Tips for Finding Morel Mushrooms

Elms and Old Woods

• Look in areas that once contained large stands of Elm trees. Rotted trucks or past stands of trees can be ideal for finding the mushroom. Warm spring mornings after a couple days of rain seem to be ideal for the moisture-loving fruiting spore. Open areas in the woods with fallen rotting logs in which the soil has been disturbed is another good location. A hilly and small mountainous terrain where moisture is retained is another spot to hunt. Some hunters even have success on north- to northeast-facing slopes. Folklore hints to look around flowering Dogwood leaves that are the size of a mouse ear. Another old-timer hint is the first day in April when the temperature hits 72 degrees F and humidity is smelt in the air. That smell can be the scent of rotted leaves and moisture.

Find One

• If you find one morel mushroom, stop immediately. Do not take another step. Look down around your feet. Chances are you may be standing in a nice little patch. Smaller-sized black morel mushrooms tend to be the first to arrive in the season. Weeks later, the larger tan-colored mushrooms will appear generally in the same area. Check the area carefully, as the mushroom will almost appear camouflaged to its surroundings. Once your eyes get accustomed, you will soon see more. Go over the areas many times during the spring season. Look for signs of wildlife in the same areas. Squirrel, wild turkeys and deer have been known to enjoy this mushroom as much as humans.

Leave Some Behind

• Harvesting a mushroom patch takes patience and sharing. Do not harvest every one of the mushrooms. Leave a few behind to "reseed" the patch for next season. Constant over-harvesting will soon deplete the patch. Use a plastic bag for carrying your mushrooms from the woods. Do not over-fill the bag as the morels are delicate to the jostling they may incur inside the bag. Enjoy your times in the woods and leave the area as you found it. Better yet, use an extra plastic bag and hike out any trash you may run across.