Idaho 2023 Morel Season

800 Views 15 Replies 4 Participants Last post by amandaniederer, 7 d ago

emarler

Discussion Starter · 20 d ago

Well, it SHOULD be time for Idaho morels! Wanted to start a thread for folks to post pictures, stories, etc. Happy hunting!

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

emarler

Discussion Starter · #2 · 19 d ago (Edited)

Went up today, found ONE morel in the same area I found some last year.

Grass Terrestrial plant Terrestrial animal Bird Grass family

I have not seen ANY spring orange peel fungus this year, and last year the same area had a TON of them. Also, I saw numerous gyromitra last year but have only seen one of them this year. I'm guessing that all that extra snow we received has something to do with this, but I wanted to ask if any of y'all who have been hunting morels longer than I have have any insight as to this change. Also, will the lack of "other" mushrooms affect this morel season? I was thankful to find the ONE morel I did find today, although I think it's still a little early. This one was at approx. 4,000 feet. I fried it up in some butter after a short soak in salt water and it was YUMMY. Can't wait to find more!

See less See more

emarler

Discussion Starter · #3 · 19 d ago

Also, (and this is probably a long shot), anyone want to share tips on timing morels in the various elevations of the Idaho mountains? My SOP has been to just go up every weekend until I find them, but it sure would be helpful to have some sort of reference point for knowing when it's time!

G0atMan

· #4 · 18 d ago

emarler said:
Went up today, found ONE morel in the same area I found some last year. View attachment 47040 I have not seen ANY spring orange peel fungus this year, and last year the same area had a TON of them. Also, I saw numerous gyromitra last year but have only seen one of them this year. I'm guessing that all that extra snow we received has something to do with this, but I wanted to ask if any of y'all who have been hunting morels longer than I have have any insight as to this change. Also, will the lack of "other" mushrooms affect this morel season? I was thankful to find the ONE morel I did today, although I think it's still a little early. This one was at approx. 4,000 feet. I fried it up in some butter after a short soak in salt water and it was YUMMY. Can't wait to find more!

Been hunting in Idaho for 36 yrs., 20 more in the midwest. Looking at some of the web cameras in various areas- still more snow than I thought as "normal". I think we are at least a week early for srooms at much of any elevation. Yesterday took a drive up by some areas I frequent north of Boise just to get out and about, and not a sign of anything- and I mean no fungi of any kind. I think the ground is still a bit cold.

Reactions: 1

emarler

Discussion Starter · #5 · 18 d ago

Thanks for sharing! I am only three years in at this point, so your thoughts are very much appreciated!

emarler

Discussion Starter · #6 · 13 d ago (Edited)

Weekend plans:

Saturday: 🐔 🌄 ☕ 🤠 🥾 🌲 🐻 👀 🍄 🧺 🍽 😴

Get out this weekend! Just not in my area.

And please post pictures of your adventures and finds! And GPS coordinates of the motherlode.

UPDATE: Hunted a range of approx. 4,000-4,600 feet today (5/20), we found NO morels in any of the spots I found them in last year. Had many sets of eyes looking. Noted again that there is very little mushroom activity, morels aside. I would blame it on the heat but there has been a general lack of mushrooms all spring. Can't figure it out! It must have something to do with all the extra snow we had this year, I can't think of anything else that was such a change from last spring. Hoping it's still "too early". Any thoughts?

Regardless, had a lovely hike with family! And we saw a cow moose!

Lord willing, will head up there again this next weekend. Not giving up yet!

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Calipya

· #7 · 10 d ago

10

Was out at 3500 yesterday.

Found enough to make a delicious dinner of jasmine rice, morels, peas, and shrimp in a creamy white wine garlic sauce.

Food Ingredient Recipe Fines herbes Cuisine

It has certainly been a strange year. I had a lot by this time last year. But, I feel like we went from snow on the ground to 80 degrees in a week, which can wreak havoc on our fungi.

Here are pictures from my weekend. The first 5 pictures all have morels in them. The last few are all just fun.

Plant Terrestrial plant Groundcover Fruit Tree

Plant Vegetation People in nature Grass Groundcover

Plant Groundcover Terrestrial plant Grass Terrestrial animal

Dog Vertebrate Plant Carnivore Mammal

Plant Groundcover Fruit Terrestrial plant Grass

Just for fun pictures after this. Use the above for eye training, lol!

See less See more

Reactions: 1

emarler

Discussion Starter · #8 · 10 d ago (Edited)

1. Dinner looks delicious!

2. I could only find Waldo in pictures 3, 4, and 5.

3. Where do I find these morel-sniffing dogs???

Looks like you had a fantastic time! Good work!

