you post pictures?
I found what appear to be portobello-type and morel-type mushrooms but, as a novice forager am not about to eat them without checking with experts.
Is someone in the Bethesda, MD area willing to meet me and take a look at my finds?
Thank you.
Travis,
They don’t link to your email on this site (for some reason). I was planning on taking a hunt today on my property. I have access to plenty of private land to hunt on. I am just north of Urbana SE of Frederick between 70 and 270, depending on where you’re coming from. You can email me here is interested: http://is.gd/2HEBM
Hi guys!
I’m new to this whole thing and am interested in meeting up with some people sometime soon to go hunting! Don’t care what kind of mushrooms, just interested to try it out with someone who knows what they’re doing. Email me if anyone feels like going anytime soon. Thanks!
interested in meeting up with people who are willing to teach me a little. I know very little but have always always wanted to learn. I live in Baltimore City, but would be fine with going kind of far to learn how to start.
Hi,
I’m very interested in learning how to go mushroom picking. How do I start? Is there anyone there who can teach me? I have a guide book, but have been afraid to try to use it because I know so little. I live in Baltimore City, but would be willing to travel pretty far.
nibor2000@yahoo.com
To: Jim H -sorry for the delay I would like to hunt with you. email me a guytoneureka@aol.com. Thanks, Steve Guyton
I’m in Frederick (Ijamsville) and doing the same-chenterelle hunting. I’m finding a lot of oysters and Drydans saddle. Think I spotted some chanterelles at UMBI in Rockville 2 weeks ago. I prefer to hunt on my property and ajoining railroad property.
Let me know if you’re interested.
I am an avid morel hunter looking to expand to chanterelles. I live in washington county maryland. Is there a club close by or someone
I can learn about chantrelles.
I NEVER did get what you owed me Mike. Where the hell are they?? Below is what Mike wrote me but he never sent them, how nice.
No joke, that’s great. I owe you a pack of frozen morels. Send me an e-mail Patapsco Mike *** @ mail2fisherman.com (take out the spaces and the *** and I’ll get them to you).
Hi all, I’m interested in talking to some Montgomery County mushroom hunters for a story I’m writing for The Gazette (specifically the downcounty region — Bethesda/Potomac area). If you’re interested, please contact me at edonaghue@gazette.net.
Thanks!
Erin
Rudy,
It’s done until next year. time to move on to Oysters, chanterelles and other choice edibles although Fall is when things really pick up again.
Found some whites a week back nothing since. Anyone have any still poppin. I live behind Catocin and lookin in GRN RDG also…
Redbone - you got it right, Catoctin has some morels but is way overpicked.
anyone on here go to catoctin to pick?? i am relativley new to the area. was there on sun. found some. but it also seeems that everyone and there brother goes there to pick.
Doug,… I think the key is moisture..not so much the medium thier growing in..I feel during dry years you should concentrate more on the bottom areas near streams and springhe
eads and swales..during wet years further up the hillsides should be equally productive.It’s still a hit or miss proposition..Jamie
I’m in Bethesda and would LOVE to go mushroom hunting with someone. I have wanted to for years but don’t know anyone who does it. I’m hoping someone would like some company and show me the ropes early next week. Please respond to me at dave.cahn@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
What do you think of this theory on morel abundance?
For years I had poor luck, no doubt due to my being new to morel hunting, which required learning to see them when they were there, where to look, and when. The last two years have been better than ever even dreamed of. Part of this is due to learning and part to good luck. But, I think there is another aspect to this. By all accounts. last year was a very very good year for morels in Maryland, and this year is good, too. I recall that not last summer, but the summer before, we had severe drought. I observed alot of wilting trees in the rows at the edges of farm fields, my garden was parched, and the woods were no better. I expected that the drought stress if it didn’t outright kill the trees, severely weakened many and made them vulnerable to insects and other pests, causing much higher than usual mortality. What with dead roots being the growing medium for morels, it would make sense then that last year and this year have been good. Corroborating my observations is that my largest (as big as my hand) morels I have found under dead elms and in recent small clearcuts.
If this theory holds any water (bad pun), the wet spring of this year suggests a not so good for morels next spring, as long as we don’t have a severe summer drought.
Any thoughts?
found 80 little greys and 10 fresh blacks here in the mountins of western md still looks like good hunting here
Found a gallon of mostly large blacks, a few yellows and grays near Frederick. I also found many dried up and wilted that I left for seed. I wept many tears if I only had checked this spot a few days earlier. Just not enough time.
From the Frederick News-Post
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/art_life/display.htm?storyID=89875
“Lt. Col. Chris Bushman, deputy superintendent of the Maryland Park Service said it is OK to collect mushrooms in state parks for personal consumption only — but when in doubt, ask. ‘There is a regulation that prevents a person from removing anything from a state park’ but it is waived for things like collecting mushrooms and berries for personal consumption. Collection of all mushrooms is limited to a half gallon per person per day at Catoctin Mountain Park.”
Tried shrooming Loch Raven today got soppin wet , had to pack it in.. found 1 and about a half dozen headless tubes..They may be about done or i’ll have to switch to the North slopes..I’m new to shrooming but one good tecnique i’ve been using is going late in the afternoon with sun at your back..when i spot one or two,i crouch down like i’m eyeing up a putt and look for the sunlight to reflect off the stems..if your in a patch,..they seem to be spaced about 5 to 10 feet apart.. i still got a lot to learn..but i’m having a ball. Woods is greening up big time
No joke, that’s great. I owe you a pack of frozen morels. Send me an e-mail Patapsco Mike *** @ mail2fisherman.com (take out the spaces and the *** and I’ll get them to you).
here is the response that I received from Maryland DNR
“Bill - The Maryland Park Service does allow mushroom hunting, berry picking, etc. as long as it is for personal consumption only.
