[Heaven Lentine]

Heya, fellow shroomers!
I'm from St. Joseph County, IN and all of the forums for my area are pretty much dead. It'd be refreshing to see even a little activity from my area...just a lil bit? Lol.
I prefer to hunt in Southern Indiana during the earlier part of the season and work my way to Northern MI. This past year, I swear I've packed twice the amount of research into my brain than any other year. All types of info from spore prints to chemical absorption. So, any information at all won't be shot down, even if I am already aware.
I honestly just want to see people in my area share the same hobby and love nature as much as I do.

 

[jaybo]

Do you find black morels in St. Joseph county? In the Chicago area they're few and far between. If so, they shouldn't be long for starting, as they start earlier than yellow morels. In fact, SW Michigan black morels aren't usually that far behind southern Illinois as it's a similar hardiness zone as southern Illinois due to the lake. No rumors of southern Illinois starting yet, but should be any day now.

 

[Morel man 96]

Im in central IN I find yellows an pecker heads sometimes but never really dark morels either and I've heard of them coming up a little earlier before yellow morels too . I'm going to start hunting next week I think 🤔 as long as it stays over 45 at night time an all that rain coming is nice for us too 😊 good luck hunting every1!! Jw when is everyone starting ???

 

[Heaven Lentine]

Do you find black morels in St. Joseph county? In the Chicago area they're few and far between. If so, they shouldn't be long for starting, as they start earlier than yellow morels. In fact, SW Michigan black morels aren't usually that far behind southern Illinois as it's a similar hardiness zone as southern Illinois due to the lake. No rumors of southern Illinois starting yet, but should be any day now.

Oh yes, without a doubt I find blacks round here. Every season I find a decent amount of blacks as well as greys, right in my area actually. But I agree with both of yas when it comes to blacks popping before yellows. That's proved itself true to me for years now. I appreciate any info about Illinois, cause I have realized over the years that I tend to base shroomy time partly off of when Southern Illinois starts poppin'.

 

[Heaven Lentine]

Im in central IN I find yellows an pecker heads sometimes but never really dark morels either and I've heard of them coming up a little earlier before yellow morels too . I'm going to start hunting next week I think 🤔 as long as it stays over 45 at night time an all that rain coming is nice for us too 😊 good luck hunting every1!! Jw when is everyone starting ???

Shoot, I'm headi

Im in central IN I find yellows an pecker heads sometimes but never really dark morels either and I've heard of them coming up a little earlier before yellow morels too . I'm going to start hunting next week I think 🤔 as long as it stays over 45 at night time an all that rain coming is nice for us too 😊 good luck hunting every1!! Jw when is everyone starting ???

Im in central IN I find yellows an pecker heads sometimes but never really dark morels either and I've heard of them coming up a little earlier before yellow morels too . I'm going to start hunting next week I think 🤔 as long as it stays over 45 at night time an all that rain coming is nice for us too 😊 good luck hunting every1!! Jw when is everyone starting ???

Shooot, I'm heading out tomorrow mid-morning, bout an hour after sunrise! I can't take it any more, the anticipation is killing me! 🤣 I mean if the hunt isn't at all successful, I can at least scope a few spots 'n see if anything has changed/if there's any new tracks or whatnot out there. 🤷‍♀️
We definitely could use some warm rain and much more sunshine! 🌞
Happy Hunting 💜🍄🌞

 

[Morel man 96]

How about pecker heads???? Do they sprout early it's light rain here I'm gonna go look an seee

 

[Heaven Lentine]

How about pecker heads???? Do they sprout early it's light rain here I'm gonna go look an seee

Yes! I've always called 'em "dog peckers" just cause that's the name I discovered 'em as. But they sprout like crazy around here, annually, from the very beginning of the season to beyond the end of it. They can get quite annoying, personally. 🤦‍♀️

 

[r0ck3m333]

The half-free morels are actually delicious by the way...

