The story of the morel: Warmer weather and more humidity mean it's time for mushroom hunting

It�s warming up outside and there�s more humidity in the air, which means it�s just about the right time of the year for hunting morel mushrooms � if you know how to find them.

It depends on the location, but here in Southeast Missouri, morels can be found earlier than they would in northern Missouri, said Angela Pierce, a naturalist with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

�It also depends on temperature and moisture level, which this year we have quite a bit of moisture, which is a good sign,� Pierce said. �I would suspect typically late March through April is your �morel season.��

Morel hunting is a fairly popular activity, Pierce said, because once a �morel spot� is found, mushroom hunters typically don�t give that spot away, similar to discovering a �fishing hole.�

�You do see that a lot of people who have a spot, maybe they�ll share with their friends and family, but it is kind of a secret,� Pierce said.

A false morel, also sometimes referred to as a red morel, which can be poisonous, is seen here.Missouri Department of Conservation

Pierce said many people look for morels around dead ash trees, wooded environments and on ridge tops, but morels typically prefer bottomland where it stays moist, such as an oak or hickory forest.

Morels also may be seen one year and not the next, Pierce explained, because of wildlife finding them first, such as box turtles, deer or turkey.

�But typically, when you see them in one location, you can go back to that area,� she said.

There are three main species of edible morels that are quite popular according to Pierce: the �black morel,� the �half-free morel� and the �yellow morel.�

The half-free are typically smaller and they�re edible, �but there�s not as much to them to eat� Pierce said.

Pierce said there are many different characteristics to consider when identifying mushrooms, such as smell, spore type, shape, size and color.

And if you�re hunting them, watch out for the imitations.

One species � the gabled false morel � is fairly difficult to confuse with the genuine, Pierce said, but a lot of people also confuse them with the �big, red false morel,� which typically grows �quite large� and its shape does not resemble a pyramid, as real morels do.

�When you cut them, all true morels are hollow from top to bottom,� Pierce said. �If you cut the stalk, there will be sections that are solid.�

Pierce said she knows of people who have eaten false morels, but the Missouri Department of Conservation doesn�t recommend them for consumption.

�There�s a chemical in false morels that�s the same chemical in jet fuel. It can build up in your body and cause organ damage over time,� Pierce said. �They can be deadly to people, but it depends on your sensitivity.�

Pierce said false morels are easier to distinguish from the true morels because they�re darker in color and are redder. It can get tricky, though, to decipher when they�re immature, but �they�re pretty distinct.�

If going morel hunting or mushroom hunting at all, Pierce encouraged bringing a mesh bag along for transport because it serves as the �fruiting body of the mushrooms.�

The morel�s main living organism is underground, in a form of mycelium, which serves as the morel�s root system, she said.

The fruiting body is what allows the morels to produce more the next season, Pierce said, with the spores being released from the fruiting body.

�So if you bring a mesh bag as you move through the forest carrying them, you�re also helping them spread the spores,� Pierce said.

Pierce said the spores look similar to dust, and they�re �very tiny.�

A fun activity to try at home is taking a �spore print� of a mushroom, she said.

Cut the morel in half and lay it across one sheet of black paper and a sheet of white paper. Leave the morel overnight, then when it�s removed the next day, you can see the spores that are left behind since spores come in different colors.

Pierce said there are a lot of state parks that have morels that can be collected for consumption. But if you were to use public land like a state park or conservation area, you should first check the area regulations regarding collection.

�[In some locations], it�s prohibited to collect. But if you go to Trail of Tears State Park, they allow collection as long as it�s for your own consumption,� Pierce said.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

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2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.