Diane B. Feheley
Maryland Park Service “
found 110 on warrior mountin today black white and long stems
Farmer Jane, thank you. My email address is rwatson62@verizon.net, you can contact me there. Going to PA this weekend to Rock Run ATV park and will not be back home till late Sunday. Would like to next year if that is ok with you. Think the season may be over, do not know. I spoke with my aunt in IN and her and her sister, and son went to 4 different woods, hunted one hour in each and found 3 lbs. Seen using mesh will help spread the spores for next year, will find something of that nature so we can all have a good year. I just would like a small amount for me and my son. Again thanks Jane.
Season over, at least for me.
Easily found some half caps near Pittsburgh over the weekend.
The rain and clouds are making for quick disappearance of the morels. Had quit for the year after nice picks of half caps and blacks. Decided to make a last foray today in central Maryland before it rains again. Area was obviously picked over as evidenced by numerous tracks. Nonetheless, found a few grays,some small/medium yellows, and then a very nice surprise of a dozen or more very large yellows. The largest weighed in at 3 ounces.
Season over for me, but it was on par with last year’s best year ever.
Mike when I get an answer from DNR I will post it. If DNR can’t answer clearly then who can???
I just went to Catoctin fond about a quart of longnecks and some whites and black ones getting hard to find them now. Lots of hunters there.
Ray~
Thank you for the respect of nature. I do not know how to contact you or you, I without it being msde public. I used to live in Harford County and know it well, yes, the land is now gone, that is why we moved. Send contact info and we can talk. I might be cleaned out though as I had to chase hunters away more than fivetimes just this/last week. You can surely try though!
Bill W, thanks for the info. that is good to know…if you have an answer please let me know. Have hunted morels and my dad called them “tall stem ones” since I was old enough to walk. To bad most of the forest land is getting taken out around here in Harford County. Went back home last year and it’s starting to get bad there too. Most of the river bottoms are now in State control. Jane, I have drove past farms before and never went on their property, you never know who will come out with a shotgun. I believe you have a right to say who comes on your property. If you want a responsible person to ask you, just put a comment in here, I have total respect for someone’s land, that is theirs to control. Just tell me where to be and I would come and ask. Would love to have some morels this year, however with all this rain and being into May already do not know if they will still be coming up.
Bill- you do understand that State Parks and Federal Parks are different, right? Different rules and regulations apply to each, and one has nothing to do with the other. Just because it’s OK to pick mushrooms in some Federal Parks has no bearing on what you can or can’t do on State lands.
I’ll bet you a pack of frozen morels you won’t get a clear answer to your question…
My shotgun and I are great friends! It is sad one has to resort to
such tactics. I truly would not mind on a rotating basis others
coming and enjoying this land. As it was posted earlier, it is the
greed that spoils it for all. Nature is a commander of respect of balance, til
that is learned the farm is off limits.
That’s right Jane, no matter what your hunting. Just get your shotgun out and shoot it in the air and believe me no one will come back. We have ponds here and people just come in and fish without asking ,had to run several poeple out over the years. Whats wrong with these people?
I do know one thing, it is illegal to hunt on private property without permission.
Mike I am sure. It is not illegal to hunt mushrooms on State land in Maryland. the link I posted on here below reads:
“The rules for mushroom hunting on federal lands vary from park to park. Harvesters may take an unlimited number of morels, for personal use only, from Catoctin Mountain Park but only a half-gallon a day along the C&O Canal.”
I have also emailed DNR about this and await an answer.
Folks it is NOT illegal to hunt mushrooms in State Parks,period! As I said before if anyone can find this so called law that says it’s illegal then please post it. I’m tired of posts guessing and stating BS thats simply not true.
I have been told that this is not a clear cut case. There are specific prohibitions on removing things from Parks that don’t mention fungus, that is true. But laws and regulations often have general prohibitions too, and who knows what obscure law could be relevant. Do you need a scientific collection permit- it’s needed for a lot of other things one takes from State lands.
Just my personal opinions here, I am not sure.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/apr/19/20070419-103305-5448r/
Clearly this article states it’s not illegal to hunt mushrooms on State parks.I also looked up the Maryland DNR site and see NO laws against hunting Morels on State Ground 08.07.01.13.htm 08.07.01.13. 13 Plants, Rocks, Minerals, and Animals It is illegal to take rocks. I would say each park may have different regs. If anyone here can find any regulations stating thats it’s illegal to hunt Morels on Maryland State land please send the link cause I can’t find it.
It is not illegal, although there have been talks about restricting collections. See http://is.gd/wF2o This study found the reason for decline in morel populations was loss of habitat and not over-hunting. Although it doesn’t explicitly state it’s legal, it sure implies it is.
BTW, I found the two largest yellows of the season yesterday, but most of the ones I found were wilted (on my own property).
It is not illegal, although there have been talks about restricting collections. See http://is.gd/wF2o This study found the reason for decline in morel populations was loss of habitat and not over-hunting. Although it doesn’t explicitly state it’s legal, it sure implies it is.
Mike please show me in the Marylnd code or wherever that it states it’s illegal to pick mushrooms in State parks. I’m not taking any chance cause it’s not illegal to do so. if thats the case then 100’s of other people are breaking the law then.
