Morel questions

[leatherneckpa]

You know, until last year I would have thought that was a typo. I'd never even heard of morels. Wayne, are you associated with the Central Pennsylvania Wild Mushroom Club? I saw your note that perhaps morels would be up next week. That led to searching for a local mycologist, which in turn led to CPWMC.

I'm considering spending the $20 a year just to see what it's all about. I'm also wondering just how strenuous mushroom hunting can be. I can probably handle their 3-4 hour mushroom walks, as long as they aren't mushing it like some deer camp drive. If it's ambling through the woods that's one thing. Quite something else to be serious about making distance.

Anyway, I'm off to do some morel research now on the net and see if I can't find someplace nearby to go hunting this week. Being a geography major originally I will start by narrowing their habitat requirements and the trying to find someplace nearby that fulfills those.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Ok, I can help you out. First off, I do not belong to any of those clubs, filled with too many arrogant. self-important asshats. I tried but after having to suppress the urge to rip someones tonsils out, I just found a local guy to help me. So I freestyle, hunt mostly alone, but will hunt with others if the opportunity arises.
The amount of exertion and time spent is totally up to you. I mostly meander through the woods going from one group of trees to the other. A lot of it however can be on hands and knees under the honeysuckle bushes and the multiflora rose bushes. I have gone from first light to dark before, but I try to keep it under 5-6 hours now and just go more often and follow the progression. Two seasons ago I messed up a knee early on from too much vertical climbing to soon. The rest of the season was painful and miserable, and it didn't heal well till well into fall.
Logically, the early places will be south facing slopes, lowest elevations up to high and then over to the north facing slopes at the end of the season. Elm trees are your key, dying or dead elms to be specific. Morels can fruit up around dying elms for many years, and sometimes even come up a few seasons after they have fallen. Elm trees surrounded by thick honeysuckle and briar growth seem to be best. Another host tree is Tulip Poplars, these do not have to be dead, but the morels are not so concentrated as they may be under elms.They are hard to see at first until you train your eye to what they look like on the ground.
Ground view, these are the later yellows and some greys, the blacks and greys are first.