Hunting Tips Morels & Mushrooms Message Board
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Carlie, I live in central washington, and morels are still out here. I would suggest going somewhere around ehere you live that has a mix of pine and cottonwood trees, more so cottonwood.. with thin enough endergrowth to move through, and gets enough moisture for the mushrooms to bloom. if you have any questions i’d be more than happy to help!
I live in North central Minn, and this is the strangest schroom story ever I’m thinkin, my nephews in-laws said every year they have a spot in the back yard that sprouts these big Mushrooms where they had cut one of their large elm tree a few years back and they wanted to know if round up would kill these things off’cause there were so many! He brought me one in an Olive jar to see if it was a morel,,it filled the jar! We’re going there to take care of the problem tonight!
Hey ya’ll, live in Southern MN and found some Morels by a creek area 12×12 spot. Alot of deer are found in this area too. Many trees and very shady. May have luck finding Morels in a clump. 10-11 in one spot, like a little bush. Good luck hunting!
Anyone know of a good place around McHenry, IL to find these morels? What would I be looking for? Any advice? I’m new at this.
anyone found any in PA yet? We are watching.
how many have u guys found
Just seen message from elmo! Please tell your friend not to eat the reddish color brain looking cabbage shrooms. They are called gyrometrias. Athough not all people are affected by these, my mushroom expirence and books that I have say that they make SOME PEOPLE seriously ill. Im not trying to scare anyone but please be advised! The one book I have has a very clear picture of these. Howard E. Bigelow mushroom pocket field guide 1974 by Macmillan publishing New York and London England, no relation, no commission paid to me! Please be sure of your pickins! 9elmo9.
april 23…me and my husband just found over 6 pounds here in southeast nebraska! We look around dead cottonwood trees and red elms!
Hi! I am new to the morel hunting, I live in NW PORTLAND,OR. Anyone here please help me where I will hunt the morel.
Thanks
Charlie
we found those 76 mushrooms in southwest missouri. south of joplin doing good so far hope to have a good season. we need a little more rain.
april 19th 2010 we have found 76 first time out in the woods and seem to do better around sycamore trees. just ate a big mess. happy hunting and good luck.
me and the kids have found 15 so far in april in central illinois they are not up yet in our area just starting though trying again around april 25 we are supose too get some rain and some sun shine so maybe that will do it hope so good luck too all
i just moved up to valpariaso IN and have been searchin for places to go and have found some really goood lookin woods but havent found a thing.. does anyone live close to this area? have you found any this year? it seems really dry in the woods
southern WV…found ten yesterday….I think they are just starting to really come out. getting ready to go look now…..here mugin
i live in louisville ky it has been like 80 degrees is it to late for the morels here
To Everett: What part of the park? Spent a whole day a couple of years ago and didnt find any, maybe was in wrong spot! Thanks 9elmo9
I’m orignally from Salem, IN and grew up mushroom hunting. Now I live in Sevier County, TN and can’t find them anywhere. Does anyone know any good places in the Sevier County area to go mushroom hunting?
Keith (from South Bend)
A great place to hunt is at Potato Creek state park in Lakeville
Hooray!!! Blacks are up in South Bend Indiana!!! Indiana and Michigan state line area, FOUND 41, 1 TO 2IN TALL ON 4/6/2010. The earliest Ive have ever found them before was on the 10th. In this spot they grow on and next to a long ago burnt trash pile, broken glass, rotten tin cans and all. weather is rainy and cooling down, then will warm up again. There will definitly be more!!! Sorry already ate them! Still looking for more info! 9elmo9.
Whoopie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are in CA. and would like to hunt California morels… look at my morel hike date with nature! The season here is about to start, where if find them that is.
Look on my Spring Morel hunting page start at my “Dates” link on my home page. Hope to see you!
Kirk
@Elmo, be careful of which mushrooms you pick. Search or “google” for false morel info. “True Morels are completely hollow”!
I myself don’t particularly like beefsteak morels so I usually pass them up. I think that is where the most confusion comes in.
Happy Hunting Everyone!
