How to Find a Wild Morel Mushroom

Morel mushrooms are the first to pop in springtime.

The thrill of wandering the forest and finding gourmet morel mushrooms are perfect reasons that seekers of these edible delights take to mountain hillsides early in the spring. Morels pop above the forest floor just after the snows have melted when the temperatures hover around the 40-degree mark, especially after a rain. Morel mushroom hunting forays are arranged by mushroom clubs, which can be found on the Internet. Online guides such as "Morels and False Morels of the Pacific Northwest" by Ian Gibson supply descriptions of habitat for approximately 10 varieties of morels. Becoming familiar with the quirky looks of spongy-looking morel varieties will aide in honing the skills for finding them in the wild.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Notebook
• Guide to mushroom identification
• Map of local public use lands
• Buddy
• Warm clothes
• Hiking boots
• Jacket
• Water to drink
• Walking stick
• 6 recycled potato mesh bags

Instructions

1. During March, just before morel season, make it a point to sit down and record a few prime morel mushroom hunting locations. Using a map on the computer, become familiar with south-facing mountainsides and hillsides of public use lands in your region of the country. Note directions on how to get there in a notebook because cell phone reception might not be available in remote areas. Become familiar of what morels and false morel mushrooms look like, their habitat and look-alikes.

2. Observe a few recent aerial views of your region and note areas where forest fires have occurred in the last year. Record directions on how to get there in the notebook and make sure proper permission is received to hunt on those lands if required.

3. 

   Areas of burned forest are prime areas to find morel mushrooms.

   Set out after snow has melted in April, or after a rain. Set course for areas noted in your notebook and take a buddy along for fungi camaraderie. Wear warm clothes and pack the hiking boots, a jacket and some drinking water. Bring along the walking stick to push away fallen leaves from morels that have poked their heads above ground. Try areas where fire has burned the forest within the last year as there is sure to be a bumper crop of morels there. Looking for morels in abandoned apple orchards can lead to caches of the very expensive and prized mushrooms.

4. Use the walking stick to push away the leaf matter at the bases of pine or hardwood trees to see the deeply webbed cap of the morel poking above the ground.

5. Pick morels when identification is 100 percent positive that it is a morel and include the base of the mushroom that is below the ground. Place mushrooms in the mesh bag as this will help spread spores as you carry them along on the foray and will increase chances of morels in that area for next year. Divide found mushrooms evenly within the six bags to avoid bruising them.

Tips & Warnings

• Take mushrooms to local ag extension offices for proper identification when not sure.

• Store in paper bag in the refrigerator as they will turn to mush if stored in plastic.

• Keep mushrooms dry until cooking and remove bits of soil, leaves and dirt prior to eating.

• Always be prepared for inclement weather and have warm clothes and water to drink in the car.

• Bring along a buddy who can help in case of emergency.

• Never eat a mushroom that you are not 100 percent sure about.

• Don't count on the cell phone to work in remote areas.

References

• South Vancouver Island Mycological Society: MORELS & FALSE MORELS of the Pacific Northwest, Ian Gibson.
• Missouri Department of Conservation: Munchable Morels, Jim Low
• Missouri Department of Conservation: Safe Mushroom Hunting, Barbara Bassett
• Fresh Morels: All That the Rain Promises and More, David Arora

Resources

• Morel Mania Sightings, no author given.
• Where to find Morels Geographically, no author given.