[smguffer]

I think im going to try some Island hunting this year. I had some luck around the katy trail last year but I've been thinking more and more about island hunting.

I'm hoping there is less pressure since it takes a boat to get to it. I also have a place in warren county I'm thinking about. There was some logging that took place in the spot I want to hunt, I hear woods that have recently been burned or logged can be good producers.

I might go out this weekend, with these 2 heavy rains we've had (april 2 and april 3) I think the ground MIGHT be warm enough to produce something. Maybe just wishful thinking, might still be too soon.

I'll keep everyone updated! Happy hunting!

 

[morelmaniac96]

Smguffer, I hunt the St. Charles area bottoms and have wanted to hit the islands on the Missouri river for a couple years. If you would like some company exploring the river let me know. Maybe we can exchange some knowledge about the environment we hunt.

 

[smguffer]

Definitely. keep in touch and maybe we can get together for a hunt soon

 

[smguffer]

morelmaniac (or anyone else): I think im going to hit a spot i found ~25 last year tomorrow morning around 9 or 10am. It's near Busch wildlife in the bottoms.

I've always heard once the ground temp gets ~50 degrees is when they start popping. according to this website our ground temps are around 55 and have been close to 3 days. http://www.mushroomfarm.com/mushroom-hunting-info/hunting-morel-mushrooms/soil-temperature-map.html

It's probably still too early but i just want to check it out, maybe get lucky.. maybe just spend an hour or two looking around.

if you're interested in hunting tomorrow morning let me know

 

[morelmaniac96]

Definitely smguffer, I was going to check that area tomorrow also. Sounds like we already hunt some of the same land. My number is 314-280-0969. You can instant message me with where and when.

 

[smguffer]

morelmaniac and me went out in the woods today just to check things out, neither of us really expecting to find anything this early and it turns out our suspicions were correct. no morels, yet haha.

One of the big reasons I also wanted to get out was to attempt to identify the trees that seemed to be producing small amounts of morels in an area I was hunting last year. I'm pretty confident now that they were Ash trees. The way I am able to easiest recognize them is the trunk or more mature branches of the tree have rough bark with fairly deep grooves, but the less mature (while still old) branches are almost entirely smooth. and on the newly developing branches its obvious they are opposite of one another, rather than alternating

I'm still working on tree identification (im new at this) but any other tips i can come up with i'll be trying to share with others.

I wasnt able to positively identify any elm trees, just a couple hunches on what i thought might be an elm... but i feel pretty confident with the Ash, and am 100% sure those trees was where i was finding small clusters last year. Not quite the motherload I'm hoping for this year, but still decent morel producers.

thanks for comin out morelmaniac. look forward to doing some morel hunting with you this year.

 

[smguffer]

Just looked at the 10 day forecast.. I think Sunday the 13th might produce if wed-sat is as warm as they say it will be. looks like good temperatures and rain in the forecast.

 

[sustainable forager]

check them burns and logged areas for sure, and yeah ash is a great tree...if you can find it. be careful on the big river, usually during the picking season, water is high/flooding so it can be a bit treacherous. elms are commonly found in washes or going up hillsides or along field edges, imho they are more of a hilly tree for our area but not at the tops of the hills. morelmaniac any luck w/ those blacks!?

 

[smguffer]

yea those rivers are nothing to play with. i like taking my dog out (lab pitt mix) and he LOVES water. we're both strong swimmers but its not always possible to compete with mother nature and i have no desire to try, so i gotta keep a real close eye on him around the big rivers.

i'll probably scout a different area tomorrow where i know logging has occured (im just not sure how long ago yet). I know they did it a couple years in a row so hopefully i can find a more recent patch.

anyone have any idea when is a good time frame to go to the logging sites? the following year? wait about 2 years? .. will it stop producing so heavily after 3-4 years has gone by?

 

[smguffer]

ahhh. the 10 day forecast is already starting to cool off! nooooo

 

[morrel huntin 77]

BET ITS GOING TO BE A SHORT MESSED UP SEASON IF THIS WEATHER DOESNT CHANGE .

 

[smguffer]

yeah its looking like we got another couple weeks before they start poppin

 

[sustainable forager]

honestly if your not sure when to go look, just watch the internet! people cant help but brag about their first finds, and i will admit, it does take restraint to not blab about it. usually about a week before i would get in the woods, someone in STL is reporting finds.

 

[thrill]

It will be here before we know it. The waiting is whats maddening, I've had the upcoming season on my mind since the last day I found nothing last year!

 

[shroomkiller]

Hitting an island myself Saturday with some fellow hunters for the first time ever.Hoping for good luck with temps warming up some next few days.

 

[smguffer]

i just talked to some old time shroomers... they said islands are the worst possible place to go. better to stick to the creek beds :wink:

 

[smguffer]

im just kiddin. i might be checking an island too this weekend. for me it's a lot of work though. i have to throw a 17' coleman scanoe on top of my little ford ranger. it's about the most hoosier ******* anyone would ever see but i gotta do what i gotta do lol.

i have a couple places in mind i'd like to look saturday that *should* be early producers.. if they dont turn anything up i'll probably wait for the next warm front to hassle with the scanoe.

 

[sustainable forager]

i like hunting hills cause thats where you get all the dead elm, also be careful of high water/flash flooding w the rains we get sometimes

 

[smguffer]

indeed. find a couple of those dead elms up in the hills and you're on morel gold!

 

[morelmaniac96]

Sustainableforager, I pm u on morelhunters.com from the handle of Sloth.