Morel mushroom hunting tips from Jim Briggs:
Of all outdoor sports, morel mushroom hunting is one of the least expensive. You don't need any special equipment, and you won't need a hunting license. The only requirements are comfortable clothes and a bag in which to place your finds. However, there are some preparations you can make which will ensure that your morel hunting adventure is a safe and enjoyable experience. In this article you will learn what clothes you should wear, and what items you need to bring with you to ensure that you will stay safe and comfortable, and have the correct tools that are essential for a successful morel hunt.
It's best to wear old clothes in which you are comfortable, as they may get stained or ripped. Wearing long pants and sleeves will prevent direct contact with threatening plants such as poison ivy, brambles, etc. Wear an old t-shirt underneath in case you get hot and need to remove the long sleeved shirt. In early spring the weather can be unpredictable. It could be sunny, it could be raining or there could still be snow on the ground. Bring rain gear just in case. Why let rain ruin your hunting experience? Wear comfortable shoes. Wear glasses rather than contact lenses.
Protective eyewear can keep branches out of your eyes. Wear garden gloves to protect your hands and a hat to protect your head from the sun and tree branches and to keep off the ticks. Don't forget insect repellent as well as a small first aid kit. Remember the rule that if you don't bring it you will certainly need it. And if nature calls unexpectedly a small roll of toilet paper will be essential. Bring a small trowel to dig a hole and keep nature undisturbed.
An onion sack or mesh bag is ideal for storing morels. Special bags have been designed for morels that allow the spores to fall back to the ground after harvesting. The bag should allow air circulation and prevent moisture buildup which can damage the morels. Never place your find in a car trunk or glove box, where humidity and heat will lead to a rapid deterioration after picking. Bringing ice filled coolers with some sheets of cardboard to put between the morels and ice will ensure that your mushrooms stay cool and fresh as you transport them home.
A walking stick will help to clear paths and is ideal for poking around in the leaves and grasses that may be hiding these elusive mushrooms. Bring your camera to record your finds. A GPS unit is recommended to record the location of your find, as morels tend to reappear in the same area in subsequent seasons.
Use common sense safety procedures. It is wise to bring maps and a compass, and a whistle. Never go mushroom hunting alone. If you don't have a GPS unit, bring a notebook with pen to record the location of your finds. Bring a small pack with food and water. Plan your trip in advance, allowing ample time to return safely. Make sure that you have familiarized yourself with all legal regulations, that you have permission to enter the land where you will be searching for the mushrooms. Be sure to have enough gas in your gas tank. Spring trails can be dangerous. A rope or winch can help removing your vehicle from muddy roads that may become impassable.
A sharp knife or scissors will enable you to harvest without destroying the delicate roots of the morels. Do not disturb the mycelium by pulling the mushroom from the ground. Pinch the mushroom at the base of the stem and cut off carefully and cleanly. Brush off any dirt, and keep your harvest dry.
A general rule is that the ideal time to begin hunting for morels is when the daytime highs in your area have been in the 60's, the night time lows are in the 40's or above, and there has been some rain. For more information on finding morel mushrooms, dates for the season, morel maps, indicator trees, how to look, where to look and how to cook the mushrooms with links to hundreds of recipes, visit morelmushroom.info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Briggs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6171458
Showing posts with label morel hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label morel hunting. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
10 spots open for morel mushroom Hunt
10 spots open for morel mushroom Hunt
Noticed this on craigslist, portland:
10 spots open for morel mushroom Hunt (Mt Adams Range land)
I have been picking Morel mushrooms all of my life.What I offer is a chance to experiance the hunt for the Great Morel.The cost is 75.00 each or 100.00 for two people.You must be prepared to hike miles at a time and also carry the weight of the mushrooms you pick.The meeting place will be the Subway in Goldendale Washington on Sarturday Morning at 8;30 am,we shall procede from there.Morels are going from 16 to 30 dollars a pound rite now I know where they are and anyone thats with me finds mushrooms or 25.00 will be refunded.Thats a pretty good guarantee.My Name is J.J. and I look forward to hearing from you.
