Tips for a Successful Morel Hunt

The number one question I would get asked when I returned home with a bag of mushrooms was, “Where’d you find those”?! Being the naive youngster I was, I would go into great detail explaining exactly where I had found the bounty. I know now that the correct response is, “I found them by a tree in the woods”.

If you’re looking for tips on when and where to find mushrooms, check out my post, “7 Signs of Mushroom Season”. Otherwise, keep reading to know what to do next.

Here is the lowdown on how to have a successful mushroom hunting excursion when the time is right.

#1 Get Permission

There is nothing more frustrating than planning on going mushroom hunting and seeing a car parked on the side of the road in front of owned land and you know that person is trespassing. I want everyone to be able to experience mushroom hunting and have the opportunity, but there’s public land for that, or hunt the right way and get permission.

If you do know a landowner, make sure you get permission from them to go mushroom hunting and get renewed permission each time you go. Don’t assume that since you asked once that it’s a free ticket to go whenever you want.

Another thing to make sure of is that you know the property lines so you don’t accidentally trespass on their neighbor’s land. And, whatever you do, don’t park in the driveway into a field in case the farmer needs to get through. Mushroom season is around the same time as planting time and more than likely a farmer may need to get through the driveway to get to the field they’re working.

If you do end up getting permission from someone, it’d be a nice gesture to share a portion of your find with the landowner. Following this set of tips might ensure you’re welcomed back in the future.

#2 Wear the Right Clothes

Even if it’s a beautiful day out, you don’t want to show too much skin while you’re traipsing through the woods. Wearing long pants, preferably jeans, close-toed shoes, and a light long-sleeve shirt will help protect you from brush, weeds, and bushes while you’re looking for those mushrooms. You don’t want to have to avoid a certain area just because you aren’t dressed for the occasion.

Other accessories I like to wear include a billed hat to keep my hair from getting caught by branches and leather gloves to protect my hands from any weeds and twigs while walking or reaching for my finds.

#3 Bring a Bag

This seems like a no-brainer, but don’t forget to bring a bag on your mushroom hunting adventure. I like to have one or two bags stashed in my car and in my mom and dad’s ATV in case I decide to take a quick look somewhere while out and about.

A good old-fashioned grocery bag works just fine, but I’ve had the misfortune of getting it caught on a branch causing it to rip so beware of any holes so you don’t lose any precious cargo. Now, we as a family like using bags like potato bags, onion bags, or mesh laundry bags.

Some people say it’s good to have a bag with holes in it so the mushrooms can drop their spores while you continue to hunt.

#4 Find a Mushroom Stick

Find a mushroom stick shortly after you begin hunting. Any old stick will do, but the best stick is about 3-4 feet long and has a slight curve at the bottom; almost like a hockey stick, I suppose.

Most of the time I’ll drop the stick when I’m done hunting for the day or put it in the Mahindra for the next hunt. My sister found the mushroom stick of all mushroom sticks last year and she keeps it at my place for future uses.

Another bonus of a mushroom stick is that it’s great to knock down spiderwebs as you’re walking through the woods. After running into too many to count, I finally got smart and just wave my stick in front of me if I even think there will be a chance of webs between a close pair of trees.

Having a mushroom stick can help move the foliage so you are more likely to find mushrooms like this one pictured here.

#4 Know Where to Look

Mushrooms can seem to come out of nowhere but if you know some common spots of where they grow, you can have a more directed search. Here is a quick overview of good places to look, but for more detail, follow this LINK to read my other post for the lowdown on where and when to find morels.

South Facing Slopes - Because these areas get the most exposure to sun throughout the day, the ground is naturally warmer and therefore a better environment for mushrooms to pop.

Recently Logged Areas - If there’s been a wooded area that’s been logged recently, it only makes sense for mushrooms to follow either that year or the next few years later. The root systems left behind is a perfect food source for mushrooms to thrive on while they decompose.

Cleaned Fence Rows - Fence rows to mark property lines and pasture areas tend to get overgrown with weed trees and lots of viney plants over the years. When a person gets around to clearing those things out, it leaves more root systems to decompose and provide nutrients for mushrooms to grow. The same could probably be said for areas cleared by power line companies that do clearing of trees near power lines.

#5 Know What to Avoid

As kids, my siblings and I learned certain plants to avoid either by suggestion from our dad or by unfortunate encounters. While hunting, be sure you know what plants to avoid so your hunting trip isn’t ruined due to an avoidable rash or scratch.

I’m no naturalist, but I do know to stay clear of “itchy weed” aka nettles, and “pokeys” aka multiflora rose buses... told ya, not a naturalist, but at least I’m aware of my surroundings.

If you see a viney plant growing up a tree with three leaves, it is likely another plant to avoid as it could be poison oak or poison ivy. Someone once told me, “if there’s three, let it be” (referring to the number of leaves).

Take a look at the pictures below to know what you may be up against.

#6 Don’t Get Mad if You Get “Skunked”

Someone asked how mushroom hunting was over the weekend and I let them know I had gotten skunked… they literally thought I got sprayed by a skunk! Nope… just so you all understand, when someone says they got “skunked”, it means they didn’t find any mushrooms.

Don’t worry if this happens to you, it happens to the best of us. Remember, you had the chance to be in nature and get some good exercise under your belt no matter what.

Getting skunked isn’t so bad when you come across something as beautiful as this along the way.

#7 Check for Ticks!!!

One possible downside of mushroom hunting is ticks. Try not to let yourself be paranoid about ticks so that it ruins your hunting, but it’s important to check for for them after you are done. Shake out your clothes, shake out your hair, and feel for any bumps. If you do find a tick that is attached, be careful about how you remove it.

Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic website so you can read what they suggest on how to handle things.

The biggest thing to know is that Lymes disease is a possibility and is something you should be aware of. I have a few friends who have had Lyme disease, and it’s something I never want to get so I try to be extra cautious and aware after hunting.

From what I understand, deer ticks are more worrisome of being possible carriers of Lyme compared to wood ticks, so pay attention to the size as deer ticks are much smaller. If you find an attached tick on you and are worried, keep an eye on the bite area for the next week or longer.

If you develop a bullseye-like rash, contact your doctor and tell them your concerns so you can start treatment for Lyme. When this happened to me, I made sure to push the fact that Lyme is in my area and that my dogs had been diagnosed in the past. That way my doctor knew there was a stronger likelihood that Lyme was a possibility.

#8 Tell Someone Your Plans

Now I know I told you in the beginning of this post that you shouldn’t tell anyone about where you find your mushrooms, but any time you are doing hiking or anything of the sort, it’s important that someone knows where you are and how long you plan on being gone. That way if you run into any trouble such as getting lost or taking a tumble there’s someone aware and knows to send help if you don’t turn up.

You can tell someone your general hunting area without being too specific, right?

I hope you enjoyed reading and learned a few things to make your next mushroom hunt an enjoyable experience.

Check out my next blog post to get the lowdown on what to do with the mushrooms you do find, including how to store, clean, and cook them.

8 Tips for a Successful Morel Hunt