Bill- I was once told to return a couple rocks I had collected from a State park by a natural resources police officer… It all depends on which officer you run into. Technically you can’t pick morels in State parks, but it’s true that sometimes officers look the other way. You are taking a chance.
Ray who says you can’t hunt in State parks?? I’ve been hunting at Catoctin for decades never had a problem there.Even talked to the park rangers with mushrooms in my bag ,they never said a word about it. Whoever is saying you can’t hunt on State parks is full of it.
Think I will head back to Indiana next year to hunt mushrooms. From what I see on this forum, there is no place to hunt them here in MD. Example…cannot pick mushrooms in State Parks, people getting angry over someone hunting on their farms, I can understand this, it’s their property. But hell back home we can pretty much hunt anywhere. People over here are to damn greedy. You walk in the woods back home and find other hunters and they want to show you what they have and where they found them. It’s no big secret. What a joke, miss the old times of being able just to go hunt the woods without all the bickering.
Went to Harpers Ferry on Saturday Found about half a bag of yellows. The season is pretty much over there ,so thick now in the woods. Will try catoctin next but the season will be ending fast. Nothing like last season which was the Best in quite some time.If anyone wants to get mushrooms they better get out this week, the season is just about over folks.
Went out around Harpers Ferry W Va on the Maryland side Saturday Morning. This was my last HooRaa. Only found a handful and they were falling apart. Went to another spot about 2 miles away and found 2 of the biggest white ones I ever seen in person. Bigger than my hand and about 4″ wide. The undergrowth is getting too deep to see to the soil so it looks like the season is about up for me! It was a pretty good 3 weeks for hunting and NO I did not trespass! Guess we will just have to wait for the spores to drop again next year and grow the most tasteful fungus you have ever eaten! This year is not as good as last but I don’t ever think we will have to worry about them never being around in the spring, unless the forests are destroyed! I have some Morel’s frozen so I will wait until winter to have those…ate my share this season anyway! Till next season…Happy Shrooming!
Found 10 morels today in St. Leonard, so excited.
And you’re damn right! They ARE MY mushrooms!
Just ask permission and the farmers will be glad to have you for a visit! We open our farms to schools, boy/girl scouts and the public on certain dates, by appointment. That is how we can mange our farms so that everyone can enjoy them. Do you open your home? Would you like it if I just snuck in and took what I wanted? The same principle falls here. Just be courteous and I hope all read this. Do not be afraid to knock on the door and ASK. We have a college nearby, many students of the environmental type come to my door for a variety of things and are welcomed. They ASK. That’s really all we want, respect us and our land and it will be reciprecated. Believe me, every farmer knows every inch of thier land and knows when someone is there orh as been. We have to keep trash, dumping (couches, refrig., garbage, etc.) off of our land because people think the trash fairies come and gather it at night. We have to protect or neighbors from seedly characters as many are elderly or alone (but we all have guns) and we watch out for each others children. Having strangers on the property sends up alarms for many reasons. I know I keep saying the same thing, but please, introduce yourselves and ASK. That way if something goes wrong, we know who was there. If not, you get turned in and we’ll find out who has been there.
Th epoint is, stay off of EVERYONE’S farm unless you have PERMISSION, or pay my taxes. Yesterday a greedy mushroom picker took three grocery bag fulls, but he offered me some. How sweet. Today, just took down another one, the authorities will be contacting him. It is NOT YOUR property. STAY OFF. Hopefully after several citations and money, greedy people will learn. I would also like to add, I do believe in the hobby, fun, butrition as well as it being a really good way to raise a child. ASK PERMISSION! NOt ONE picker has asked me for permission except for one TRUE person growing Purple Myrtle asked if he could harvest SOME. I said of course as he stated he would not clean me out. He sent me a check nearly a year later as a 5% of his profits from cultivating and selling. The money is not the important thing./ He DID the right thing and is welcomed back to my farm anytime. GROW MANNERS or GROW your own mushro9oms.
found 300 blacks and half frees in allegany county may 2 and about 200 blacks april 30
Farmer Jane - where exactly is your farm so everyone can avoid picking YOUR mushrooms
I tried posting this once and it did not work so I will try again. As a farmer, people trapsing all over my property hunting mushrooms has become a great disadvantage to the mushroom family as well as other natural plants. Ginseng is now endangered as well as the constant poaching of mushrooms from LAND OWNERS PROPERTY. It has gotten to a point where I have now had to enlist the help of law enforcement. I understand this to be a “hobby’ yet many lie and are selling them for a profit. How dare anyone think they can just walk onto any property and take what they want, espeically endangering the speices they seek? I find poachers to be very rude and NOT a lover of nature. I am sure, that if some were to at least ASK if they may continue thier hobby,a farmer would direct them to a place where they could gather enough mushrooms without wiping out the entire “crop”. For those making the money from these, BUY THEM FROM US TO PRESERVE THE AMERICAN FARM> You are thieves and farmers are tired of it. We ARE fighting back. Stay off of MY property!
Catoctin & South Mountain should begin fruiting again with all the rain. I found a few popping up the other evening and left them to grow.
Mushroom hunters using plastic bags… stay home. Use a mesh bag ( Med Tide Landry Bags work well) to spread the spores and help in crease the crop YoY….
Carroll county found 90 yellows today some fresh some almost done in by the recent rains
Picked a few hundred yellows and blacks and a handfull of half-frees in the last two weeks. I haven’t found a freshly popped morel in a week. The groudcover has grown an awful lot during that week, and I believe the central MD season has about drawn to a close for me. It was an OK year for me, with maybe 5 lbs total. I froze a lot of mushrooms and have about a pound in the fridge.