Finding Morel Mushrooms - Tips on Where to Look For This Elusive Delicacy
How can something that exists in the hundreds of billions be considered a rarity, and how can something so prolific be so difficult to discover? The North American morel is an enigma. Prized as a delicacy comparable to the French truffle, the morel commands a royal ranking as the favourite American mushroom (although it really is not even a mushroom, but a fungus), more sought after than the common white button mushroom. Yet, surprisingly few of us have ever found and picked one, even though 'shroom hunting is a popular excursion for thousands of North Americans.
Morels are, without doubt, the easiest fungus to identify in the wild, and the hardest to confuse with poisonous or toxic cousins. Their unique shape and specific growing environment makes them distinctive, and one of the few mushrooms that almost all of us can eat with gastric confidence. Their Christmas-tree shape, their distinctive ridges and valleys, their common coloring all make the morel a unique target. But, morels have adapted an appearance and typical growing environment that confounds amateur and professional hunters alike.
Found across all of North America, the family of morels possess a camouflage ideally suited to their early spring woodland habits. Each year, thousands of mushroom hunters seek out the delicacy, unsuccessfully. Long-time gatherers will claim that the best places to locate morels is in recent burn sites, or adjacent to decaying elm and ash. Others will claim that these fungi are never located near evergreens. Yet, isolated varieties of morels grow in almost any setting, given the right moisture, light and season combinations.
The claim that morels thrive in recent burn sites has staying power. With the rush of potassium nutrients from ash, and the cleansing of other groundcover from these sites, morels are able, in the first year or two, to establish a firm hold on the site, briefly.
Morels that are found near downed ash and elm also receive a nutrient boost, and tend to be long-term residents of those sites.
Morels' unusual patterns of ridge and valley make them difficult to spot, wherever they grow. Their early spring appearance means that they are able to hide under the cover of last year's leaf growth, in patterns of wrinkled, mottled leaf beds. While the ground is dry, the fluffy layer of identical leaf pattern makes the morel almost invisible in the forest floor. But, immediately after a good rain, when the leaf bed, darkened by the moisture, is packed on the woodland floor, morels stand out.
You will also find that color shading of morels tends to match the color of dead leaf carpeting in their region, as will the color of soil surfaces.
Morels, like many fungi & mushrooms, flourish in early spring filtered light, when the ground is warmed but not hot, and moist but not saturated. With this specific growing environment, seasons are short, and progress depending on the longitude of your area. A dry spring will produce little growth, as will a late winter.
Given the versatile camouflage tactics of morels, their finicky growing habits, and their ability to "hide," even in plain view, it is understandable that they are considered a rarity, in spite of their abundance across almost all of North America.
Morel mushrooms have a rich, creamy flavor that is deliciously earthy, nutty, steak-like- and it's this awesome taste that makes the morel mushroom No.1 with wild mushroom hunters worldwide. Visit http://www.morelmushroom.info for tips on hunting, finding, and enjoying morels.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Briggs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3922917
Morels are, without doubt, the easiest fungus to identify in the wild, and the hardest to confuse with poisonous or toxic cousins. Their unique shape and specific growing environment makes them distinctive, and one of the few mushrooms that almost all of us can eat with gastric confidence. Their Christmas-tree shape, their distinctive ridges and valleys, their common coloring all make the morel a unique target. But, morels have adapted an appearance and typical growing environment that confounds amateur and professional hunters alike.
Found across all of North America, the family of morels possess a camouflage ideally suited to their early spring woodland habits. Each year, thousands of mushroom hunters seek out the delicacy, unsuccessfully. Long-time gatherers will claim that the best places to locate morels is in recent burn sites, or adjacent to decaying elm and ash. Others will claim that these fungi are never located near evergreens. Yet, isolated varieties of morels grow in almost any setting, given the right moisture, light and season combinations.
The claim that morels thrive in recent burn sites has staying power. With the rush of potassium nutrients from ash, and the cleansing of other groundcover from these sites, morels are able, in the first year or two, to establish a firm hold on the site, briefly.
Morels that are found near downed ash and elm also receive a nutrient boost, and tend to be long-term residents of those sites.
Morels' unusual patterns of ridge and valley make them difficult to spot, wherever they grow. Their early spring appearance means that they are able to hide under the cover of last year's leaf growth, in patterns of wrinkled, mottled leaf beds. While the ground is dry, the fluffy layer of identical leaf pattern makes the morel almost invisible in the forest floor. But, immediately after a good rain, when the leaf bed, darkened by the moisture, is packed on the woodland floor, morels stand out.
