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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bowguy67 on January 11, 2022, 04:53:15 PM

Title: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 11, 2022, 04:53:15 PM
Just kidding, a little too early but it’s coming boys! Every ice cold day is one closer to spring. It’s 14 degrees here now which is warmer than earlier. Wood stove and thoughts of morels got me feeling better.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 11, 2022, 04:55:34 PM
Public service message
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Pine on January 11, 2022, 05:17:01 PM
Hope it will be a better year for me.
Two years ago I found only a half dozen and last year, just two.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 11, 2022, 05:32:54 PM
Wow that stinks. Was just telling my buddy, a friend a couple years ago found over 400 his very first year. First night out, he’s got a bunch of kids he offers money for every one they help find. 97 on their very first ever attempt. I’ve never even heard of anyone doing that. He’s found lots last few years in same area though. Must be good there.
Hope this year is awesome for ya. All that bad luck is passed by now, this year will be good for you!!
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: McDave on January 11, 2022, 08:08:04 PM
Notwithstanding Bowguy's warning, I love to eat mushrooms and would love to collect some wild morels, hopefully without poisoning myself in the process, and assuming they exist in California.  What is the best resource to find out how to collect them and where to look for them?
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 11, 2022, 08:11:58 PM
You tube, Dave.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Pine on January 11, 2022, 10:27:35 PM
https://www.morels.com/forums/
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: McDave on January 11, 2022, 11:11:38 PM
Seems like a great resource, Pine.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 12, 2022, 02:13:11 AM
Morels are pretty easy to id and safe first mushrooms. Learn your land you tube channel has a good guy with idk 4-5 morel videos on it. He’s a Pa guy so it would t be specific to your area but you’d learn some things.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 12, 2022, 02:16:04 AM
They def grow near you McDave

https://www.modern-forager.com/2018-top-9-early-season-morel-spots-california/
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 12, 2022, 02:19:34 AM
http://bayareamushrooms.org/mushroommonth/index.html
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 12, 2022, 02:35:41 AM
This girl is ok as well and she’s closer that Adam Harrington, Learn your Land

https://youtu.be/4tYY7Hs07fA
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: McDave on January 12, 2022, 10:05:00 AM
Thanks for the leads, Michael!
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 12, 2022, 10:31:20 AM
No worries. When you find them remember to cut in half, check for completely hollow. If unsure ask. Good luck
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Broken Arrows on January 12, 2022, 10:58:59 AM
We have several feet of snow........
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on January 12, 2022, 11:24:56 AM
It’s obviously too early. Just funnin. We have snow as well
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: huntsfairchase on January 13, 2022, 01:57:03 PM
I usually pick 25-30 pounds every spring here in Wisconsin, but spring 2021 was a bust! You can count on morels being up when lilacs blossom, but 2021 was extremely dry and our first rain was late and close to 2”. The morels were up already (what morels there were anyway)and the rain rusted and molded them overnight. Hunted for another week afterwards and found nothing. I hunt mainly the same woods every year for the last 25 years, which still have elms and are very productive. Hardly got enough for a meal last year, so I’ll be out in earnest this year!!!
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 07, 2022, 09:28:25 PM
Almost time!!! Need a few warm nights here in ohio and we will be in business.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on April 08, 2022, 02:55:34 AM
Good luck boys. It’s real close now. On another note fiddleheads are pushing dirt mounds up. Only days away from them
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Wudstix on April 11, 2022, 02:47:33 PM
Hogs get most of them here.
 :campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: dnovo on April 11, 2022, 04:37:36 PM
Just a bit early here yet for me. It's been cold and nasty here last week but temps are warming and lots of rain this week. We've got plenty of moisture this year.  Last year I only found about 15 but the year before I found about 150 which is about my best ever.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Terry Green on April 12, 2022, 01:39:42 PM
Every year when these morel threads come up it reminds me of Dean Torges.  Another 'get it and growl' hunter that didn't play make believe.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 12, 2022, 02:04:02 PM
Fly fishing for trout, bow hunting gobblers and morel mushrooms!!! I love spring
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: arrow30 on April 12, 2022, 10:45:52 PM
i been stuffing the freezer with crappie so i can have me some fried crappie and morels, and if i manage to kill a thunderchicken. il have nuggets and fried morels.  my dad was a morel hunter and fisherman, but not a hunter.(he killed one rabbit for food) so he said.

  this is a pic of some he found, my sister, who died shortly after photo of cancer.