Looking forward to next year will start in a week.
2 of us found about a dozen this Saturday am in the Catoctin area. Took about an hour. Tomorrow should be better. They were small, light colored and fresh.
Morels are finally up in good numbers and sizes in the Baltimore area. Found a few hundred small ones last week, but now many others are over five inches tall. Just an FYI for any new hunters in MD as to where to hunt, Baltimore City Property and State Parks are ILLEGAL to pick mushrooms. If you do so (as many do), be discreet, and not mention it on a public forum where others may not be aware of the laws.
Found 44 today near Baltimore today in 1 1/2 hours. Mostly yellows 2-4″ but also some beautiful grays 6″. With the showers and humidity this weekend will be good.
anyone having any luck in the Thurmont-Emmitsburg area? Will be up there this weekend, with time to look…
I think I asked too soon. I found 17 today in many of the same spots I looked before. Very nice sizes. All of them were very fresh. Some looked like they had started to go down hill but perked back up after this recent rain. I think these cool & wet temps are going to do the trick. If anyone else is in the Southern MD area I wouldn’t lose hope, get back out there!
I Found 2 Gallons Today In Harpers Ferry WV.
Mostly Yellows and white ones. It’s going to be a short season this year.
I think the recent hot days have slowed the shrooms in southern md. Hopefully with the rain and a few cool evenings, we may still find some yellows in the next couple of days.
Bill T, I think maybe another 8-10 days in this area, but who knows? We might have to start heading North.
Charity, I once got lucky in Assateague, but it wasn’t fungus related
I’ve found a good bit from about mid-pril to just a few days ago. Maybe 2-3lbs this year. Only one a few days ago though, now I’m finding nothing. I’ve been checking around poplars mostly. I’m in Calvert County.
Do you guys think the season could be over due to the recent heat? We’re getting good rain now, would that bring up more?
I guess if need be I’ll go up to Western MD this weekend to look for more, conditions should be good there I’d think.
On other question. I heard that deer will eat morels. Is this true? Some of the poplars I’ve looked around have had deer trails, and I was thinking this may be the reason none are arouund.
Found about 25 today during lunch, Charles County, near General Smallwood Park. How long will the season last?
Found my first morel yesterday in St. Leonard, MD. I do believe it was a half free.
Has anyone ever had luck near Assateague? I’m going this weekend and the weather’s supposed to be much more conducive to morel hunting than shell fish hunting. Just wondering… Thanks!
Kevin,
Thanks very much! I found the few I did under poplars close to the river, so I will try to go up after this rain and see what happens.
Meredith
Have found about 30 over the last 3 days in Loch Raven, 2-6″ yellows. Most were starting to dry up today, hopefully rain tomorrow, Thurs & Fri keeps ‘em around…
Victor,
There are morels in Patapsco State Park as well as Leakin Park. I have found them in both. Just need to start looking
New teacher in Md and have some kids that want to learn how to mushroom hunt. School located near patapsco park at city line. I truly thank anyone for tips of where to hunt nearby to give these kids an experience of a lifetime!!!
Meredith - Go to the higher elevations now. They are just starting to come up in the poplar tree woods. If you notice the trees are just starting to bud in the higher elevations. The person from Thurmont just posted that they found some recently so that would be the place to go. Cunningham Falls State Park would be a good place! Good Luck
OK, I don’t expect much of a response, but maybe I’ll be surprised. Moved here from Michigan years ago, have never hunted in Maryland. Don’t even know where to “start”. Anyone willing to give advice on specific (within reason) locations? I live in the Catonsville area.
Found 15 half-frees upper Baltimore County in about 1.5 hours.
Found 3 in Greencastle area…. went great with eggs. Now have to go find more I guess.
I went out for the first time as a Marylander today without much hope given the heat. We found only two — yellows, I guess — in Washington County, but given the heat and that we just picked a random place to go, I counted myself lucky just to have a good spot to return to next time!
My question of more experienced locals is this: do all the different kinds come up at once, or are some later than others? If the current batch is desiccated by this heat, are we likely to get a second flush after the next stretch of cooler weather and rains? I hope so — this is rather addicting.
out today in thurmont found about 80 total, i believe they are just starting there, should be good all week
I live around Annapolis, is there any chance of me finding any mushrooms around the bay here?
Jamie,
You found them in Loch Raven? Thats great, I drove out to Western Maryland on Saturday from Aberdeen, and what an exhausting drive. Heat was bad too. Went to Dans Mountain and was very dissapointed, no may apples or nothing just rocks. I would like to find some place closer to Aberdeen. Just want a few I’m not looking for 100 mushrooms, a small mess would be fine.
Anything in upper Baltimore Co?
Found about about a quart so far all black ones. Went Yesterday only found 2 longnecks.Hunted in West Virginia near the river. Nothing like the great year last year. If it stays hot the season will be over fast.
Saturday was another good day…several hundred total among four of us, and weighing in at about 9 pounds total…about 90% blacks, 10% half-caps. Found 3 whites. The unseasonably warm weather pushed a few past peak condition as they were drying up. Central Maryland
3 of my friends went to one of my best spots in montgomery county and they came out with approx 100 25% grays the rest yellows within about 2 hrs. Overall the past 2 weeks have been fairly productive at 5 middle Montgomery county spots although not as numerous as last yr but still pretty good pickin.
