5 Easy Steps to Finding Morel Mushrooms

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P5090313

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Gray Morel

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Morels next to knife

pan full of morels

1. Research: Learn your area and the trees in that area. Identify which trees are the dominate ones producing Morels in your region. Then figure out geographically where there are south sloping hills and determine if it is private or public property.

2. Permission: Make sure to obtain permission from any landowners if using private lands before moving forward on to the next step. NOTE: If you plan on hunting on public land, competition is extremely high and it is a first come, first serve situation because there is a greater risk of others having the same spots you might find. 3. Scouting: Look during the summer months when there are plenty of leaves to easily identify the trees you’re looking for. Save your promising looking spots into your GPS to save time in the spring when you want to pick instead of search.

4. Scheduling and Supplies: Be sure to mark off possible dates next spring to remind yourself when to be aware of current weather conditions and to be on the look out for possible times to go out into the woods. Proper gear is important when you go into the woods. I would suggest a comfortable pair of waterproof hiking boots, jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a hat and a walking stick. You will also want to have a mesh bag to transport your mushrooms back to the car and a bottle of water to keep you hydrated as you march through the forest. 5. Picking time: Once you are sure the weather conditions are correct and you have seen other hunters in your area posting findings, it is time to bust out your GPS. Go back to all the spots you marked that looked promising to start off with; however, always look for other promising spots you may have overlooked. When you do find your first Morel, stop, get on your knees, and scan the ground near you. You'll have to move slowly and push dead leaves out of the way. Morels can be hidden and easily stepped on if not careful. I hope you’ve found this quick guide to finding Morel mushrooms helpful and that it moves you in the right direction to obtaining some Morels of your own.