Morel mushrooms

[379 Peterbilt]

Anyone here hunt morels? I have not in recent years, but may look to this spring, provided the weather is optimal in heat waves conducive to major morel outbreaks. A little venison, butter, and mushrooms suateed is a meal in itself to me.

Anyone else? Tips?

[wijim]

Anyone here hunt morels? I have not in recent years, but may look to this spring, provided the weather is optimal in heat waves conducive to major morel outbreaks. A little venison, butter, and mushrooms suateed is a meal in itself to me.

Anyone else? Tips?

i have a morel tip for ya.  when you find a patch.  only take the little ones leaving 1/2 the patch behind.  and smash the ones you leave behind into the dirt.  if you do that other animals will eat the squished ones...but you will have forced spores from the ones you left into the ground so they'll pop up again when they are ready.  that way if you keep doing that...you'll keep that patch alive and always have em.

how many times have ya found little patches of morels and took em, ate them, and not found them in that spot again?

[379 Peterbilt]

Never heard that one before. I always thought the morels were essentialy perennial and location specific sprouters. Don't doubt what ya say though. My biggest problem would be smashing good edible mushrooms back into the ground for next years seed, knowing they could be eaten this year. This is 'cause I havent found too many 'shrooms in recent years - hence the "greedyness" & get 'em while ya can psyc.  

As said, I am no died in the wool 'shroom hunter, but recent years crops seem to have been scarce. Have you noticed this too?

[wijim]

Never heard that one before. I always thought the morels were essentialy perennial and location specific sprouters. Don't doubt what ya say though. My biggest problem would be smashing good edible mushrooms back into the ground for next years seed, knowing they could be eaten this year. This is 'cause I havent found too many 'shrooms in recent years - hence the "greedyness" & get 'em while ya can psyc.  

As said, I am no died in the wool 'shroom hunter, but recent years crops seem to have been scarce. Have you noticed this too?

they seed or spores themselves when they are mushy and not real good to eat.  and if you're like me...you like the little ones.  but if you like the big ones...take them instead...lol

i never thought about that "takin only 1/2"  until i was hunting with an old feller who was kind of a mentor to me....he told me that.  could be a wives tale....cuz he came from a superstitious day n age....but he was a very wise man as well.

[doncisler]

pick up a good mycology book (mushrooms of the north woods).
the "mushroom" we eat is a fruiting body (kind of like a flower on a flower plant). the actual plant lives under ground.  taking the mushrooms doesn't take anything away from the existing plant.
what does make a difference is that the mushroom doesn't get a chance to spread its spores to start new plants.
if you collect them in open mesh sacks the spores can dust out as you walk around and can be an even better way to dispurse them than leaving them where they are (or squashing them).

[ihookem]

Peterbilt, I see you are from Taxconsin and want some shrooms.  I live a little northwest of West Bend, and around here the key is dead elm trees. Most other places are a waste of time. But not just any  dead elms, but elms that have been dead for about 6 months to about two years. You can tell by the elm bark is just starting to fall off. They have tan spots where the bark has been falling off and can be seen from a long ways off. After the bark is all fallen off it's too late.The next step is timing, when the ground gets warm enough, usually 60-70 degrees and after a nice warm thunder storm. A few days later just like magic, every year. You can also find them in dark damp areas of dense woods and in the weeds in the woods but dead elms like I have described is the very best in south east taxconsin.

[379 Peterbilt]

Great tips. It's all coming back now. Will keep an eye out while turkey hunting this spring. I have 2 seasons one early (too early for 'shrooms) and one later in May. Wild turkey and fresh morels, mmmmm, can taste it now.

Taxconsin - that's a good one, you aint a kiddin'  

[ihookem]

Peterbilt, one thing I forgot is about opening day of fishing to Memorial day is the only time you will find them Sometimes a little earlier or later, but not by much.

[wijim]

pick up a good mycology book (mushrooms of the north woods).
the "mushroom" we eat is a fruiting body (kind of like a flower on a flower plant). the actual plant lives under ground.  taking the mushrooms doesn't take anything away from the existing plant.
what does make a difference is that the mushroom doesn't get a chance to spread its spores to start new plants.
if you collect them in open mesh sacks the spores can dust out as you walk around and can be an even better way to dispurse them than leaving them where they are (or squashing them).

good to know.  thanks for correcting me.  seems i might have grown up believing something that was passed on from generation to the next that was bot true.  not so bad as a friend of mine who grew up thinking walking sticks (you know...the bug) are poisonous...lol  i picked one up and his eyes got huge and he acted like i was nuts.  he said.."don't you know those things are poisonous?"  i laughed and told him i aint dead yet and he recalled his mom telling him that once when he was young and grew up believing it.

 

[Madmark]

It's been raining around the central part of the state for a day and a half, with temps in the 50's. Tomorrow is supposed to get in the mid 60's. Would this be good conditions for morel hunting, or does it have to get warmer?

And what caliber do you guys use for hunting mushrooms??? :-D

[Buckskin]

Just got back from the La Crosse area turkey hunting. Turkeys were uncooperative, but found about 200 morels on the south facing hills.  Small but yummy!!!

[379 Peterbilt]

Just an update,

Today, May 7th, I found a few pounds of BIG WHOPPIN' morels on my own propety.

Fried some up tonight and boy oh boy were thay good !!

Recap
May 7th, found some monsters.........


Keep the updates a comin'....

[Buckskin]

Great year for morels, I have heard from a lot of people around the state that have found more than usual.  I am up to about 10 lbs, in about 2 hours of effort.  My sister-in-law picked 3 bushels and got sick of picking, she gave most of them away!!!  This weather should keep them coming for another week or so.

[wis_sharpshooter]

I live in bloomer, near eau claire, where is the best spot to look for these, i've never done it but would like to give it a try.

[Buckskin]

Find dead elm trees.  Ones that have died in the past couple years.  The bark should still be on or at least mostly on.  Earlier in the spring you will find them on south facing hills.  Now you should look more on the north sides or flat and more shaded areas.  After this last weekend I am up to about 15 pounds.  I've been eating them in some every day for the last couple weeks and my mouth is watering just thinking about them...MMMmmm I think I will be frying some up tonight.

[vmthtr in green bay]

I had to resort to buying some this spring.  I dip mine in egg yolk, then flower and then deep fry them, way better than sauteed.

Mike