Carroll county md found 40 today Black pecker heads and some nice fresh greys
My son and I found about 30 today and I found about 50 or so yesterday. Not real big ones most about two to three inches.
Yet another mushroom hunt … nothing. Today my wife and my sister-in-law and I hunted in three spots for two hours and never found a single mushroom.
Is this a bad year or what? I’m not seeing many postings about people finding them.
I found about 250 yesterday during a 4-hour forage nearabouts Largo, MD. I’ve never found so many before! I’ve got some drying in the oven, I’ve already eaten a few.
I have looked deeper in the woods behind my house several times this week and found none, but twice when I returned home in a spot I picked a few the first day I found more. Today I found 3, the biggest was over 4 inches and the others a bit smaller. I think they were there before but under the May apples and only visible today…yahoo! I now have enough to eat! Annapolis, MD
Jason & Brian,
They are there. Spotting them is the trick. I fond a few more yesterday, but list my cell phone in the process. Just means I’ll have to go back again today in the blazing heat.
I’ve been looking in Patapsco the last few days. I’ve come up with nothing. Found a few spots near my house with all the indicator species y’all have mentioned. Hilly, tulip populars, moss, fiddleheads, mayapple. Nothing. Are there different soils I should be concerned with? Our area is rather full of clay. Could Baltimore Co. be lagging behind other parts of the state?
My wife and I have hunted 5-6 times throughout Washington County and Shepherdstown and haven’t found a single mushroom. That bites.
Nate I don’t know about Charles County but I do know they grow in Montgomery County. Last year was my first year in this state and I found roughly 7 pounds.
I’ve been hunting shrooms almost all of my life. Mainly in Ohio where I grew up. I moved to Maryland about 2 years ago and have not been able to fund a single shroom. Has anyone found them in Charles county in southern Maryland? I’m going out to a farm this weekend to look and have my fingers crossed. Happy hunting all.
Found about 15 in the Potomac area yesterday afternoon. If I was a betting man I think this afternoon and Sat are going to be great, esp if it gets nice and hot today.
Evan, there is one simple test to see if you have a real morel or a false one. A true morel is absolutely hollow: just a shell when cut in half. False morels have cottony floss inside.
Went shrooming for the very first time..figured i’d have an advantage cause i hunt for deer antler sheds in Feb. and Mar… anyway checked out some shroom web sites to get some tips… which seemed to be tulip poplar forests and off i went…things did not go well for awhile didn’t know what to look for…i was up Loch Raven Area..Came up empty first 2 areas then…. presto ..the 3rd area i found one..which made me slow down and concentrate harder and…Bingo..I found 17 in an area about 75′ square…. If i told you exactly where i found them.. i’d have to kill ya…but any way it was exciting as hell..took em home flowered em up and sauted in butter… great… can’t wait to go out next week..The ones i found were brown.. 2 to 4 and a half inches tall….
evan…probably “pecker” morels…not as good as the blacks or greys but still a morel…but would need a pic to confirm…
went out tonight to my special spot and they were everywhere—literally—brought home about 4 lbs and probably left a couple of hundred in the woods to grow another day or so…this is gonna be a good weekend…expecting to find a couple of thousand before the end of April 2 weekend(judging by what I didn’t have time to pick!)…
Evan,
Those sound like half frees - a type of morel that are eatable but not as choice as others. More stem less meaty head. They usually come up before the others and signal the beginning of the season.
About posting pictures…Never tried it but did you try to like put it in photobucket and tried to paste the embeded code? That may work…not sure! Gotta run, good luck!
Still cannot figure out how to post pictures of the morels I found in MD on this site…help!! I can paste the flikr link in the text but u then have to click on the link but I would like to be able to post actual photos?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37709413@N02/3469538268/
hunted morels for years in michigan. found about 30 today in silver spring, MD. But theyre kinda weird lookin. stem doesnt meet the cap at the base of the cap, it goes half way up into the cap before it stops. don’t wanna throw them away but dont wanna poison myself either by eating false morels. anybody know if what i founds good to eat or not?
That’s funny! I watched one last year for 5 days just to see how much and how fast they grew. It gained about an inch a day…I kept it camouflaged all those days and went back to get it on the 6th day it was gone…someone else found it. Anyway, I pulled another 60 yesterday and did not go today. Gonna let em get bigger and probably go out Sunday. Just fried up a batch and shared them with the neighbors. They never had them before and couldn’t believe how good they tasted. Truely the “Meat of the Earth”. Good Luck everyone!
Found over 100 blacks this morning but to small to pick, out of 100 I kept several dozen worth picking in rock creek park, some dummy was there picking 1/2 inch babies instead of letting them grow…what an idiot he said they pop up over one night and never grow after the first night….what a bone head!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37709413@N02/3469538268/
Found over 100 blacks this morning but to small to pick, out of 100 I kept several dozen worth picking in rock creek park, some dummy was there picking 1/2 inch babies instead of letting them grow…what an idiot he said they pop up over one night and never grow after the first night….what a bone head!
Found over 100 blacks this morning but to small to pick, out of 100 I kept several dozen worth picking in rock creek park, some dummy was there picking 1/2 inch babies instead of letting them grow…what an idiot he said they pop up over one night and never grow after the first night….what a bone head!
