Tricks of the Trade
-->In the early spring hunt Southern facing slopes. These areas will get more direct sunlight and warm the ground temperature much faster. Morels will tend to show themselves first in areas that will get more sunlight early on in the season.
-->Later on in the season, hunt Northern facing slopes. These areas get less direct sunlight and will tend to hold the moisture a bit longer. When the weather becomes more on the hot side morels will dry up and stop producing in areas with direct sunlight most of the day. By hunting northern facing slopes, you can actually extend your morel season a bit longer.
-->When hunting steep hills and slopes, always start at the bottom and work your way up. The reason for this is simple...While walking up the hill, it makes it easier to spot the morels because you will be looking at the morels against the horizon and you will actually be closer to the ground. The morels will actually stand out. Walking down hill it is much more difficult to spot morels against the forest floor and just under your feet and you will actually be standing much taller than the morels more than you normally would hunting level ground.
-->Always carry a compass with you while in the woods to avoid getting lost. and make sure you know how to use it.
-->A GPS is good to take in the woods, it will get you back to exactly where you parked your car, but always take along a compass as well and spare batteries. Don't just rely on a GPS to get you out. I have heard of Satellites being shut down periodically for reasons unknown therefore you wont be able to receive a signal. You never know when your GPS could malfunction. Always carry a compass too.
-->Take along a canteen of water and snacks for those long journeys.
-->If it's your first time Mushroom hunting go with an experienced hunter first to help you identify the true morels from the false ones.
-->Take a mesh bag or onion sack with you to place your morels in. It is believed by many that as you walk around the woods the spores from the morels in your bag will fall though the bag and produce more morels in the up coming years. There have been many debates about this subject and I will be adding a page to this web site about morel spores and mesh bags. If anything else the mesh bag will keep your morels fresh and let air circulate around them while you are still in the woods. Plastic bags will build up heat and cause your morels to mildew.
-->Pinch or cut the morel at the stem. Never pull the mushroom from the ground. This will destroy the mycelium damaging the morel's root system resulting in no chance of that morel returning the next season or thus preventing future spore from producing more morels in the area. (Morels tend to fruit in the same places year after year if the root system is not disturbed and as long as conditions are favorable.)
-->Always take out of the woods what you bring into the woods. In other words please do not litter the woods with trash. Morel hunters have a good reputation for respecting the woods and keeping them clean. Lets all continue to carry on the reputation.
-->Normally when you find a morel usually there will be more near by. Get down close to the ground and scan the ground ahead of you instead of always looking straight down at it. Sometimes it is easier to see morels at a longer plane of view rather than trying to spot them looking straight down at them.
-->Start at the base of a tree (host) and walk circles around the tree with each pass making each circle larger until you have searched in a 15-20 yard radius.
-->Hunt hardwoods. Look for the hosting trees. Check around Ash, Elm, Poplar, Maple, and Apple trees. There are others but these seem to be the main hosting trees that morels prefer.
-->Look up as much as you look down. You say what the heck is he playing at? What I mean is; get into the habit of looking up and identifying your trees rather just staring at the ground. For example if you happen to stumble upon a wooded patch of Oak trees you might as well go looking in the swamp because you would be wasting your time and energy. You won't find morels growing in an oak forest. Keep your eyes open for the main hosting trees.
-->Always try to remember the spots that you find morels. Morels tend to fruit in the same spots from year to year but not in all cases. I always mark a spot with my GPS that has a good flush. I have found that some of my spots that hold a good flush usually produces a flush in the following year if this is one of those spots that continues year after year.
Happy Hunting and Good Luck.
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