Hi, My name is Alexis and I live in Des Moines. I have lived in Iowa (and the Midwest) since I was 12 (I am now 25) and have never been Morel hunting. I want 2014 to be the year that this changes. I am looking for someone willing to teach me how to hunt for the mushrooms (I promise not to reveal any secret hunting grounds). I am an adventurous, and attentive, student and want to learn more about these little treasures. I am willing to work on a trade basis, if preferred. Thanks, Alexis
Hi Alexis, I would be willing to let you tag along with me. I cannot guarantee we will hit the mother load, but we definitely will be picking some morels. I live in Cedar Rapids though. I don't know if it would be worth the drive for you or not, but I can give you some pointers and what to look for when you are hunting for them. We are probably at least a month and half out before the small greys start popping. Just let me know. Shep
Hi Shep, Cedar Rapids isn't too far (I went to school at Iowa and usually enjoy a reason to visit the area). I appreciate your offer and would love to tag along. I can give you my email address to keep in touch; do you know if there's a "private" way to message it to you? I'm itching to get outside and "hunting"! Thanks again, Alexis
Hi Alexis, my advice to you is to just go out and start looking. I go to Red Rock and the best place on the entire lake is probably the Elk Rock area. Everyone goes there but for good reason. Thousands of Morels seem to be there every year and if you go at the right time you can easily get over a hundred morels. It's all about who gets there first. Just look for some nice timber areas and start looking. Morels grow on tree roots so no trees means no morels. Be very careful as to who you go hunting with. A stranger is a stranger and in the world we live in today you can't really trust anyone. I would rather hunt alone then hunt with some guy I have never met before. It's better to be safe then sorry. Finding and picking morels is easy. There is nothing anybody can show you that you can't learn on your own.
Great advice from MatthewC2, and Red Rock is closer to you. I hunted there with the Prairie States Mushroom Club in 2009, and we found morels. We also found more deer and Lone Star ticks than morels, so be sure to wear long pants and tuck your pants legs into your socks. Check yourself thoroughly after hunting. If you are interested in going out with a group of knowledgeable mushroom hunters, take a look at the planned forays of the Prairie States Mushroom Club. They are listed at http://iowamushroom.org/
Alexis I would love to take you with me and show you what I have learned throughout the years. We can go around Colfax which isn't far for you. I live in Newton. Let me know if your interested. Thanks, Dotty
Jdsuds4 Dotty, Hi I live in newotn and really want to go find some mushrooms, It hard for me to get out due to a new baby who is now 3 months and my wife who has blood cancer. Her and I love mushrooms but I dont know where to go or have anyone to go with me, nor no where to go. If you are free or anyone in the newton or surrounding area wants to go Saturday please feel free to email me at bomb1985@gmail.com will get you my contact info. Hope someone wants to help and will show me the ways to find some mushrooms. Hope someone will offer up a hand and take me along to find some mushrooms thanks Andrew