I am looking for a good place to morel hunt in Annapolis or Anne Arundel County. Looked a few places last year, but didn’t find anything. Would love to scratch around this weekend 04.25.09
Check online for local state ground. You are allowed to hunt morels there but some are limited on how many you can pick. C&O Canal Towpath is a favorite around here but you are limited to a gallon, according to the last law I read. Personally I never had any luck along the Potomac River. I’m still sticking to looking under the Osage Orange trees. The friend I took yesterday to my “Secret Spot” never found that many in that short of time in their entire life and they are 73 years old. The Osage Orange trees are also know as Hedge Apple Trees for those who are curious! They look like a Locust tree but are orange in color and also have thorns and big green balls that looks like brains…LOL
I just moved to Elkton md (cecil county)How is the morelhunting in this area?
Went out yesterday near Cockeysville for about 2 hours. Found nothing, same as last week. Is anyone having any luck yet in Northern Baltimore County? Thanks. Ed.
I skipped out of work early and took a friend into the woods behind my house yesterday in Ijamsville. We hunted about 2 1/2 hrs in a drizzle and only found 2 large blacks that were dry & wilted. Then heard the roar of the approaching T-storms decided to head back. On the way back we stumbled into to a decent size patch of grays, pretty big ones. Collect 30 or so before lightning drove us in. I’ll be heading back to that patch for sure!
Went back out yesterday afternoon and took a friend with me to the same spot I was at the day before. Between the Two of us we found 90 in Two hours. Looks like they are up finally! Biggest one was about 5″ tall. Leaving the woods we got a thunderstorm so that should get them up even more. Doesn’t look like Catoctin Mountain is doing very well according to a friend who went there yesterday. Also I saw a bunch of hunters in an abandonded apple orchard yesterday. Might be a place to hit! Go get em hunters!
Going out this coming weekend. Ready for some Morels! Has anyone here found them near Harford County? You don’t have to tell me where, I’m just curious so I can find a place closer to Aberdeen. Three hours to Allegany and two hours to Fredrick, that is kind of a long drive. Was thinking about PA, may look at their state park list there and see if I can find a place not so far away. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Good hunting all!!
Went back to my spot this year around Hagerstown Md. and they just started coming up. I have an Osage Orange grove that they grow in. Found close to One Thousand between the three of us last year and ran into many hunters while hunting. I would imagine there were over five thousand pulled from that 20 acres of woods. Gotta Love it! Found my first 30 yesterday and weren’t any bigger than about 2″ tall. Black, Yellow, and Cappies. I’m sure there are more to come as long as the undergrowth doesn’t get too tall this week! Need a thunderstorm to wake them up!
Celia,
No permit required, but trespassing laws apply. You’ll want to find a heavily wooded area, best to be hilly/mountainous. Find areas with a lot of Tulip Poplar/Beech. Look for mossy ground, where fiddle head ferns & May apples are popping up. Not usually going to find them in grassy/sunny areas.
Unless you stumble upon a motherlode, them buggers can be hard to spot, but once you spot one, look for more.
Chris- yeah, you can find both black and yellow morels on the Eastern Shore of MD. I have. Find some poplars and start looking.
Want to go morel hunting - don’t know how. Can anyone help? Do I need a permit or anything?
GOOD LUCK EVERY ONE SEASON LOOK’S PROMISING
Went back today looked in same spot got soak and wet but found a gallon.blacks three white.SOLD to a bartender for $80.great day first time selling them.Keep a little for me too smiling.IT WAS HARD LETTING THEM GO BUT WORTH IT.
I’m new to morel hunting and would like to know if there is any chance I may find them on the Eastern Shore of Maryland? I’d love to go hunting for them, but it is hard for me to find time to drive to the western side of the bridge.
Awesome hunt this weekend in central maryland. We over 200 morels - mostly blacks but whites as well.
ME AND A BUDDY FOUND 1 GALLON TODAY IN FREDERICK BY PARK’N'RIDE I ALSO WILL UPLOAD PICS.
Nice day (April 19) in Frederick County Maryland. About 100 morels….whites, bells and blacks.
Maryland black morel
Tried again, two different places. No luck. Mushrooms hide from us.
Carroll county found 1 Black today . need some rain.
Found my first two blacks this morning in Ijamsville. They popped up overnight. I may be scouring the warmer South facing slopes today.
I have looked several times. Nothing yet. Trying again today.
April 19th- I found 8 1&1/2″ morels this morning behind my house in Annapolis, Maryland (same place last year). They are in the fridge waiting for more tomorrow.
Amy, Sent you an e-mail
went for about 2 hours a few miles out of clearspring… found two sizable blacks nothing more… a few warm nights and they will be poppin like crazy… im gettin so sick of the woods bein torn down by these loggin companies too.. they are cuttin down some really good shroomim spots in this area
MY FIRST TIME OUT FOR THE SEASON found about 25-30 caps took me 15 min too find em soaking in salt water now. HAGERSTOWN MD good luck all sunday looks like it will be a good day by the weather here.
Mark
I will gladly take you up on your offer. Thank you so so much. Just let me know whats good for you.
Ribeiroa@go.com
dr robot-I’ve heard that they grow at Rock state park. I’ve never hunted them there, though.
Amy… I live in Calvert County…I found some Morels on my property today but they are small… So there are morels in Southern Md….. I find most at the base of trees… Good luck
Hey….. I left a few small ones alone in hopes that they’ll grow a little more… Can anyone tell me how long to wait or should I snatch them now…..Thanks
Amy M. Would you like to get together and go shrooming. I will show you the ropes, if you’d like…..See ya
Hello, I am originally from IN and I love to hunt morels. I now live in Aberdeen and I need to know if there is anywhere I can go to find mushrooms, that is public land, do not want to get in trouble. Any assitance would be greatly appreciated, went to IN last year and found about 3lbs with my aunts.
