Morel Mushroom Hunting

[trahn007]

will not be long before these start to show up.

[David LaFerney]

Fish!

[Pillpeddler]

Someone in the pharmacy yesterday was telling about a guy who'd found 1000 last week and sold 800.   I didn't think they would be up yet, usually coincides with turkey season.   Great twofer visit in the woods.   I keep an onion sack as part of my turkey outfit. 

[AllenF]

Is there good money in those boogers?

[Natalie]

Yup and mushroom hunters never share their locations with anyone. If they know where the mushrooms are they aren't telling and if you find a good place you keep your mouth shut.
They can unload tons of them at a time by just going around to the restaraunts.
Mushrooms grow well in the forest wherever their has previously been a fire.

[AllenF]

Well then just what part of the country do they grow in? 
 I have seen ginseng growing in the mountains, but not enough to make it worth while.  People what hundreds or thousands of pounds of the dried ginseng to ship to them at one time.  Has anyone ever collect them for market?

[Shawn]

I know they grown in NE Indiana. I plan on making a trip this year just to go look for them. Natalie is right about not sharing info. Mushroom hunters keep their info very secret. Another important thing is not to pull the base out of the ground. Cut it off just below ground level and cover the cut part up with dirt and leaves. I watched a show on the Travel Channel where it is a coat throat industry and people are using GPS to mark all locations where they find the mushrooms and even go the extent of covering up their tracks to where they walk to. You wont eat a better mushroom other than these.

[joker1656]

Shawn, what part of N/E Indiana will you be in?  Just curious.... hopefully not my woods    I'd hate to shoot a fellow beek

So far around Fort Wayne there has been nothing.  We need some good warm nights, and some rain.  I did find some new shrooms.  Ever try Dryad's Saddle?  They were tasty, but not as good as sponge.

Good luck!

[danno]

blacks have been showing up for over a week here but most of my secret locations have whites and it will be another week or 2 before we start finding them

[Shawn]

Im going into Wells County. I have relatives there so I wont be trespassing, well not much 

[joker1656]

Good luck...

We are just a little North of there. 

[marksmith]

I pick mushrooms to suppliment my income from time to time.  Morels on normal days get 10-12/lb for the whites.  I've seen as high as 30/lb for them....


I make it a point to carry when I am picking mushrooms.  I had come out of the woods once to find a group waiting for me.  They wanted my mushrooms and had flattened my tires. I kept my distance and informed them I didn't appreciate their presence.  They kindly went away after a little persuasion.


Had 2200 bucks of morels that day.  Used most of it up to get someone out there to replace all 4 tires so I could drive home.


Dont know how your guys area is... but here in the PNW they take picking mushrooms very seriously.  Also... FWIW, I prefer shaggy mein (sp?) and chantrelle over the morel.  A good beginners book for mushroom picking is 'All that the rain promises and more' It is a very easy to use guide that focuses on most of the EDIBLE mushrooms of North America and also shows the false varieties so you can distinguish between them.

[joker1656]

Is the "shaggy mane" the same thing as the "lawyers wig"?  If it is, I have heard that both that and the chantrelle are very tasty. 

Thanks for the book title.  I will have to look it up.

[Irwin]

Mark next time I see you can I borrow that book and I would like to see your food dryer to get some Idea's.I used to dry chantrelle when the price was down and sell them to a broker in portland for a good price.

[marksmith]

Absolutely!

I will make sure to keep it in the truck.  I know what I am looking for and haven't cracked the book open in a few years.

[Shawn]

Well got back yesterday from Indiana but did not find any mushrooms. I tried several days, when it didnt rain, and nothing. I think the only thing I got was posion ivy 

[luvin honey]

Is there good money in those boogers?

Holy cow, yes! They usually sell for around $40/lb around here. Not that I would ever, ever part with any of my finds!!

[luvin honey]

Yup and mushroom hunters never share their locations with anyone. If they know where the mushrooms are they aren't telling and if you find a good place you keep your mouth shut.

Isn't that the truth? ALL the neighbors hunt for them, and nobody's talking. Not a word.

[luvin honey]

Well then just what part of the country do they grow in?

I think in most parts...