False morels have wrinkled, irregular heads that resemble a brain or saddle. They differ from True morels in three distinct ways:
1. The cap surface has lobes, folds, flaps or wrinkles–not pits and ridges like a True morel; their caps bulge outward instead of being pitted inward
2. The bottom edge of the cap hangs completely free from the stem, like a skirt; on True morels, the bottom edge of the cap is attached to the stem
3. If you cut them in half lengthwise, they exhibit a solid or cottony mass; True morels are completely hollow
I found this info for you from this site:
http://www.morelmushroom.info/Danger_of_False_Morels.html
find me and tell me if u find any near the centrila IL area looking fworward 2 this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have just published my book “Morels vs Morels” which is a must read for all shroomers, novice and professional alike. It will open your eyes to what wild harvesting is all about as well as the dangers that lurk in forested areas during the morel season. For a copy please email me and I will gladly let you have a signed book for $12.95. Postage is minimal and I will also email you the back and front covers if you want a preview.
Thanks guys. The Mushroom Lady of Kamloops, British Columbia.
i’m here in northeast oh. i go south into coshocton and muskingum counties to hunt.sycamore trees are my best finds here alot of briars around u have to take the pain to get them sometime. lol. one year came home and found tic on my stomach from crawling on the thick hillsides almost always southeast facing slopes.good luck to ya all this year. this weekend should be great
a friend of mine finds red shrooms looks like cabage heads. dose any one know where to find them
TO: Gwen B. question date 3/31/09. Cut in 1/2s soak in cool h2o for about 1 hour with a little salt 1 teaspoon per gallon, KILLS CRITTERS, Only 1 hour or theyll turn mushey, lay on paper towel to soak up most h2o, leave enough moisture to flour with a light to med coating, melt 1/2 stick of butter in pan {not oleo} ADD MORE BUTTER IF NEEDED, {WERE ALL GONNA DIE ANYWAY}. FRY TO GOLDEN BROWN OR A LITTLE LESS, LAY ON PAPER TOWEL SALT ON BOTH SIDES TO TASTE IMMEDIATLY, AND BE ADDICTED FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!! P.S CAN BE DEHYRDATED AND STORED IN DRY CONTAINER. MAKE SURE COMPLETLY DRY! EAT ON!
To Matt: From his 4/23/09, question about other cooking methods, NOT REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone out there with thoughts on us finding morels here in southern cal. There were a ton of fires in the so cal hills last summer and also up in to santa barbara. We use to live in central or and had great success finding morels in burn areas outside of sisters. We are totally jonesing to go huntin’. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Here near Ind and Mich state line when the oak leaves are as big as squirrels ears or maybe even a little earlier, generally April 7th for 1.5 to 2 months. I Have found all colors but nothing in large quantities. Some large and some small! Heavy rain and constant ground temps of 50 deg at night for 5 straight nights will make them pop if they are present, also very warm temps during day for this time of year will kill them off! If anyone in South Bend area knows of public land or any others to try please reply! Cant get enough to fry! Good luck to all of us addicted fools!
Here near Ind and Mich state line when the oak leaves are as big as squirrels ears or maybe even a little earlier, generally April 7th for 1.5 to 2 months. I Have found all colors but nothing in large quantities. Some large and some small! Heavy rain and constant ground temps of 50 deg at night for 5 straight nights will make them pop if they are present, also very warm temps during day for this time of year will kill them off! If anyone in South Bend area knows of public land or any others to try please reply! Cant get enough! Good luck to all of us addicted fools!
dear monica look in clear areas along football feild and socer feild on march 27 2009,also look in mossy areas when it wet and most likely in sunny days.
FUNNY! You must have been celebrating a football game before posting that comment.
Can’t wait till Spring to go hunting again.
The best place to find shrooms..Are you ready for this??? In Da WOODZ!!
I live in North Central Minn, North Crow Wing county and I think I have found some of the Black variety, some Elm, Ash and lots of Popple trees in the area. Is there anyone else out there in my area hunting these? I am new at this so if there are any hints as to where to look and how long do they go it would help.
Thanks
A prescribed burn will be conducted today May 21,2009-50 acres. How early in the succession should one expect to find morels? I understand that an added benefit of the burn will be greater quantities of blueberries, huckleberries, and raspberries.
How about central Mn. anybody scoring yet, and what environment do they prefer??? Art
I found two yellow morels today in the Hudson Valley of New York State. Sliced, sauteed and ate one. What a wonderful taste!!
Does anyone know if the morel kits you can buy actually work?
my neighbor found a couple morels growing in his flower bed…..tacoma washington…..is that possible?