I caught the fever last year! It was heart breaking because it was at the very end of the season. I wan only able to go once. I have gone this year but I’m having a lot of trouble finding mushrooms. I’m not quite sure what to look for. I think part of the problem might be that I was taken hunting in Northern MD and I live in Southern MD and that is were I have been looking. If there is any one that can help me out I would greatly appreciate it.
I’m new to morel hunting, but planning my first trek this weekend, perhaps around the loch raven reservoir. Any general hints? I know I’m looking for tulip poplar trees. Does the terrain need to be a certain way?
thanks in advance!
yeah allegheny co is where im at i am right near the pipe line that runs across green gidge rd. they will be up every where buy sunday i was out today and found 9 nice black ones but that wasin pa so we shall see . still if any wants to go ill be out on green rige all day sat and sun leaving fri to go to the cabin later and happy pickins
Jim, You are in a good area. I don’t know where your cabin is located but I do know they grow in that area. Rob
Jim,
Where is Green ridge Mountain? Allegheny County?
i have a cabin and 67 ac on greenridge mt never really hunted mushroooms up there is greenridge any good for them? i am right off greenridge rd if anyone wants to get togather this weekend to look ill be up there all weekendand it is going to be nice out any help would be reallly nice ty all and hope everyone find alot this weekend
I’m hoping to do a story on morels for The Frederick News-Post, where I am a feature writer. I need to talk to some folks in Frederick County about hunting morels — stories about the quest and morel-hunting adventures, tips on where you might find them (not your secret locations but what to look for), what makes them so special, how to prepare them. Contact me at sguynn@newspost.com or 240-215-8605. Thanks!
Does anybody know where I can find ramps east of Garrett Co? I agree with Chris, they really go great with morels (and just about everything else that calls for green onions, for that matter).
Jim H, since we hunt pretty close we should get together sometime. I’m not one of the types that horde all locations. But there are a few that are a family secret. Just shoot me an email if you want to go shroomin’
j.hart@myactv.net
Found a dozen Black Morels today (4/13) in the Bowie area. Unfortunately, they were about three or four days older than I would have liked. Nevertheless, they will yield quite a few tasty morsels. Next year I plan to start my “lookin” a week or so earlier.
Found First morel of the year one black morel. Western Md. Savage River. Have Pic didn’t pick this one forgot newspaper for date. I’m a hunter not a bulls_ _ ter. Be another good year hear.
Nothing in Ijamsville, either. Well, I did find a nice cluster of oysters and some small brown shrooms. They turned out to be deadly poisonous Deadly Garlerina. Either that or some kind of psilocybe. Not going to take a chance of mis-identification.
Out once again, this time on Catoctin Mtn. park. No luck as of yet. I’m with Big Head Gordie, waiting untill the poplars bud.
Went out 4/10/09 and only found 2 blacks on South Mt. The poplars on the mountian haven’t budded yet. Perhaps I’ll try agian on Wednesday.
Celia, they are also under white ash in MD.
Celia,
First you’ll need to find some preferably hilly/mountainous area to search. That’s the easy part.
In this region, I look for Tulip trees & Beech. Finding the morel is the real challenge. Plan on several 3-4 hour hunts over the next 3 weeks. You’ll generally find them on the ground, amongst the leaves
They are up in Montgomery County, Maryland! Here is photos that were found today!
I’d like to go morel hunting in MD for the first time. Does anyone have any hints on how to go about doing this?
Thanks,Celia
i believe we need a few warm days or nights yet. here in clear spring usually around the 20th depending is when i begin to look
Went out yesterday afternoon found a dozen small blacks, looks like maybe this weekend will be a nice trip!
Hey Gorilla Fringers (HA HA!). No need for the pillow case I’m already hot on your trail. Its only a matter of time before I spot your mint green Ford Pinto stationwagon parked along side that mountian road. Perhaps I’ll make my territory on your tires. Those blacks you find are only an appetizer compaired to the piles of meaty whites and greys I’ll have in a few weeks. You may need to keep the ole pillow case for yourself. You know there is an advantage to being one of Ole Barneys top guides.
As for my area of the mountian, its a little north of yours, I think they will be a pop pop popping in a few more days. I went out Friday and did’nt find any morels only a few yellow toadstools. I may try this afternoon.
Last year we found morels on April 20–my mom’s birthday. I, too, was wondering with the crazy warm weather we had over the weekend if they’d be up but now with a bit of a chill am thinking of waiting a week or so. Will probably look around anyway. I am in suburban MD between Columbia and DC…
I found 6 blask morels on Sunday the 5th while in Vienna VA. Two 2″ X 3″ and four small buttons. They were right at the edge of a path under a cluster of Tulip Poplars and a small Holly tree. I know this is a MD site but It was just across the river so…
After finding these I have the bug and am looking all over! In general do they grow in higher elevations? I live along Sligo Creek which has a ton of Poplars but most are down low, close to the creek.
what part of maryland? anywhere close to hagerstown
Greetings to all. Just got back from the mountain tops found almost a gal. Most findings were on southeast flats ,ridges.Not bad for a 4 hr walk could have been better,but i will take what i got. hopefully the cold spell wont last long .mountains are dry ,hopefully we grt some good showers next couples of days with some warm days to follow.HAY BIG HEAD GORDIE havent got your answer yet, i do got a pillow case that fit that head of yours.I wish all that will be going out these next few days good luck and be safe. got go pop pop pop pop later.