(https://i.imgur.com/sBJFhWM.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on April 13, 2022, 04:43:38 AM
Sorry to hear that arrow30. Good memory though. God bless your family
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 19, 2022, 09:37:56 AM
Grab your mesh bags! Found 5 blacks Saturday here in ohio, this cold snap will slow them down but this weekend should be perfect.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on April 19, 2022, 09:52:33 AM
I’ve looked haven’t found any. It snowed last night a couple inches
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Chuck Jones on April 19, 2022, 03:59:35 PM
I found about 35 last weekend in Southern Illinois. They were not too common and some must have come up earlier because they were a little old looking. They sure tastedgood! [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Chuck Jones on April 19, 2022, 04:00:03 PM
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Sam McMichael on April 19, 2022, 04:39:00 PM
I have read about morels many times here on the Gang, but I never have hunted for them. When and where in Georgia do you find them? Also, somebody mentioned to be sure they are hollow. What is the significance of that? Also, how do you prepare them? In my total ignorance, I have visions of a buttery wine sauce. Please tell me that is part of the picture.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 19, 2022, 07:31:03 PM
I've never hunted them in Georgia but they can grow almost anywhere with trees near by.
You will read a ton of wives tales about different tree species, certain sides of a hill, creek bottoms and hill tops.
And it's true that morels grow there but the truth is the morel is a symbiotic organism that attaches to the root system of trees.
In the spring the morel sprouts in an attempt to spread spores and reproduce.
That's why when you find an area that has mushrooms it typically produces year after year.
Areas of forest that were damaged by fires the summer before will yield a ton of morels the following spring, this is because when the host tree is stressed the morel reacts by sending as many spores as possible incase the tree were to die.
My advice is to look far and wide until you find a few spots, after that you will get some every year.
As far as good recipes....I can go on like Bubba from forest Gump so I'll limit it to a few.
#1 morel butter-
I simply saute the mushrooms, crisp a few pieces of bacon and chop some wild onion.
Throw this in a blender with softened butter and a pinch of salt and pepper.
After it's well blended I melt this stuff on steak, eggs, venison... pretty much everything.
#2 wild mushroom bisque -
PM me for recipe, it's too long to include.

#3 morel canapés
I grill a few slices of crusty French bread with olive oil and top with a smear of double or triple cream brie.
The mushrooms are sauted in butter until tender and added on top.
This is the finished with a little bacon onion jam and a few chives.
The jam is easy to make and keeps a week or so, if interested shoot me a message.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Appalachian Hillbilly on April 19, 2022, 07:54:07 PM
30 something Black's. Our favorite.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: ksbowman on April 19, 2022, 09:21:49 PM
Found a handfull of little greys this morning. Won't be long before they come out in earnest here in east central ,Kansas.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: arrow30 on April 19, 2022, 09:44:10 PM
picked 112 today,  :o
(https://i.imgur.com/vr8VhQJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wFDpcoA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/B8hkqlZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eM9nfi0.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on April 20, 2022, 05:13:49 AM
Awesome guys! We’ve had snow two days straight again. Our fiddleheads are all burned from it ugh.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: dnovo on April 20, 2022, 06:40:06 AM
Dang Bryant!  Good day!  I went out Saturday but didn't find anything. 
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 20, 2022, 08:22:57 AM
Wow, that's a great day
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: arrow30 on April 20, 2022, 05:11:36 PM
went out this morning,  in the drizzling rain. went to where i thought there would be a turkey, rain got a little heavier so i backed up against a tree trying to stay a little dryer. i had walked right in under a gobbler on roost. so figured that was it for turkey for the day. so went wandering for morels. picked another 39.
(https://i.imgur.com/aNP1N3X.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/11GREFu.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Appalachian Hillbilly on April 20, 2022, 07:45:38 PM
The wife has taught our 2 year old grand daughter what they look like. She found 12 today with very little coaching.  Just put her in the spot, sat her down and said look for the mushrooms!

