Morrel mushrooms?

[dakids]

Has anybody been out looking yet?
Last year we found our first one on may 1st
When do other people start looking and how many do you usually find?
Last year me and a buddy found about 1500.  Great year for volume but a bad year for size as most were less than 2 inches tall.  We left many of them hoping that they would be bigger in a couple of days only to come back 2-3 days later and it looked like they were getting smaller.

[Woody]

I was just tellin the Mrs today that we should get out and look around.  Start scouting for the lil delectable delights!  We haven't gone out yet, but plan to soon. 

I'm in West Central Mn.  Let's post our findings and general area-no need to give secret spots out-you can pm those to me! 

[dakids]

I search mostly in the west metro in parks on public land. I did help someone cut a lot of dead elm's this past winter.  I have already aquired permission to all the little shrooms I can find

[Woody]

Well if you need help-let me know! 

[kenhuntin]

It has been so dry around the metro it must be poor pickins. It usually takes a good rain to get them up doesn't it?

[Woody]

Rain does  help.  They are typically found in shaded, moist areas.  Warmth, and a gentle rain seem to really help them.  I've seen it where one day you check a spot-nothing.  The very next day...hundreds in the same spot!  So when they pop-it's usually quick!  And they don't hang around long either.   

[deadeye]

I think we got a while to go before any will be popping up.  In central MN the frost just went out last week so the ground is just too cold.  Much has been said about letting little ones grow but I doubt they do.

[tmjhamann]

just got home from southern Mo and they are just starting to pop down there only found a few in my dads yard hope to do better here 

[Woody]

Where is the best place to look for Morrel's?

Morels emerge as the snow recedes. They fruit most abundantly on disturbed, burned, or recently cleared ground. They may be found under elms that have just died, or in one- to two-year-old wood chip mulch. They also enjoy popping up in fruit orchards. A plentiful crop does not mean that they can be found in the same area in subsequent years, for morels get bored easily and enjoy traveling. Caps usually begin to appear in April in the Continental United States, although we have harvested them in the first week in July in the Sierra Nevada. Because of its appearance, the morel is sometimes called "the sponge mushroom."

From this site- (There's also some recipes at the bottom)
http://www.mssf.org/cookbook/morels.html

Rain does  help.  They are typically found in shaded, moist areas.  Warmth, and a gentle rain seem to really help them.  I've seen it where one day you check a spot-nothing.  The very next day...hundreds in the same spot!  So when they pop-it's usually quick!  And they don't hang around long either.  

[Woody]

Here's some more useful info. I found while scanning the web.  Use the Google search bar at the top of the page and enter "Morel" or "Morel Mushrooms".  There's a wealth of information out there about them.   Be sure to look at pictures of them as well as the False Morel-those are poisonous.  It's good to know the difference when out in the field. 

Morel mushrooms are probably the most unique looking fungus you will ever see. They do not grow very large. The cap of the mushroom has many folds and crevaces. The cap actually resembles a lobe of the human brain.

Morel mushrooms are best to find in the Spring. April is a good month to begin your hunting. Since mushrooms are fungus, the best time to look for them is after a fresh rain. The temperature should be right around sixty degrees. If the temperature is any higher it will be a little too warm. Once the temperatures do not fall below fourty degrees morel mushrooms are in season.

The best place to look for morel mushrooms is in heavily wooded areas. This type of area allows the temperature to stay cooler and keeps moisture longer. The best places in the forest areas to look are under thick brush or in dried creek or river beds. When collecting the morel mushrooms make sure to leave some behind for future harvests. They spread through mushrooom spores, so they sort of "self pollinate" themselves.

  *E-how.com

[dakids]

Found ONE today

[Big E]

Wow already huh? You must be in the southern part of the state??? Well that's awesome I am jealous. I will be looking this weekend over by Sandstone, MN but I doubt I will find any this early up there. I've heard you need a few consecutive days in the 70's and nights no lower than 50. Just what I've heard. I'll also be looking next weekend. I'll keep you posted.

[dakids]

I live in the west metro, and found it in the eden prairie area.

[Big E]

Just as I thought I found nothing. Still a little cool up there. I'll be back up next weekend planting trees and also keeping an eye out for some morels.

[dakids]

Found enough for a meal today.  They were only in the best spots.  South facing, dead elm, bottom of the ravines with moss.

[Crazy4Outdoors]

We took the kids out yesterday and found about 5 lbs.  Left some smaller ones hoping to go back later in the week; we'll see if they've grown or not.  Will probably try to get out again tonight after work.  Good eatin'!

[dakids]

Had a great day!!!  The shrooms are starting to pop and they are the bigger ones to. I found 126 and also found a dead dear (pretty nice 8 pointer).  Best spot was a big dead elm at the top of a ravine.  It was a river of mushrooms all of the way to the bottom.  VERY COOL!

[Woody]

Nice find! 

*Note to self-start stalking dakids! 

[dakids]

Like Jesse used to say. "You haven't hunted till you hunt man."  Good luck Jeff.  I will be going out Sunday morning when the cock crows. 

[dakids]

Went out this morning and found another 45 big mushrooms.  Didn't see Jeff, I think I gave him the slip before I got to the hot spot.

[Woody]

I was there..... disguised as a shrub.   

[Woody]

Splinter and I went out looking for morels today-no luck.  Since moving to the area I've never really searched for them until today.  We'll still try in the coming days, but I'm afraid we'll miss it this year.