You will also find that color shading of morels tends to match the color of dead leaf carpeting in their region, as will the color of soil surfaces.
Morels, like many fungi & mushrooms, flourish in early spring filtered light, when the ground is warmed but not hot, and moist but not saturated. With this specific growing environment, seasons are short, and progress depending on the longitude of your area. A dry spring will produce little growth, as will a late winter.
Given the versatile camouflage tactics of morels, their finicky growing habits, and their ability to "hide," even in plain view, it is understandable that they are considered a rarity, in spite of their abundance across almost all of North America.
Morel mushrooms have a rich, creamy flavor that is deliciously earthy, nutty, steak-like- and it's this awesome taste that makes the morel mushroom No.1 with wild mushroom hunters worldwide. Visit http://www.morelmushroom.info for tips on hunting, finding, and enjoying morels.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Briggs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3922917
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Treasure Hunting for Morel Mushrooms
Hunting for morel mushrooms typically runs from early April and runs through June depending on your geographical location. The Great Lakes region in the United States is the most popular hunting grounds for morel mushrooms but they have also been found in almost all of the lower 48 states.
Most hunters will agree that the weather has the most effect on the availability and quality of these elusive mushrooms. Typically the day time temperature around 60 to 70 degrees, night time temperatures not less than 40 degrees and the soil temperatures of about 50 to 60 degrees with good ground moisture levels are ideal for moral growing.
Moral mushrooms are found in small patches under dead or dying elms, ash, apple and even pine trees. The seem to like to hide under or near thickets or other plant small plants growing in the area but since the ground cover varies a lot each patch of mushrooms you come upon may be growing in totally different conditions. Once you find a good spot you will need to check it year after year.
After a forest fire the moral mushroom seems to grow abundantly for the next two or three years and a lot of commercial pickers will follow the forest fire reports and first hunt in these recently burned areas.
Morel mushrooms can last for about two weeks before it starts to decay if the weather is good. Morels have been known to grow as much as one half of an inch in 24 hours. Since the shrooms do not have a use-by-date on them it is necessary that you examine each one collected for any decay. Look under the caps for any signs of decay. Many collectors will use the 50 percent rule when dealing with these mushrooms; if 50 percent is still good then bag it. It is also recommended that you do not keep them for more than three or four days before eating.
To harvest simply pinch or twist of the mushroom at ground level. It is recommended that your collection bag be a large open weave design. Some hunters believe that the open bag will facilitate the spoors falling to the ground, during your travels, allowing for a crop next year. Others think this is an old wives tell but at the very least the open weave design will allow tiny nasty forest critters to fall off the mushroom.
After harvesting, take them to a sink and rinse them in cold water to remove any foreign particles which include bugs. Then cut then lengthwise and rinse them again. Sore the clean mushrooms in a bowl with a cloth draped over them.
If this is your first time hunting, you should always go with someone who has several years shroom hunting experience. They can show you how and where to hunt successfully and in addition they can show you what a good moral looks like. Never eat a mushroom before you check to see if it is poisonous or not. Many good web sites exist that have very good pictures and description of the edible and poisonous verities of mushrooms.
Attending a Moral Mushroom Festival are excellent sources of information for the newbie and seasoned hunter alike. Muscoda, Wisconsin is the self-styled Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin and this may be a good place to start.
Some of the other festivals are:
Mansfield, Indiana
April 28-29, 2007
Irvine, Kentucky
April 28-29, 2007
May 4, 5, 6, 2007
Richmond, Missouri
May 4-5, 2007
Magnolia, Illinois
Mesick, Michigan
May 11 thru May 13, 2007
Lewiston, Michigan
May 12th, 2007
Boyne City, Michigan
May 17 - 20 2007
Happy Treasure Hunting.
Most hunters will agree that the weather has the most effect on the availability and quality of these elusive mushrooms. Typically the day time temperature around 60 to 70 degrees, night time temperatures not less than 40 degrees and the soil temperatures of about 50 to 60 degrees with good ground moisture levels are ideal for moral growing.
Moral mushrooms are found in small patches under dead or dying elms, ash, apple and even pine trees. The seem to like to hide under or near thickets or other plant small plants growing in the area but since the ground cover varies a lot each patch of mushrooms you come upon may be growing in totally different conditions. Once you find a good spot you will need to check it year after year.
