Mushroom Hunting
- Thread starter hawkfan
- Start date
I'm thinking we still need about 2 weeks.
In Ames, we've had a few warm days, but we haven't had as much moisture. We still need more extended warm weather and moisture before we see much for morels, IMO.
In Ames, we've had a few warm days, but we haven't had as much moisture. We still need more extended warm weather and moisture before we see much for morels, IMO.
Morel Progression Sightings Map
I will be out and about this following week!
BTW, does anyone know any prime ground in Iowa City area?
I will be out and about this following week!
BTW, does anyone know any prime ground in Iowa City area?
In my experinces of mushroom hunting, other fellow hunters will always tell you where they find them. We rented some additional farm ground this year and it has a huge tree wind break due to it being next to a landfill. We noticed this week about 4-600 dead elm trees in it. Hopefully they shed some morels and that will be the only place we hunt.
Growing up in Western Iowa that has always been my experience as well.... apparently not with CycloneYoda! :sad::wink:
Looks like another unsuccessful attempt at Lake MacBride this year... Maybe I'll collect enough to put on a burger...
Yeah I guess I should have used this
There are people finding greys in my area which is about 35 miles north and east of Baxter.
There are people who have been finding a few, mainly in the southern half of the state. But it is still early and I don't plan on going out and looking for at least 1-2 more weeks.
S
st8
Guest
here's my tip for you in the lake macbride area. take a boat and go to some of the places that are very hard for someone to walk too (far from the trails and park roads). most of the people that hunt mushrooms want to get out of the car and not walk very far to find some. you need to be the guy that's willing to walk further than everyone else if you want to find them out there. I did this last year and filled a grocery sack out there. although, like cycloneyoda, I'm selfish and you're gonna have to do the legwork.
Any suggestions for how to get into Mushroom hunting? I wouldn't know where to start in terms of area or what I'd be looking for.
I like to find a dead elm tree with the bark just starting to shag off. I've also had some luck around cedar groves. Sunny hillsides can produce big white ones later in the season. You never know where one will pop up, though. One time I looked all day with no luck, then found some in my girlfriend's yard when I was picking her up for a date.
I usually use a grocery bag, cuz its easy to carry. But experts recommend a mesh bag to help spread the spores of what you have picked. Morels look like a yellow, brown or gray prune with an integral stem. If you see one, mark the spot and squat down and look. There are typically more in the area. Good luck and save some for the rest of us.
Here are some pictures:
These made my mouth water. There's still a wait up here in the Northland.
These made my mouth water. There's still a wait up here in the Northland.
Usually in or along edge of timber. A lot of people go to Red Rock, I would think the Saylorville, Jesper Park areas would be good. Don't wear red, white or blue- colors of tom turkeys' head, as this is also turkey season. Be very careful if you are on hunting land, probably best to stay away if there are any other vehicles.
I'm about to ask some dumb questions, but I don't know anything about this topic or anyone else who does, so here goes:
What do you do with the mushrooms that you find? Eat them in the next few days? Can them? Give them away/sell them? Any interesting recipes?
Seems like a lot of work for something I can buy at the store for a few bucks, is it worth the effort? I suppose for someone who is an outdoors enthusiast it can be pretty fun.
What do you do with the mushrooms that you find? Eat them in the next few days? Can them? Give them away/sell them? Any interesting recipes?
Seems like a lot of work for something I can buy at the store for a few bucks, is it worth the effort? I suppose for someone who is an outdoors enthusiast it can be pretty fun.
I've never been able to buy a morel worth a damn at a store. Besides, food tastes much better when you hunted it, killed it and cooked it up yourself. It brings out the primal instincts. Of course, these are easier to kill than most animals. :wink:
We just fry them up in butter (no margarine, please) with a flour breading. I think it is best if you eat them with a steak and salad. Soak them in water for a few hours first, though. This gets any sand or bugs out that tend to like to hide in the little folds.
They can be very rich this way so be careful about eating too many or with nothing else. I once ate a bunch of them before driving to Chicago. I have never been so sick in my life. It put me off of them for a couple of years. I would get nauseated just smelling them frying. I still love them, though.
Yeah I guess I should have used this. No way I'm telling you about my hunting spots.
I was going to say...I thought it was common knowledge that "prime hunting spots" are highly classified. Its kind of like saying, "I found this shipwreck that is full of old Pirate gold on public land. This is where it is located ______"
First and foremost, make sure you have a valid DNR Mushroom and Fungus Harvester's License. The fines for not having proper licensing are steep.
Here's a false morel, although I don't see how someone would think it's a morel but apparently it's happened. I've actually seen a couple of these, so they are in Iowa. These are highly toxic so don't pick em.
