Anyone else into mushroom hunting?
 

I got into Morel hunting a few years ago. Morel hunting seems to go hand in hand with shed antler hunting. My hunt for Morels blossomed into a search for any safe, edible, mushroom found in the woods.

I've limited myself to the "infallible four" (Morel, Chanterelle, Chicken of the woods, and puffballs). I joined a FB group for NW OH Morels and found my "mushroom mentor". I had always hear that "wherever the May apples grow there will be Morels too" In our woods we have HUGE patches of May apples. The thing I like most about it is, it allows me to bring my non hunting kids into a hobby I enjoy which is just being outdoors. My oldest daughter and I spent a weekend last year foraging in the Cuyahoga Falls area and even venturing down to Mohican.

I found my first Morels last year. I did a simple sauté rather than the "normal" pan fry method just to get a taste of the mushroom. I had seen "chicken of the woods" from my tree stand on several occasions but didn't know what it was. Once I realized it was edible I snagged some and sautéed again to get an idea of the flavor profile. TI haven't found any chanterelles yet and haven't felt the urge to grab any of the puffball variety.

So any other "shroomers" here? If so, don't hesitate to share pics of your finds.



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I've seen a facebook group for folks in Texas that are into hunting and growing mushrooms including morels. I've found some cool/interesting mushrooms on our property. But I've never been tempted to eat anything that I found in the wild. You're a brave man!

Growing up, I don't think I ever had any food that contained anything other than canned mushrooms which I've always hated due to the consistency.

In the last 5-10 years, we found some stuff for sale in the grocery store, I think they're "Smallhold" brand, and they are amazing.

I love good mushrooms. It's the crappy little canned ones that I'm not a fan of.

All of these that I've ever tried have been amazing.
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Years ago I would go and find a bag of Morels when the conditions were right. (as in your pic) They are excellent in taste. The spots where I found them then...no longer have any.

I've been told they only grow a few years on spots where dead tree roots are.
It's much too early here for them.

Around here, a good indicator of 'time to hunt' is when the ferns come up and start to unbend.

I am always afraid I will find one of the mushrooms that feeds me for the rest of my life. So I will pass on gathering my food in the wild. I will stick to grocery stores.

I go out and look about every spring, but I don't usually find any on purpose. I have had better luck coming across them by accident. I used to be an avid hunter.
One year I was going through the woods with my "hocky stick" ( to push the may apples aside) and I saw a fairy ring of morels in a patch of sunlight. I went straight to it and picked probably a dozen before I noticed where I was. I was in the middle of a BUNCH of snakes sunning themselves in the patch of sunlight. They were so thick I couldn't get out of there without stepping on some.
So - I'm not such an avid hunter now.

We go looking a couple times a year, last year about 80lbs total.

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My "mushroom mentor" grows for resale and forages for fun but can sell foraged mushrooms in certain areas. When I first met him last year, he gave me some Lion's mane for letting him come onto my property good stuff!.

There's a reason I stick to the "infallible four". It minimizes risk.

This sandwich is on my "must try" list.

https://wickedkitchen.com/grilled-chicken-of-the-woods-sandwich/

Chicken of the woods (not my pic)


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If you have some land to hunt, I'd love to join you sometime. I'll bring the cigars if you're still into those. Nothing better than walking the woods with a nice cigar. I'm into the "cheap but good" cigars. My go to is a La Aroma De Cuba El Jefe, long lasting which is a necessity. Next I need to buy a flask to carry along a little Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Might not find any mushrooms, but won't really care. :D

I've done my share of tiptoeing thru the cow fields, but not in 30+ years

For me it's just another reason to go out and enjoy nature. I could do without the ticks though. I've started spraying Deep Woods Off around my ankles, waist and wrists (I tend to wear a lightweight long sleeve shirt) which seems to help. I got one on me back in December because I let my guard down. :mad:

I used to. Until I nearly died.

The only advice I can give is to really really really identify the mushrooms you pick.

There are a number of patches in the woods near my place in Vermont where chanterelles come up twice a year


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In college I hunted Psilocybin mushrooms...now it's Morel mushrooms.

Morels taste better.....priorities :D


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The folks I've met down here like the ones that grow in cow patties... I haven't tried any.

24, May 2024 outside my front door:


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II pretty much only go after chanterelle and morel. Easily identifiable and taste the best to me. I mostly filled a 5 gal. bucket with Morel last spring, all found in a hundred foot radius, but it's a crap shoot. They probably won't appear there this year

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Our daughter is really into it, last summer she took us out one morning, and this was our haul! Not all are edible, but we wanted a good photo op.

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So do you like take your rifle and shoot it or??? Does it require a license? :P


rjp

Anyone in the PNW who can school me in hunting truffles? I even have 260 acres of private land in the Coastal Range and Cascades we can use.

The rifle does come along! It's just for the groundhogs when I spot one. The 9mm comes along just for some fun. The knife in the picture above is the primary tool for harvesting the "game". ;)

NICE!! The one in my OP was found 4/28/24. I'm hoping to find one earlier this year. I've been out doing ground temperature readings. Ground temp around 50 is supposed to be an indicator for when to start looking. Last weekend the highest reading I got was 49.

My friend in Manistee invited me up for some Morel hunting. You guys have it too good up there! BTW the cigar offer stands for you too.

Used to collect them with my ex FIL, rest in peace Stan.

First thing I did was join a local Facebook group. From there I asked questions and even asked if anyone was willing to teach me more about mushroom hunting. I offered to bring them onto my property. My mushroom mentor offered to teach me more about and asked if I'd be willing to share in what we found. I told him "you teach me and you can have all we find!" A friendship was formed. We've been in touch and are talking about getting together in a few weeks.

^^^Maybe so. There is a group that is located not far from the Coastal Range property in the town of Corvallis that does this. They would be a great resource, not certain I am that dedicated to join in. Thanks!

Been a half dozen times in the Santa Cruz mountains. A friend is an expert and she knows how to identify those that are safe to eat. Good exercise too.

Not any more .... I miss weekend outdoor music festivals and half-nekkid hippie chicks too...

Be careful "out there" :D

Maybe do what folks in the tech section here do... join and read. A lot of helpful information gets posted. There's a constant flow of "is this edible?" threads that might help identify and an equally constant flow of "where are the best places to look" threads.

Starting the spring morel hunt later today. No rain in nearly two weeks so I'm not too optimistic.

Nice! I hope you find a few surprises out there. If not, just enjoy the walk.

That's a great photo!!

^^^ I only spot one that I would dare eat.
The Morel in the lower right.

I’m not seeing a morel.

^^^ it's upside down with the stem completely off....lower right.

Well if that’s a morel, I’m not coming over for your world-famous mushroom steak any time soon.

I'm confident enough to eat it.
If I die, I was wrong. :D

Maybe he had too many of those Psilocybin mushrooms he mentioned? :D

I'm not seeing a Morel either.

No wonder you guys are having a hard time finding them....they come in flat tops also.:)

Psilocybin mushrooms are not that great on steaks.

Not that I'm aware of. Morels have a very recognizable shape which is what makes them part of the infallible four.