Hello fellow morel hunters. A friend and I went out on Sat. April 4th here in western Md and found 3 small morels 1″ or so. Just enough to get the bug. Despite the weather coming up I am going out Monday to my mother load spot. I am scared that the temperature getting below freezing on Monday night will ruin these small ones that are up. By the end of the week and next weekend things should be popping nicely. Good luck to you all and I hope we have another great season of morel hunting.
Alison, what city/region? Morels, I presume?
Found mushrooms in our new house patio — April 4, 2009. WOW!!!
Nothing today. Returned empty handed after a 2 hour hunt.
I live in Delaware. Does anyone have info about finding morels on the eastern shore?
Matt,
That’s opening a can of worms (or maybe worm infested ’shrooms). Ask 3 people and you’ll get at least 2 different answers. My personal preference is to look between the Tulip Poplar and Beech.
I also read Sycamore are hot spots, but all of them on my property are low, around the water and I have never found them there. Not yet, at least.
I’m a bit of novice in this area of the country when it comes to finding morels. I know every nook and cranny of my favorite spots back in the upper midwest (Where the mushroom season is centered on Memorial Day). However, the types of trees I find most of my morels around aren’t as common out here in the Mid-Atlantic. Any tips on what kinds of trees to look around for a new guy to the area?
Frederick, Went out today and found 1, about 1/2 tall and don,t ask how. I agree with everyone, looks like a week or so if the warm weather sticks around. It doesn’t look to good next week though. I guess they will get here when they do…one thing for sure they will be here sometime.
Nothing up here in Thurmont, YET!! I went out on 03/29/09 found great ground conditions but not enough ground growth. Also went out yesterday (04/03/09)for an hour or so, all over the mountains to normal spots with nothing yet. Will make one last short trip tomorrow in hopes todays warmer weather drew a couple of blck ones out. Suspect though that earliest will be mid week and only if it warms up. I hope so have 3 kids and a dog that are as anxious as I am for them.
Anyone finding mushrooms in maryland?
I was out today in Ijamsville and didn’t any morels. I did encounter a couple huge oyster patches, but should have looked for them last week!
I’ll be out again tomorrow, but agree that it may be a bit early. 3-5 days after the next dousing rain, I think.
I will be cultivating morels this year. Seeding the shaggy parasol and shiitake (bought these as plug spawn)I started in the fall.
Anyone who would like to help with ID, my contact info’s on the blog.
Greetings to all. A speical hi to OLD BARNEY and BIG HEAD GORDIE. It was a good day on the southeast flats ,better days are on the way. Me and one of my followers found little over a gal. this afternoon. It looks like gorilla fingers might have another phenomenal year again. I wish all good luck this weekend that goes and be safe. GORILLA FINGERS will keep in touch with all. P.S. big head gordie if u would like to follow me one day i got a extra pillow case for u to wear to and from my hot spots ok, rule # 1 all followers wear pillow cases to and from hot spots. GOTTA GO POP POP POP POP LATER.
Well went out in western washington county today. The old spot looks like it’s too early. If we get some warm weather tomorrow, Sunday maybe a chance. I’m still thinking it’s another 2-4 weeks away for the gray and whites.
Today is the the day! However with the impending weather Im going out tommorow. Going to find some blackies on those south facing mountian slopes.
Gorilla Fingers I hope you have better luck finding shrooms this year, especially after your recent attempts at scareing trout.
Went out today in centeral MD and still a little early…looking like a couple more weeks.
cookshroom- I leave the 5th. Can you buy then in mid June?
If so where- Thanks. I have a friend here in WA State and we can’t find them here. I wanted to get some for her birthday.
I know this is a morel site. However, does anyone know of any oyster or chantrel hunting sites?
We want to go on a hunt for morel ’shrooms’!! We love to eat and create wonderful dishes with ’shrooms. We live in Southern Md around Solomons Island!! Dorothy’s sister Penny who live is Missouri, goes on an annual week-long hunt and has a blast!!! We are novists and love the outdoors!!
Bill & Dorothy
western MD in allegeny/garrett counties are the best places to find Morels in MD. but dont show up thinking you’re gonna find ‘em, cuz they are personally protected like territorial pissings. We also have an abundance of ginsing root, and Ramps, which are quite like a cross between onions and garlic that add a wonderful flavor to Morels.
Gerri,
You can buy morels in Annapolis, but not until the middle of April. Sorry, the only fresh morels around Annapolis on 1 April are new Morchella semilibera. If you’ll be there on the 15th, let me know.
Nick- morels are everywhere in MD, but you will find a lot more in slightly cooler and higher elevation areas north and far west of Baltimore than you will around the Patapsco. I suggest around Loch Raven Reservoir and north towards the Susquehanna River. It is true that you aren’t supposed to pick morels in State Parks, but many people do anyway.
Gerri- morels won’t be up for a while yet, you won’t find anything in two weeks.
Bob — Fort Meade, MD
March 15, 2009
Nick you might want to be careful mushroom hunting on state land. I talked to the people out at Patapsco Park last year and I was told that I could be subject to a fine for picking there.
Gerri — Anacortes, WA
March 14, 2009
I will be visiting the Annapolis area in 2 weeks. Is there anywhere to buy morels?
nick — ellicott city, md
March 14, 2009
Anyone found morels in Patapsco Park before? I know no one gives away their secret spots, but I’m new—from the Pac NW—and looking for good spots in the area to take my little daughter morel hunting.