Hunting Tips and Advice For Morel Mushrooms

Equipment

• Morels often hide underneath fallen leaves. Bring a hiking staff or an old ski pole along to turn over the leaves, so you don't have to constantly bed over. You also need a collection basket or a mesh sack to hold your mushrooms as you collect them. Gloves help you avoid injuries and poison ivy as you dig around in the ground. Also remember to bring standard safety equipment including a small first aid kit, a map and compass and plenty of water. Dress in layers -- it's easier to take off layers as you get warm than try to warm up when you are wearing too little.

Harvesting Time

• Morel season varies depending on region, but it's generally in late spring ranging from early April to late May. Morels grow rapidly, appearing as full grown mushrooms in as little as 24 hours. Morels tend to grow in the same areas from year to year, so make note of the areas you have had luck each year. Morels tend to sprout a few days after a warm spring rain, so plan your hunting time accordingly when possible.

Morel Identification

• The cap of edible morels is spongy and filled with holes. Most have long, slightly pointed caps and white stems. Morel cap color varies from gray, to yellow to nearly black. Morels have a hollow stem. False morels, which are poisonous, resemble edible morels in most ways but their stems are not hollow. False morels often have a shiny cap, while the caps of true morels are matte and dull. When in doubt, don't pick the mushroom. Carry a a good identification guide with you for your region to further ensure you are picking the right mushrooms.

Picking Morels

• Once you find a morel, move any leaf debris from around its base using your fingers or your hiking staff. Pinch the base of the morel just above the soil level, separating the morel from the ground. Avoid pulling up the entire mushroom, as leaving the base in ground allows the mushroom to grow back next year. Place the morel in your collection basket, taking care not to squeeze or damage it. Once you get your morels home, brush off any soil and prepare it in your favorite recipe. Don't soak morels to clean them, as this ruins their texture and flavor.