Calipya

· #9 · 10 d ago

2

If I give you the answers, do you promise not to tell a soul about the fire?? Zooming in helps if you still don't see them.

I've actually done a lot of training with those dogs. Started with having them sniff them, saying "shroom," and giving them a treat. Luke, the border collie, actually found the first one of the season. He found it, came to me and kept snapping his jaws at me until I followed him. He stopped and stood right over it. So, I gave him a treat and said "good shroom. Good shroom good boy," which made him very proud. Luke found the 4th shroom too... but forgot his training and ate it. The little guy just gets participation points, but he surprises me occasionally.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Calipya

· #10 · 10 d ago

2

For some reason my post is awaiting mod approval. If it is approved, forgive the double posting.

I did train my dogs with treats and key words to help me hunt. The keyword is the second half of mushroom, which may be what flagged the post.

Luke, my border collie, found several over the weekend. He did eat one, which only goes to prove that he's still learning. Morels for mommy, not doggy.

Here are those morels you couldn't find. Zoom in to see them better... and don't tell anyone what you heard about the fire.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Calipya

· #11 · 7 d ago

Anyone else going out this weekend for memorial day?

amandaniederer

· #12 · 7 d ago

I am in SouthEast Idaho close to Idaho Falls and have been skunked on most trips. It's a close kept secret I know...but I would love any advice on what I should be looking for as good signs that I am looking in the right place.

Calipya

· #13 · 7 d ago

I have a couple of things to keep in mind when hunting.

The first is: a pinecone is a pinecone. Unless it's a morel. Then it is possibly still a pinecone.

The second is: if you find a morel, a second should be close by. If you find a second, there may be a third. If you find a third, you probably found a good fruiting body. If you found a good fruiting body, you will find evidence that someone else has found it too.

Honestly, everyone has their own tips and tricks. Then the mushrooms change the rules. Morels are not very understood.

I look to see what is blooming. Harbingers of spring and tiny purple speedwells generally means I'm too early. Trilium is always a good early indicator for me that the ground is getting warmer and i may find one or two baby morels. Lilies and wild strawberry bloom next and tell me to spend every free hour in the forest. Get an app or book to identify the flowers that are blooming, and figure out what blooms first, second, and third as the soil gets warmer. I start having luck with the second round of blooming flowers, which is usually trillium. And the season gets better from there.

See less See more

amandaniederer

· #14 · 7 d ago

The flower bloom cycle is a great tip thank you!!
I have read there are certain trees they tend to grow under more than others. I also read then like previous burned soil. Do you find these tips to be true for Idaho?

Calipya

· #15 · 7 d ago

My mom tried to read up on them before I took her out hunting and kept trying to tell me that I was looking in the wrong areas cause we were under the wrong trees. While it was good to read up on them, don't take it as sovereign. I finally got her to stop taking about what she read and just listen to the forest. We found them under chokecherry bushes.

I find them in burns a lot too. They love the nitrogen-rich soil. But, a burn is only good for a couple of years in my experience, whereas the fruiting bodies in unburned areas last a lot longer. I don't have luck in recent burns. I have luck in 2 or 3 year old burns. So, I would suggest looking at burn maps from 2021...

And with all that said, every bit of advice could be completely wrong. People find them growing in their gravel driveways some years after all. Take pictures when you go out. You'll notice patterns, eventually, if you have a record- like the one I follow with the blooming flowers. I take lots of pictures of things that are not mushrooms.

See less See more

amandaniederer

· #16 · 7 d ago

Calipya said:
My mom tried to read up on them before I took her out hunting and kept trying to tell me that I was looking in the wrong areas cause we were under the wrong trees. While it was good to read up on them, don't take it as sovereign. I finally got her to stop taking about what she read and just listen to the forest. We found them under chokecherry bushes.

I find them in burns a lot too. They love the nitrogen-rich soil. But, a burn is only good for a couple of years in my experience, whereas the fruiting bodies in unburned areas last a lot longer. I don't have luck in recent burns. I have luck in 2 or 3 year old burns. So, I would suggest looking at burn maps from 2021...

And with all that said, every bit of advice could be completely wrong. People find them growing in their gravel driveways some years after all. Take pictures when you go out. You'll notice patterns, eventually, if you have a record- like the one I follow with the blooming flowers. I take lots of pictures of things that are not mushrooms.

SERIOUSLY thank you!! I am heading out this weekend to see what's happening out there.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts