I didn't answer this.... I have all kinds... lots of hickory, beech, maples, aspen trees ... creeks, ravines, swamp.... Dave, how close to Kentucky are you? I will be there Thursday taking Andrew to see his sister :D that thing is massive! That is what I am talking about, soldier ..... and it is only enough if that is all you know....
That's only a minute fraction of what I know from over 50 years of mushroom hunting. If you want to know all, you have to work for the knowledge just like I did. POW!
I find them by patches of elms with some dead falls. Make sure you check the insides as they get a lot of slugs inside.
Honestly never found one. I tend to let my friends run themselves ragged finding them all spring, and I just eat them.
Sounds like you hunt the same kind of area as I do. Are you in Pike County? As for the OP, I would find this book... http://www.amazon.com/Morels-Michael-Kuo/dp/0472030361
My second favorite thing besides deer hunting!! The key to when is soil temps, as CLS said look for may apples to be about 6" tall. Around here its all about the elm trees for me, and if you stumble on a decent patch chances are they will be there for years!! Mushroom pron!
Dying Elms is the best that I've found. Meaning the bark is starting to fall of the tree. Not completely off. I generally only look real close around dying elms. They can be found anywhere as said before. South facing hills are the best. Bread them in any of your favorite breading or just fry up in butter. I like them both ways.
I don't think I've ever seen one or recognized one in the wild. I'll make that my goal, find a morel when the snow is gone. It's just about all went away today.
I usually don't find a ton of them (a few hundred), but the ones that I do find usually start on south facing hillsides and move over to the north sides as the season progresses. I usually find them year after year in the same exact spots. For me, this is around deadfalls, moist thick leaves, anything that holds moisture and has quite a bit of decay. When I get them back to the house I split them in half and soak in salt water for a day or so to kill any bugs. As far as cooking, I dip them in egg and roll in flour/seasoning and pan fry them. It doesn't take long to cook them and they are awesome.
Dang, Josh! We have to hook up when I get out there again....next time will be for more than a few days...
I'd say it is one of the few counties that has more old stripper banks than Greene County. Here are some pictures from last year. It was early and the weather wasn't good for morels, but my grandma and I still found a good amount.
We are finally getting some good weather. high 70s - low 80's during hte day and mid 50's at night all week long, rain on thursday. Should be a great weekend for mushrooms
I'll be headed out this weekend. After tomorrow we'll have had 5 consecutive 70 plus degree days with overnight lows near 50. Soil temps, which I feel are most critical on the when, not if, have been above 50 for 5 straight days. The deluge of rain heading this way is the icing on the cake, although it may be a bit much for the short term, but for the season in general you can't ask for a better set up. Biggest question is keeping the grounds moist with periodic rains. The potential is there for one of the best season here in central IL. Then again, it seems like they all start out this way before the monkey wrench is tossed in. While I won't come home with a mess or even anything of size, I have high confidence I'll find at least one. I'll stop short of a guarantee
Ive been thinking the same thing. Seems this year in Central IL things are setting up for a monster of a season. I doubt Ill head out this weekend, yet, but you are right about the soil temps. I sure hope this cold snap doesnt hurt the ones pushing through too much.
I'm not too worried about the cold, it happens every year(except last year) and never has too much of an effect. Now if we get freezing temps in about 2-3 weeks it'll be reason for concern as they'll already be up in numbers and it would likely cause early rot in them. Usually once or twice during typical seasons we'll get a couple frost warnings for tender vegetation issued. Par for the course. Good luck this year, just had a heavy dose of rain with more on the way. Downside is the high hasn't even came close to the 72 degrees currently forecast. Should recover some over the next few hours though.
