MOREL MUSHROOMS

[Lowbatts]

In many of the local FP's a cutting program has been ongoing for a couple years now. A lot of ash because of the beetle problem and quite a few elm have been taken. In most areas these are reduced through burn piles with a mixture of burr oak and other "pest" or invasive species.

But in some areas the trees are simply shredded into bits and spread liberally around the site. As well even in the cases of the burn pile samples, the cut stumps are often reduced through grinding. All of this seems like it would produce good fodder for these little shrooms so keep that in mind and revisit those sites where these cuts have happened and you might find some real bounties.

If I see any hotspots, I'll let you know.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[Tuberale]

Some warmer parts of the US have had morels fruiting for over 2 months now. Check out www.mushroomobserver.com for photographic evidence.

 

[treasurefiend]

This is a Morel forum I follow, people are starting to find them in our area.
http://www.morels.com/illinois/guestbook.html

Im gonna go in the morning and see if I can't find some.

 

[jsandman]

Is it safe to try to find Morels without having actually seen one or should you hunt with someone your first time ?? I am looking at pictures of them but don't want to end up dying if its not safe.

Thanks,
James

 

[treasurefiend]

Morels are pretty safe but 1st few times don't eat a lot of them as you don't know how your body will react to them. Also cook them before you eat them and if your in doubt on any mushroom toss it. Should probably go out with someone that knows what they are doing but morels are really the only thing that look like them (again when in doubt - toss them).

Youtube has a lot of morel mushroom hunting videos and vids on how to clean and cook them. Goodluck and happy hunting!

 

[jsandman]

Thanks TF ..........I plan on playing around the woods with an Ace 350 for the next few days so I want to add Morel hunting to my list.

Thanks,
James

 

[Tuberale]

I spoke to David Arora in 1985 shortly after Mushrooms Demystified was published. He stated later that morels were eaten everywhere he had found them around the world. Only place morels seemed to be shunned was in Russia. This is odd, as Russians in general eat and hunt far more mushrooms than people in the United States. Go figure.

At any rate, if in question, about the only things that look similar to morels are Gyromitra esculenta, Verpa bohemica and Verpa conica. Two of these three are edible with caution for many people.

Even so, some people cannot eat mushrooms. Dr. Alexander H. Smith was one of those. One of the great ironies is that a great mycologist like Dr. Smith could not enjoy eating mushrooms. But it does happen. For that reason, eat only half a morel or other mushroom for the first time. Anyone can be allergic to anything, even if most other people can eat them.

BTW, the scientific name of morels is Morchella. Some of the species include Morchella elata, Morchella esculenta, Morchella caespitosa, Morchella angusticeps, and Morchella conica. Searching for photos of those species should give you a very good idea of what you are trying to find.

 

[jsandman]

Tuberale ......thanks for the info. I have some of the pictures and looking for a few more. If they don't look exactly like the picture and I have a problem maybe I can tag along with someone for a bit to be shown exactly what I am looking for.

Thanks,
James

 

[treasurefiend]

this is exacly why I hate the mega pix, cant read the damned thing without having to scroll over several inches!!!!

 

[treasurefiend]

Well the area up around chicago the only thing your likley to come across is the half-frees (peckerheads)
and they are safe to eat. Like I said the only thing that looks like a morel (in season) is a morel and the
others might look similar, when you compare them to a pix of a morel you will spot the bad one
instantly.

Again: "when in doubt - throw them out"

 

[Lookn4Seated]

Well the area up around chicago the only thing your likley to come across is the half-frees (peckerheads)
and they are safe to eat. Like I said the only thing that looks like a morel (in season) is a morel and the
others might look similar, when you compare them to a pix of a morel you will spot the bad one
instantly.

Again: "when in doubt - throw them out"

....or give them to me, and I'll "throw" them out.

 

[treasurefiend]

Well the area up around chicago the only thing your likley to come across is the half-frees (peckerheads)
and they are safe to eat. Like I said the only thing that looks like a morel (in season) is a morel and the
others might look similar, when you compare them to a pix of a morel you will spot the bad one
instantly.

Again: "when in doubt - throw them out"

....or give them to me, and I'll "throw" them out.