 

[Morel man 96]

Um I love the peckerheads!!!! I think they taste great lol but ya I went an hunted I only found a few diff one s but not morels or peckerheads

 

[Morel man 96]

View attachment 41274

 

[Morel man 96]

An seen some puffballs tht are small but they are edible soon theyg etc a lil bigger

 

[Regionnaire]

Heya, fellow shroomers!
I'm from St. Joseph County, IN and all of the forums for my area are pretty much dead. It'd be refreshing to see even a little activity from my area...just a lil bit? Lol.
I prefer to hunt in Southern Indiana during the earlier part of the season and work my way to Northern MI. This past year, I swear I've packed twice the amount of research into my brain than any other year. All types of info from spore prints to chemical absorption. So, any information at all won't be shot down, even if I am already aware.
I honestly just want to see people in my area share the same hobby and love nature as much as I do.

Hey there. I'm from NWI, and hunt all over the place. I have plenty of personal spots, so I'm willing to team up on excursions to my larger hunting grounds, including by you Heaven Lentine.

I doubt I hit my southern spots this year due to knee issues, but I'll be out every day I'm able once they pop north of Indy.

 

[Regionnaire]

Do you find black morels in St. Joseph county? In the Chicago area they're few and far between. If so, they shouldn't be long for starting, as they start earlier than yellow morels. In fact, SW Michigan black morels aren't usually that far behind southern Illinois as it's a similar hardiness zone as southern Illinois due to the lake. No rumors of southern Illinois starting yet, but should be any day now.

We normally get peckers more than anything else due to lake effect, but last year was crazy for blacks. I found some damn near every time out, including late season. I have a bunch of pics of them in the 2021 thread.

If you remember, we had an early warm-up that woke up the foliage. When that happens, you tend to get more blacks. The nice weather also translated into a ton of early greys. Then, the cold came (sub-freezing temps) and stifled the peckers (I found maybe 25% of what I would normally find), the rest of the greys, and the early yellows. ..was still finding tons of blacks, though. Had a nice push of yellows late, but the forests filled in before the yellows could go crazy. Still had a great season, despite.

I had my first find in NW Indiana on April 13th last year. It'll be later this time cuz there are no more 60s or 70s on the horizon. That should mean less blacks this year, and more peckers. Still have a few weeks, so maybe April will pleasantly surprise us

 

[r0ck3m333]

Many mushrooms in general can look like lots of intimate body parts......but we call just those ones "peckers"...I guess it could be worse.

 

[r0ck3m333]

Hard enough telling people you hunt for mushrooms and they are like YOU MEAN DRUGS RIGHT?! ...Nope these ones you can eat! They are called peckers! No worries😉

 

[Morel man 96]

That was kinda funny lolll

 

[capn morel]

Hey fellow shroomers. First post of the new year. I'm another NW Indiana hunter living in Porter County. Wild ramps are starting to pop, the shrooms are usually 2-3 weeks after. But we need warmer weather. I'll keep you updated.

 

[wade]

Hey fellow shroomers. First post of the new year. I'm another NW Indiana hunter living in Porter County. Wild ramps are starting to pop, the shrooms are usually 2-3 weeks after. But we need warmer weather. I'll keep you updated.

Excellent Reporting Sir @capn morel
Thank You

 

[noskydaddy]

Nice to get some details on the elusive black morel.
I have to admit, I am terrible at finding them.
So thanks for all the info.


I did know about the zone in Michigan being "more tropical" because of the lake:
It's known as the fruit belt because of all the cherries and blueberries
and peaches that can be grown there.


Imagine a 25-mile wide strip of land from the state line
all the way North to Traverse City.
That's the zone.


But I never thought to apply it to black morels! DUH!

 

[noskydaddy]

Oh yes, without a doubt I find blacks round here. Every season I find a decent amount of blacks as well as greys, right in my area actually. But I agree with both of yas when it comes to blacks popping before yellows. That's proved itself true to me for years now. I appreciate any info about Illinois, cause I have realized over the years that I tend to base shroomy time partly off of when Southern Illinois starts poppin'.

What kind of trees do your black morels like @Heaven Lentine ?