Topic: Hunting for Mushrooms?

[Farmtalk]

Does anyone hunt morel mushrooms on here? I've always read that, like most mushrooms, morels like a moist area to grow. I used to have a lot of morels on my property that I nabbed four or five years ago, but the last three years, I haven't seen the first morel. Last year was super wet as well. It's about time to go into the season here in the eastern US, so I was curious as to whether anyone else participated in looking for them. They may look ugly, but they definitely do not taste that when they are fried.  The morel sighting map below already has many areas seeing them.

[nincehelser]

Yep.  Morel mushroom season should start in a few weeks in eastern Nebraska.  It usually occurs sometime between mid-April and mid-May, usually peaking for about a week or so. 

Back in 2012 the season got going at the end of March.

https://www.facebook.com/nincehelser/media_set?set=a.2881212313786.2120301.1364410112&type=3

[Farmtalk]

The last time I had a great year, they didn't pop up here until early April. I usually start checking the woods right when blooms on trees begin to pop up (Like dogwood, etc). Just no luck I suppose. 

[tbrasel]

Yes, but us folks down here in the Ozarks...of them...there...mountains...refer to them as "dry land fish" 

[Farmtalk]

...refer to them as "dry land fish" 

Boy, they sure do smell like it when you find them! Not the most pleasant smell for sure. 

[nincehelser]

...refer to them as "dry land fish" 

Boy, they sure do smell like it when you find them! Not the most pleasant smell for sure. 

Really?  They shouldn't have much of an odor.  What smell there is most people seem to like.  Sort of a nice clean earthy smell like moss.  If they smell "fishy", you might want to have someone else check them out.  There are a few "false morels" that spoil very quickly.

The "land fish" reference probably comes from the way their cross-section looks when split in half.

[tbrasel]

...refer to them as "dry land fish" 

Boy, they sure do smell like it when you find them! Not the most pleasant smell for sure. 

The "land fish" reference probably comes from the way their cross-section looks when split in half.

You nailed it! That was the observation/appearance I was referencing too.

[Farmtalk]

I've eaten many before, and mine are always a little on the stronger side on smell. Mine always smell just like fish to me. I've eaten dozens of them  It's just been a little while since I've had any luck. 

[tbrasel]

Just don't have the time to go, or not finding them?

I have not gone for sometime. I am still was raising my little darlings, just not enough time in the day when raising kiddos .   

However, I am about to push those little darlings out of their nest here before for to long & get back to my ol ways   

[Bushman]

A Spring tradition for my family (May or early June up here).  http://www.kansascity.com/sports/outdoors/article23124588.html  I would kill for a morel like that!

[Farmtalk]

Just don't have the time to go, or not finding them?

I am finishing up my last semester of college, so time has only been found when I am home, but otherwise, mainly the latter in just not finding them. I look everywhere too, it's not out laziness of not combing through the woods. I've found that for some reason they seem to like poplar trees around here. Maybe that is a load of hogwash, but most of my success has come near a group of populars in times past.

A Spring tradition for my family (May or early June up here).  http://www.kansascity.com/sports/outdoors/article23124588.html  I would kill for a morel like that!

I have never nabbed a morel half that size! Jeez you could make a meal out of that thing! 1 FOOT! 

[nincehelser]

Looks like they're already popping in Nebraska:  https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska-Morels-203101076390891/

Hopefully I can make it back to Nebraska for the peak.