Unbelievable.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on April 21, 2022, 09:43:50 AM
Very cool guys
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: MnFn on April 21, 2022, 10:34:47 AM
You had me going. I would have to bring big grain shovel to clear away a foot or more of snow to find one.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 21, 2022, 12:56:44 PM
Hey Bryant, what state are you in? Seems like you are at the peak of the season.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: arrow30 on April 21, 2022, 10:22:28 PM
Hey Bryant, what state are you in? Seems like you are at the peak of the season.

 im in missouri, st. louis county.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Appalachian Hillbilly on April 22, 2022, 10:41:00 AM
My grand daughter and her finds today. Only problem is she don't want to give them up so we can cook them!
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Wudstix on April 22, 2022, 10:56:54 AM
Little treasures!!!
 :campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Pat B on April 23, 2022, 11:40:10 AM
After owning our property here in the southwestern North Carolina mountains for about 35 years and living here for 32 we found our first morels.  :thumbsup: While on her walk with our dogs this morning my wife sat on a bench of our woodland native wildflower garden where she spotted what she thought was a morel. She came back to the house and looked it up in a mushroom book we have and sure enough that's what it is. I walked back to the area where she found the morel with my camera and before I got to the bench she had sat on I found another, then another. Three in all. I continued looking around but couldn't find any others. This was a pleasant surprise. I didn't harvest them because their value as a plant was more important than the little food value 3 morels have. We have found a few naturally growing ginseng plants in this area also. That's why we made it a native wildflower garden by adding may apples, black cohosh, yellow lady slippers, trilliums and other native wildflowers.

(https://i.imgur.com/UBtRUnY.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/PlLE3m2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mDd48dT.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: dnovo on April 24, 2022, 04:35:22 PM
I was finally able to go out late this morning to look. Friday afternoon I drove 5 hours to get up Saturday morning and replace a door and some siding for my taxidermist buddy, then drive 5 hours back home yesterday.
The rain quit long enough today for me to take a walk. Glad I did.  I found 37 including several over 6 inches
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: arrow30 on April 24, 2022, 04:40:30 PM
thats a good bunch. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 26, 2022, 08:30:17 PM
Just a few here or there, nothing in good numbers.
I hope it happens this week, taking the kids to Disney on Monday.... I have a strange feeling my woods will blow up with mushrooms the second I get on the plane.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: chefrvitale on April 30, 2022, 01:56:34 PM
They are up in good numbers, a short walk in my front woods filled my little mesh bag.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: doubleo on May 01, 2022, 07:45:56 PM
Probably won't be any in Wisconsin this year the grounds still frozen! :dunno:
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: charles m on May 06, 2022, 12:47:28 AM
Ah, I remember Dean Torges starting a thread every year about morels.  Now I see other's posting on other platforms like they 'started it'. Too funny.  I miss Dean's contributions here.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Terry Green on May 06, 2022, 05:32:28 AM
Yes, Dean started it all!!!  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: DV of WI on May 06, 2022, 09:07:51 PM
This should be the week to get started seeking and finding them here in Southern MN, that is if I don't go mushroom blind. Which seems to happen all to often until you find the first one.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: soap creek on May 10, 2022, 03:15:32 PM
Found these yesterday. Going to be 90deg today,warmer than usual for us. Don't think I'll go out anymore. Glad to find what I did.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: degabe on May 15, 2022, 08:45:39 PM
I found enough to flavor some venison steak but there were so many people in the woods that I'm going to have to look for a new spot.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Bowguy67 on May 16, 2022, 02:36:59 AM
Tell ya what guys, this has been a really bad year around here. We had snow and cold too late and the woods are bone dry. The dead leaves are actually gray. I found them only twice and friends around me having an equally hard time. Frustrating but it happens. I’m happy some guys are doing well
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Pine on May 16, 2022, 03:52:31 PM
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Just starting here.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Sam McMichael on May 16, 2022, 10:43:31 PM
I saw an item on the internet that over a period of 2 days a couple of guys in Idaho found 175 pounds of morels. I don't remember ever seeing a morel, and I've been hunting since 1964. I just didn't know anything about them.
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: Terry Green on May 17, 2022, 07:01:48 AM
I saw an item on the internet that over a period of 2 days a couple of guys in Idaho found 175 pounds of morels. I don't remember ever seeing a morel, and I've been hunting since 1964. I just didn't know anything about them.

Me either Sam..... Dean Torges started a thread here in 2003 and its an annual thing in his Honor. I've never even eaten one.  I like mushrooms though, grilled portable marinated with oil and vinegar then topped with parmesan cheese with venison or pork back straps... don't anybody wake me!!!
Title: Re: Anyone finding morels?
Post by: DV of WI on May 25, 2022, 11:28:28 AM
Didn't go mushroom blind after all. Last nights grab.