From what I can tell, there’s not an “art” to morel hunting. You pretty much need to go spend time in the woods hunting. If you’re one of those lucky folks with a mushroom spot, be sure to check that spot every year. Here are a couple of morel mushroom hunting tips from my experience out in the woods.
- Search on spring days where the weather’s been between 60 and 80 degrees.
- Look before you step! You’d hate to smush a precious morel while you’re out hunting.
- Search near and around Elm, Sycamore, and Ash trees.
- Don’t be afraid to gently move fallen leaves – you could uncover a whole crop of mushrooms.
- When you find one morel, be still and carefully scan the ground around that morel. Chances are good there are more mushrooms growing nearby.
- If you’ve found morels in a certain spot in past years, be sure to check that spot again! You’re chances are pretty good they’ll be growing there again.
- When you pick a morel, pinch off the stem at the base, leaving the mushrooms roots in the ground. It will help you’re chances of morels growing again in the spot next year.
- Take a mesh bag (potato or onion bag) along to store your finds. The mesh bag will allow any bugs or debries to fall to the ground.
- Have a mushroom guide with you to help identify wild fungi. Be careful. There are tons of poisonous mushrooms. Be sure to consult with an expert before eating any foraged fungi.
- Enjoy the great outdoors and have fun!
Disclaimer: Warning. Be careful mushroom hunting and only eat mushrooms that you are positive are morels and are not poisonous. Be sure to consult with an expert before eating any foraged fungi.
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