After a forest fire the moral mushroom seems to grow abundantly for the next two or three years and a lot of commercial pickers will follow the forest fire reports and first hunt in these recently burned areas.
Morel mushrooms can last for about two weeks before it starts to decay if the weather is good. Morels have been known to grow as much as one half of an inch in 24 hours. Since the shrooms do not have a use-by-date on them it is necessary that you examine each one collected for any decay. Look under the caps for any signs of decay. Many collectors will use the 50 percent rule when dealing with these mushrooms; if 50 percent is still good then bag it. It is also recommended that you do not keep them for more than three or four days before eating.
To harvest simply pinch or twist of the mushroom at ground level. It is recommended that your collection bag be a large open weave design. Some hunters believe that the open bag will facilitate the spoors falling to the ground, during your travels, allowing for a crop next year. Others think this is an old wives tell but at the very least the open weave design will allow tiny nasty forest critters to fall off the mushroom.
After harvesting, take them to a sink and rinse them in cold water to remove any foreign particles which include bugs. Then cut then lengthwise and rinse them again. Sore the clean mushrooms in a bowl with a cloth draped over them.
If this is your first time hunting, you should always go with someone who has several years shroom hunting experience. They can show you how and where to hunt successfully and in addition they can show you what a good moral looks like. Never eat a mushroom before you check to see if it is poisonous or not. Many good web sites exist that have very good pictures and description of the edible and poisonous verities of mushrooms.
Attending a Moral Mushroom Festival are excellent sources of information for the newbie and seasoned hunter alike. Muscoda, Wisconsin is the self-styled Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin and this may be a good place to start.
Some of the other festivals are:
Mansfield, Indiana
April 28-29, 2007
Irvine, Kentucky
April 28-29, 2007
May 4, 5, 6, 2007
Richmond, Missouri
May 4-5, 2007
Magnolia, Illinois
Mesick, Michigan
May 11 thru May 13, 2007
Lewiston, Michigan
May 12th, 2007
Boyne City, Michigan
May 17 - 20 2007
Happy Treasure Hunting.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on Treasure Hunting. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Treasure Hunting. Visit Treasure Hunting
Friday, December 24, 2010
Distinguishing Morel Mushrooms From the Deadly False Morels
While morels
are considered to be one of the most distinguishable fungi in North America, and are thought to be almost universally non-toxic, each year there are reported incidents of allergic, toxic and fatal incidents involving these mushroom-like delicacies. However, in most cases, reactions are not from morels, but from the morel's evil cousins.
Many members of the mushroom family have relations that look like safe, edible mushrooms, but are deadly or disagreeable. Morel look-alikes are almost non-existent. However, there are a few fungi with which you should exercise caution. Unfortunately, these second cousins, known as "false morels," tend to grow near, and in the same conditions as morels.
Perhaps the most frequently encountered morel imitator is the "brain mushroom." The brain mushroom has a wrinkled, rather than pitted or honeycombed surface. Its dark brown stout body and bulbous, brain shape make it relatively easy to distinguish from true morels. It tends to "slime" quicker than morels due to its interior spore makeup, and does not have the same nutty taste as the morel. But if it is toxic, how will you know what it tastes like? In past centuries, many brain mushrooms were sold in marketplaces, cooked and consumed with little ill effect. However, for many people, there is no toxic or allergic reaction. Unfortunately, what was edible yesterday has been known to kill people the next day. For many, the symptoms are no worse than mild diarrhea or upset stomach.
Harder to distinguish are look-alikes for the half-cap morel, whose tapered cap is held to the stem only by a band at the top of the stem, half-way up the cap. Again, though, this false morel has a wrinkled surface, rather than honeycombed.
The "Big Red" false morel is generally found in south eastern USA, and is distinguished by its bright colors. Most morels tend to be colored similarly to the leafy carpets in which they are found, which will help to distinguish "Big Red" from true morels.