Mushroom Terminology~
A Mess: Enough mushrooms for you and your family if you can’t convince them that there is a really good movie on somewhere, or that all mushrooms are poisonous. Use it in a sentence like this: “Yep, got a mess yesterday- family is going out to a show so I’ll just have ‘em for supper so as not to poison the family, in case one of those mushrooms is a pecker head*(see below).”
*Pecker Head: Well, yes there’s that…but! A false morel, or a mushroom that resembles, well, yes that…the children love to hunt for mushrooms if only to find one of these and say it over and over, loudly squealing with laughter and also to share it with hard hearing grandma later so they can go through the exercise all over again, even louder till grandma gets it. (And then she gives the mom, always the mom- the evil eye in allowing the children to say such things…when it has been grandpa all along who taught them such crudeness and encourages this behavior with other “curse” words as well. Such as when mom leaves the children with grandpa, thinking he’ll impart the wisdom of the ages, instead he teaches “hold your tongue between your fingers and say ship.”)
A Fairy Ring: A mystical circle of mushrooms…when one finds this, one stands back in reverence, calls to all the other hunters in the area- heads are bowed, and someone says, “Don’t that beat all…amen.”
“If that was a snake it would have bit ya.”: A statement you don’t ever want to hear in the woods when you’re mushroom hunting with your nearly blind grandmother of 90, the shame associated with realizing your standing atop a mess and didn’t see it till grandma pointed it out will haunt you for years.
Spores: Something to do with leaving the root of the mushroom where you found it and using gathering bags with holes in it so as you can spread the spores throughout the woods for more mushrooms next year.
Tourist: Bloodsuckers,biters,chiggers, ticks…Use it in a sentence like this: “Make sure you use plenty of that dope or you’ll have every little tourist in the woods comin’ home with ya.”
Dope: A toxic spray, gel or powder that is applied all over the body and clothing to prevent ticks, chiggers a/k/a tourists- from traveling up your pant leg to suck your blood and/or give you the nastiest little itch you’ve ever experienced.
A Good Patch: A location that is never disclosed, and rarely shared with another unless they are blindfolded, spun around ten times till they’re darn good and dizzy and sworn to secrecy by making them share an unholy secret that you will post in the morning paper should you ever find them in your good patch. Used in a sentence like this: “So you got yourself a good patch, where is it?” “In the county.” “In this county?” “Maybe.”
HOW DO YOU POSITIVIELY IDENTIFY MORELS? WE ARE IN WESTERN WA. NO ONE WE KNOW IS FAMILIAR WITH THEM. iBELIEVE I FOUND THREE UNDER AN OLD FLOWERING CRAB APPLE, MANY YEARS AGO. I NEVER KNEW FOR SURE
Morel mycelium will fruit with mushroom every year for about 3-5 years… Using a mesh bag when hunting for mushrooms will spread the spores and establish ne mycelium beds for future crops.
Found 2 dozen nice size morels yesterday on an old pond dam. They were on the west facing slope. I don’t know if the slope of the land matters or not. Does anyone else know? I live in Northwest Missouri.
Reno from Sherman,
Hey you’re just 8 miles away from me. Head over to New Salem area if you’re looking for public land, also Site M is good, although many folks hunt that area. Doesn’t matter, plenty for everyone. Elm trees, any rotting logs, sometimes shrooms will pop up along the dying roots of older trees like ash,(look for grey diamond shapes in the bark) cottonwoods. Look close for the side the moss grows up on the tree, more shrooms. When you find one, don’t pick it right away- look around, there’ll usually be much more. Wild Cherry good finds, Old Maples, pretty good too. Place your hand on the earth on North or South sides- which feels warmer? That’s where your shrooms will be more plentiful in this cool/wet spring we’re having. The yellows are mighty plentiful right now in our area…good luck to you and yours, no better thing to do than to take your kids to the woods. Don’t neglect the briars…get under there, many misses to be found in the stickers.Take care-
HEY FELLOW SHROOMERS,DO THEY NORMALLY GROW IN THE SAME SPOTS EACH YEAR?THIS IS MY 2 YAER OF FINDING THEM……THANKS,GOD BLESS…..
