Tis the Season to Hunt Morels
A new obsession of mine is morel hunting in the spring. For those un-indoctrinated in the art of mushroom hunting, morels are an easy target because they are hard to mis-identify. Morels have a very distinctive cap: Conical in nature and pockmarked like a honey comb. Another unique and distinctive characteristic is they are totally hollow. If you cut them in half, there is a thin shell with nothing at all inside (except the occasional slug or insect).
In this area, morels pop up after the first or second drenching rain in April. They’re a little late this year, I think, because the ground has been so cold and the winter so dry. They are up now, and with yesterdays thunderstorms and warm nights we should be able to find some for the next week or two. Then they are gone until next April.
image attribution: Wikipedia
You can find morels world-wide, not just in Maryland, and throughout the US. There is a lot of folk-lore surrounding morel hunting, in terms of where to find them, how to find them and even more on how to prepare and cook them.
I’ll give you a couple of my helpful hints: The hillier the better. Many good finds being reported in the Catoctin Mts. and Greenbriar & Gambrill St Parks. I haven’t heard anything about Cunningham Falls, but I bet they are there, too. Look in heavily wooded, old growth areas, especially in areas rich with Tulip Poplar and Beech. Look on the South facing slopes early in the season, then migrate to the North facing hillsides. Another thing to look for are May apples, fiddle head ferns and mossy areas. You’ll rarely find any in grassy, sunny spots.
But the point of morel hunting is not always to find the “mother lode” crop. The point is the spend an hour or two wandering through the woods, getting some exercise and enjoying the great outdoors. The State parks are a great place to hunt. Actually, I am not certain if you’re allowed to hunt and keep in state parks, but I think you can. If anyone knows the rules, please let me know. One thing I know for sure, trespassing laws apply. Make sure you ask permission from property owners if you stray onto private property.
Another word of caution: Never eat any wild mushroom unless you are 110% certain you have correctly identified it. The results can be fatal and in many cases not treatable. The symptoms of mushroom poisoning are stomach cramps 8-10 hrs after ingestion, followed by vomiting & diarrhea, liver and kidney failure, coma and then death.
Still, it’s fun hunting morels in the springtime. Despite the risks, the taste is out of this world!
Here’s a comment on a “Maryland Morels & Mushrooms Message Board” web site that answer some questions about legality in State Parks:
Check online for local state ground. You are allowed to hunt morels there but some are limited on how many you can pick. C&O Canal Towpath is a favorite around here but you are limited to a gallon, according to the last law I read. Personally I never had any luck along the Potomac River. I’m still sticking to looking under the Osage Orange trees. The friend I took yesterday to my “Secret Spot” never found that many in that short of time in their entire life and they are 73 years old. The Osage Orange trees are also know as Hedge Apple Trees for those who are curious! They look like a Locust tree but are orange in color and also have thorns and big green balls that looks like brains…LOL
What a cool post! I never knew about Morels. Very interesting!
Well, I won’t take a chance on mis-identifying a morel and injesting some fatal poison mushroom. I am amazed these things have such a huge “fan base” around here! I guess that’s one of those charming Frederick County things like…Kinklings and Colorfest.(which I never heard of until I had lived here for a while) I can appreciate the whole idea of local tradition but I have to wonder how morel hunting ever got so cool to so many people.
So folks, tell me please.
Do they really taste good? Or are they really good for you? What is the deal? Anyone??
I used to hunt these to excess as a kid and may do so again this weekend! As far as taste, simply put, the best tasting fungus you will ever consume! there are recipes out there. The best way I can describe the flavor is rich.
We always battered them and fried in butter, so any “good-for-you” factor was quickly marginalized.
I would love to go out and find some! Haven’t before. It makes me think of truffle hunting in France. Maybe we should have a morel hunting group and go find some this weekend.
My buddy and I did a 50k hike from White’s Ferry to Harper’s Ferry last year on the C&O Canal and loaded up on these. They tend to grow under dead Elm trees from what my friend told me and we past plenty of dead Elms on the our hike. Sauteed in butter with some garlic…..delicious.
I love that you listed death as a symptom of mushroom poisoning. I never knew we had Morels in MD. I want some now.
I passed a guy hunting morels along the C&O up around Fort Frederick today. He apparently hadn’t had any luck, or he just told me that so I wouldn’t poach his spot.
See attached in reference to Morel Hunting.
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/displayUpdate.htm?StoryID=89595
There’s a bit more on Jim’s morel hunting in today’s FNP:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/art_life/display_food.htm?StoryID=89875
Great blog. I find myself reading a lot here. Keep up the good work!
It’s getting to be that time again!
Lizfrog – ya really gotta save me one to taste. I am a huge mushroom fan, but can’t say I have ever had a morel.
No problem! As long as we find them, that is…
I’ve never tried them either!
Pojama,
I’ll save some for you if I find some. I’ve been out for the past 3 weeks and not seen a single morel. A little rain this week and more expected today and I think they’ll come out over the next week.
Has anyone esle out there found any in Frederick?
I found several at work, near a stand of pine trees. I, too, didn’t know about the names of these until I did some web hunting, then confirming. I don’t personally like mushrooms, but will sautee them tomorrow for my mom, who is coming in from Michigan. I think I might try them.