I've been thinking last week of March first week of April for awhile now. Finally seeing some progress to the south. Much like 2012 it is going to be an early season in a lot of areas. That year I was done before I would normally start looking. Normal year would be around Masters weekend to the 20th of April. Hoping a cooler April will have a long season, moisture should not be a problem this year.
Hard to explain, you'd just have to try them. They're the only mushrooms I'll eat. Although I'd like to try a properly prepared chantrelle and Hen of the Woods. The hunt alone is well worth it as well. Gets you back out in the woods. I would still look for them even if I couldn't eat them anymore.
I wouldn't do that, you may need them both for turkeys, lol. They were thick here last year, I found more huge morels last year than I've found my entire life. I hope it doesn't mean a bad year this year.
Just be careful where there are rattlesnakes. This was my view looking straight down under a dead elm looking for morels. I am still glad there were no mushrooms.
Shouldn't hurt a bit for most as long as they are not up, the ones that are up could be stunted and not grow. Cold and some snow is pretty common, I would rather have that than a big warm up and high winds. Back in 2012 I found my first one on the 19th, a few days later I found a yellow. It normally takes about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks for the yellows to come up after greys start. They all came up at once and the heat and wind made it a short season for me, had about a week and a half of good hunting and found quite a bit, but found them for about 4 weeks. I would rather have a 5-6 week season with cooler temps and moderate rains every 3-4 days ala 2013. This year should be better than 2012, but next year with la Nina in control is the one I am looking for most. Really need a long duration freeze in the winter and we just didn't have that this winter.
I heard rumors of some found in southern Indiana this last week I wouldn't expect any until the lilacs bloom out
We've been pickin in OK for a couple of weeks already... Shameless plug for my Oklahoma Morel Report page: Oklahoma Morel Report and a video segment that will be airing on Outdoor Oklahoma - the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's TV program this Sunday, March 27th. Since most of yuall don't get OK's PBS station, here is the youtube link:
Not that I want it now, but I wish we would have gotten a really long freeze with a good snow pack this winter. Biggest snow was 4" twice, pretty lackluster but to be expected with a strong Nino. I'm not real sure what to expect around here. April is shaping up to be a cool stormy month. Could make for a long season or wreak havoc, hoping for the former than the latter.
I've seen a few people have found some in PA, but I wont start looking until around Turkey season. Seems to be the best, but I rarely find that many.