I am from the Sherman, IL. area and am kinda new at this. I have been taking notes and looking at tree pictures and everything. Gettin ready to take my kids out this weekend so we can spend some quality family time without the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Any last minute ideas? Locations? What are the best trees to try first? I have heard north side of hills east side of hills which is best? Any advice would help and be greatly appreciated. Good Hunting and God Bless!!!
went out today and found 65 greys all about 2 to 3 inches. been having best luck around elms this year. yellows should be poppin in northeast ohio soon! happy hunting!!!
hi have find the blacks under a elm tree and found browns under a pear tree that i put spores from my bag to years a go and picked 34 tiny but good good luck
April 19, 2009. Central WV Braxton Co. One day we found 95 white ones in the morning and then is the afternoon found 56 Black one. We find the around ash, poplar,wild cherry, hickory, pine, and locast. Really just about anywhere. I’ve found the best time to hunt them is after a rain when the sun comes out.
Keep lookin, they could be Anywhere! Ive found several poping up in my grandma’s backyard in St. Louis on Delmar street! Right in the middle of hundreds of thousands of houses!
I put some sawdust innoculant in my backyard under a mulch pile at the foot of a large old maple last year, but none yet. I wonder if it took.
I used to live in northern Indiana and had my favorite spots up there to hunt, but now I am in Bloomington, IN and haven’t found much at all. Does anyone know what forests near Bloomington have dense populations of Elm or Ash trees? I’ve heard that people have been finding them here, so I think I’m just looking in the wrong areas. Any help would be much appreciated. Good luck hunting!
Good for you Patti from Indianapolis…can’t wait to hear more enthusiasm like this. Ahhh, the mysterious morel has gotten in your blood now, there’s no turning back… Hope you find a mess!
Take care-
I JUST FOUND MY FIRST EVER MOREL TODAY!
I live in Indianapolis and have never been
able to find any before. I AM SO EXCITED!
Found mine under a small oak tree. It is about 4″ and I treated it like an egg. So
delicate. I want more! Going out hunting again tomorrow. :))))
Found 63 last night mostly spikes, one gray. Any suggestions for cooking them up besides the good ol frying method?
Oh I am so excited to find this website!
I haven’t been Morel hunting in years & really want to go this year. I know there have to be some in the Shawnee and I live so close in C’dale.
Any suggestions where I should go? As much as I love going for a hike, I am terrified of getting lost I am so busy looking down!
we live in jefferson county wv my husband has been hunting for many years and now has me hooked,we have the best luck around creek beds and along valleys covered in poplar trees,not only do we love eating them but the whole family enjoys the excitment of the hunt and the beauty of nature!!best of luck to everyone!!
none in peoria,dont mind because i love to be outside so its fine with me.
I live and hunt mainly in central Illinois. Tips for first timers- You’ve got to develop your mushroom eyes. Focus. Don’t be thinking about your bills or the song that won’t get out of your head or the fight you had with your loved one that morning- get all that out of your head and focus on what you’re looking at. Notice the small things all around, listen to those spring peepers, smell the decay mixed with all the new growth scents. That ought to do it,now your there- Hey! By golly there’s a mushroom!
Also, keep in mind that you WILL find them, and you will. If you get to thinkin’ you won’t, that there aren’t any mushrooms around- well, you’ll be right.
When the stinging nettle is about 6-8″ high, the black and raspberry canes start getting real bushy, the red buds start blooming- that’s a good time to start for looking for the little greys. When the mid-season tulips start to bloom, the lilacs get heavy in bud- head to the woods, again- might find you a whole bunch of yellows. After balmy days and humid nights- you should be trippin’ over the whites.
Elms, Ash, all good, but I find my biggest secret messes next to an old Silver Maple- without fail, every year.
Get right down on top of briar bushes, looking through from above- God knows I’ve found the most miniscule mushroom by this method. Keep up the positive thoughts that you will find one, in time-you will. Ain’t no better mystery than that of the morel that grows under only certain conditons, spontaneously. Be thankful to the whoever you’re thankful to- morels, the woods and the feast after are gifts offering a tremendous blessing to one’s spirit. Oh, and never ever under any circumstance, disclose your “Good Patch” location. Take care-
My mother always told me to look near jack in the pulpit which is, most of the time, in the same areas as trillium and may apples. Grapevines also, at least in my spot. My spot is a vally heavily wooded with sycamores and elms. How far up the slope should I try hunting? Walked clear to the top a couple times today with no luck. The bank along the creek never lets me down though. Good year so far, had the best first day ever. Happy hunting!