Generally, even the imitators do not produce a severe reaction in most consumers of morels. Unlike many mushrooms with their extreme and deadly toxicity, false morels are more likely to cause upset, rather than intense reaction. Many people are spooked by the possibility of poisoning, and will shy away from any wild fungi. Some avoid any variation in size or coloration. But morels in poor conditions, or varying soil types, or even climatic conditions, will produce varying results. Some yellow morels, found growing in gravelly trailside soils in Manitoba, are of a gray color, while some growing in the willowy drainage ditch sites in Minnesota are tall and spindly, with an elfin morel (false morel) look. Classic black morels growing in the rich red soils of the Dakotas have taken on a reddish tinge like the "Big Red." Yet, all are true, edible morels.
The key is to exercise both caution in picking, and moderation in consumption. Aside from a very few imitators, there is no need to fear morels.
are considered to be one of the most distinguishable fungi in North America, and are thought to be almost universally non-toxic, each year there are reported incidents of allergic, toxic and fatal incidents involving these mushroom-like delicacies. However, in most cases, reactions are not from morels, but from the morel's evil cousins.Many members of the mushroom family have relations that look like safe, edible mushrooms, but are deadly or disagreeable. Morel look-alikes are almost non-existent. However, there are a few fungi with which you should exercise caution. Unfortunately, these second cousins, known as "false morels," tend to grow near, and in the same conditions as morels.
Perhaps the most frequently encountered morel imitator is the "brain mushroom." The brain mushroom has a wrinkled, rather than pitted or honeycombed surface. Its dark brown stout body and bulbous, brain shape make it relatively easy to distinguish from true morels. It tends to "slime" quicker than morels due to its interior spore makeup, and does not have the same nutty taste as the morel. But if it is toxic, how will you know what it tastes like? In past centuries, many brain mushrooms were sold in marketplaces, cooked and consumed with little ill effect. However, for many people, there is no toxic or allergic reaction. Unfortunately, what was edible yesterday has been known to kill people the next day. For many, the symptoms are no worse than mild diarrhea or upset stomach.
Harder to distinguish are look-alikes for the half-cap morel, whose tapered cap is held to the stem only by a band at the top of the stem, half-way up the cap. Again, though, this false morel has a wrinkled surface, rather than honeycombed.
The "Big Red" false morel is generally found in south eastern USA, and is distinguished by its bright colors. Most morels tend to be colored similarly to the leafy carpets in which they are found, which will help to distinguish "Big Red" from true morels.
Generally, even the imitators do not produce a severe reaction in most consumers of morels. Unlike many mushrooms with their extreme and deadly toxicity, false morels are more likely to cause upset, rather than intense reaction. Many people are spooked by the possibility of poisoning, and will shy away from any wild fungi. Some avoid any variation in size or coloration. But morels in poor conditions, or varying soil types, or even climatic conditions, will produce varying results. Some yellow morels, found growing in gravelly trailside soils in Manitoba, are of a gray color, while some growing in the willowy drainage ditch sites in Minnesota are tall and spindly, with an elfin morel (false morel) look. Classic black morels growing in the rich red soils of the Dakotas have taken on a reddish tinge like the "Big Red." Yet, all are true, edible morels.
The key is to exercise both caution in picking, and moderation in consumption. Aside from a very few imitators, there is no need to fear morels.
Morel mushrooms have a rich, creamy flavor that is deliciously earthy, nutty, steak-like- and it's this awesome taste that makes the morel mushroom No.1 with wild mushroom hunters worldwide. Visit http://www.morelmushroom.info for tips on hunting, finding, and enjoying morels.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
It's a challenge when you love to eat the subject of your research (morels)
Kathy Jacobson, associate professor of biology at Grinnell College, she has been studying morels for the past nine years. In an interview with the Des Moines Register, she talks about her love of morel research, her love of morel eating and shares a few tips about the life of the elusive mushroom
Monday, March 24, 2008
Morel Maps
If only an expert would show me where to find morels... Well, there are maps that will help. Morels show up when the combination of soil temperature and moisture is ideal. And they tend to show up where forest fires occured the year before.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Hints and Tips on Finding Morel Mushrooms mp3
Jim Braaten of Sportsman's Blog interviews Ron Spinosa of the Minnesota Mycological Society. Hints and tips on finding the morel mushroom. 35 1/2 minute Blog Podcast, iTunes or downloadable mp3. Good Stuff!
Progress Map of Morel Hunting Season
Check out the Morel Mushroom Hunting Club for an excellent progress map of the current season.
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