The Morels Have Arrived

[Tollster]

After you pick them carry them in a mesh bag, so the spores will continue to be released as you hunt or walk.

here is a link to the PA Morel forum, if you hunt them in PA, many keep others abreast, not of you stomping grounds, but where the weather has changed and people are finding them, if you have any tips to add, many are very interested in learning. Northside hill, type of tree near by and so on.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Hmmm. I prefer to let the Jolly Green Giant select my mushrooms for me. Never seen a Morel in the local Homeland, though.

 

[Western]

Well these are about 30' from a wet weather creek, in an area I cleared with the tractor 3 years ago. Large dead standing oak tree (40+" dia) about 15'. Fairly shaded area all day by the surrounding oaks underbrush and cottonwood trees. They appear to be growing out of the leaves, but I didn't mess with them to see. I may dig'm up and see if y'all can confirm there safe.

 

[Tollster]

Morels are one of the few mushrooms that are very easy to identify, and good for first timers. However, it is always best to check with a local old timer until you feel comfortable..

The other easy one is "Sheeps Head" or chicken of the woods. Which are fall mushrooms also found at the base of old oaks and their root base.

 

[Circle W]

Here are some more to reference. They are hollow and when you split them open the inside is as white as cotton. Around here they are gray or yellow. Some areas have a darker black type. We find our along creek banks where there is old elms, river birches, cottonwoods, and sycamores.

 

[cqaigy2]

I think these are found in areas on the west side of the state. Just too dry over here. We eat puff balls & shaggy manes. The ones that are poisonous here are the Amanita and a toadstool that looks like the Amanita.

The first place i picked and ate morels, was outside of Ellensburg at my parents place just outside of Thorp, rowing under the trees in a wooded area. I found them in a few other areas on the east side, up in the cascades, but have yet to find any on the west side.
They were delicious fried in butter!

Puff balls are good in butter too.

On this side side, the west side, my BIL turned me on to chantrells and lobsterized chantrells.

 

[SPIKER]

Morels are pretty much as shown, can be grey-black (early spring) Yellow in spring and always hollow when you split them length wise. There are also some false morels that look more like a brain (kind of rounded sponge and not fully hollow. They are bad if not prepared correctly, the big yellows are pretty good according to most people. Next batch I find will be egg & flour then fried, I didn't care for them fried in butter all that much.

Mark

 

[LD1]

I've never tried them dipped in egg, but love them fried in butter with a little salt and pepper. The do get rolled in flour first though.

Have also deep fried them. Not as good lacking the butter flavor. But figured out that the spray butter after they come out, then salt and pepper fix that.

 

[Tollster]

Great Pictures and good info, thanks!

I have yet to find one morel around my place, I typically look when I go turkey or trout hunting, actually, any time I'm in the woods during the spring..
If I have my GPS with my, I note the dates, weather conditions, and save the WP.

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Here are some more to reference. They are hollow and when you split them open the inside is as white as cotton. Around here they are gray or yellow. Some areas have a darker black type. We find our along creek banks where there is old elms, river birches, cottonwoods, and sycamores.

 

[ovrszd]

Here they tend to grow in areas with a lot of ground cover, such as around dead trees etc. The smaller ones found early require a lot of patience and diligence. The larger ones as pictured in this thread are much easier to find.

I also get a lot of entertainment concerning all the myths and superstitions about hunting Morels. Some people take this very seriously and swear by their ideas about it all. Me,, I just enjoy the casual hunt and the bonus of eating them if lucky.