I live in Bloomington Indiana and have searched for morals the last couple of years. Have never been able to spot one. HELP! How do you spot them? Should you move fallen leaves around? Any help would be great.. thanks
Terry, Just read your comment from earlier in the thread. I used to live in Carbodale would find morels all over the Shawnee Forest area, too. Absolutely beautiful there! Miss it and would love to make a trip in the spring to hunt. I live in Maryland now and have had some luck here, but just getting to know the area.
Weve been finding blacks around poplar trees in Indiana
I find them around Sycamore trees. I have looked far and wide around here in NW Arkansas and have found all except 1 around Sycamore trees. The 1 that was not around a sycamore was in the front yard under an old elm tree (very large). Right in the middle of my patch is a creekbed. it is dry most of the time but where the water runs occasionally there are no morels. on the sides of the bank and up the hill a bit is where they all grow. They are hard to see just poking out from the leaves. Also they are mostly the same color as the leaves. They seem to be mixed in with the sycamore balls on the ground. Thats all for now from Arkansas (7 miles from Wal-mart general offices)
Hi. Can anyone send me a photo of what the mushrooms look like when they first begin to sprout? I think I may have found some but not sure…thanks.
Another GREAT spot to find morels is the first season after a burning. Areas of forest fires, or controlled burn areas, are IDEAL for hunting morels. Now, if you can find an old apple orchard, that has been burnt, you should do VERY well. Ash groves, apple orchards, and dead elms, are my favorite spots, and in that order. I live in Livingston County, Illinois, so it will be a week or two here yet. I landed 150 acres of private land to hunt this year, so I’M VERY EXCITED. The property is FULL of dead elms, ash trees, and APPL TREES !!!! Happy Hunting All, and GOOD LUCK.
thanks for the replys.
im hoping on finding a few this year, but if i dont its always great to go hiking and …..well u know……….:]
matt
Found only 3 this week.Morels are the most unpredictable mushroom there is.I’ve seen them grow out creek beds, moss,stumps,gravel,people yards.I even seen a book were they were growing out of the snow.You never know!When they come up they release spoors were ever the wind takes them they might grow.Some years are better then outhers.I think it’s a little early yet for some of my spots with big yellows or tans.
Hello All: Can anyone tell me what are the best times to hunt morel’s ? Such as time of day, tempature, humid, rainy, ???? any help will do, we still have NOT found any
Matt, from Ill., you can find morels around of course dead elms, the ones where the bark is starting to come off the trunks, also around ash trees, and they don’t have to be dead ash, & I’ve also found them in apple orchards. Good luck & happy hunting
look hard for old mature elms dead or alive they do seem to help produce the morel.happy hunting went out today no luck 4-4-09
HELP Still no Luck finding any in Henderson County, Tennessee, but still in search ! Anyone with any information as to Henderson County, please leave a posting. THANK YOU
Hi all
new to the morel hunting, I live in northern IL. actually about 1/2 mile from wisconsin
when and around what kind of trees should i be hunting? all info greatly appriecated
Thanks
Matt
I live in Sevier County, TN, and found several along the road on a walk today. My first find!! They are the black variety. I’m hooked & will be searching the woods very soon. I’m wondering about preparation…
HI THERE I LIVE IN WEST,TN IN HENDERSON COUNTY NEW TO THIS AREA AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN FIND MORELS HERE IN NEED OF HELP
We hunt exclusively around ASH TREES first, then ELMS, then RED CEDAR, then WILD CHERRY trees…find hundreds each year down here near Carbondale, Ill. in Shawnee Forest areas…if all trees present in a spot…you have found a “honey hole”!!!!!!!!!
Big Yellow Morels always around old ASH TREES for us!!!!!!!!! Good Luck!!
April 4th thru April 17th best down here…we’ve already found some of the noice black morels this year in late March…good year coming up this time!!!!!!!!
learn how to identify trees i find most of mine under elms with dutch elm disease they are very easy to spot and most of the time there are “elm Lines” you can walk some could bee 100 feet long other miles of shroom bareing trees
Pine Trees that’s where I found almost 3 pounds last year!
I live in central WV and have looked for 2 years and can not find A mushroom for the life of me any tips would be great