Knowing how to hunt morel mushrooms in the wild is an advisable knowledge to have. This is because we can’t ever predict when disaster will strike, nor can we ever be assured that our stockpile will be sufficient in the wilderness.
A foray into the wild may happen in spring, just about when morel mushrooms bloom. Sometimes, this foray could be a voluntary adventure experience, a foraging trip, or, unluckily, due to a catastrophe. Whatever the purpose of your presence in the wild during spring is, being able to hunt morel mushrooms will be an excellent skill to possess.
What Is A Morel Mushroom?
To the frequent prepper or forager, a morel mushroom is a familiar plant. It is a type of mushroom. You know, mushroom — those little guys that wear cone caps in the forest. But like every plant in the wild, morel mushroom is not without a catch. While several mushroom species can be eaten and enjoyed, certain species are toxic to consumption, and they look pretty similar to the edible species.
A common species of edible morel is yellow morel and the black morel, which is usually the first species to grow in a season. Morel mushrooms grow around late March-May in forested locations.
3 Tips On How To Hunt Morel Mushrooms In The Wild
Hunting morel mushrooms requires some technical knowledge. A newbie prepper or first-time forager will hardly be able to spot the morel, as it grows just 2 – 4 inches, blends into leaf litters, and can be of easy-to-use colors like grey, tan, or grey, primarily to stay hidden from predators. So, you see, you’re hunting a plant chameleon, which knows you’re hunting it. Funny, isn’t it?
Let’s see what you have to do to fill up a basket with good morel.
Timing Is Everything
April – May is the most common period to find morel, although the particular month is according to your elevation and latitude. That’s about it, though. Mushrooms don’t have a strict calendar to follow before flying their flags. Their emergence is mostly determined by the soil temperature.
So, when the spring reaches us early, morels put on their headwear as well. A large percentage of mushroom scientists suggest that the soil needs to reach a temperature of 60– 61° for at least three consecutive days for morels to grow.
However, this growth period doesn’t last long as the soil becomes non-supportive for morel growth as soon as the temperature reaches 62°. So, you see, your timing has to be perfect to collect healthy morels. A common indicator of morels’ growth is the bloom of mayapple as both plants require the same brackets of temperature to flourish.
Location Is Important
A motel hunter will rarely tell you where he hunts. It’s just like telling you the last four digits of his SSN or a girl openly declaring her age. Morel mushroom hot spots are like the gold mines of the forest, and it’s either someone helps you out, or you spend several days on the hunt before finding them. Understandable because remember, these are plants that camouflage so you don’t find them.
To find your morel hot spot, the first step is a long one: you’re canvassing the whole of a hilly forest as these mushrooms appreciate and thrive best in the rich, moist soil offense woodlands, although there’s the need for some drainage as well. Thus, swampy areas are not it, nor are hard, dry grounds. A good pointer is solid yet soft ground. Solid that you can walk on it without sinking and soft enough for your thumb to penetrate.
Lastly, some organisms feed on morels, so you can check out for such species. Examples of such tree species are apple, ash, elm, cottonwood, and sycamore.
Cut Into Your Morel
As earlier mentioned, there are various mushrooms species, and you don’t want to happen on a false one. So, when you’re unsure of a morel, get your knife out and cut into it. It’s a sure and easy way to confirm its identity.
A good morel has a completely hollow inside and a cone cap that’s firmly a part of the stalk. A morel that’s solid on the interior or has its cap detached (even if slightly) from its stalk should be avoided. It’s a false morel. This means that you may have to cut every gathered morel in half before cooking.
Avoiding A Poisonous Morel
A morel that fails the hollow-inside and firm-cap assessment is a false morel, no doubt about its toxicity. Common species of false morel are the Genera Verpa & Gyromitra, and although both are typical summer plants, they could bloom earlier than expected sometimes. Apart from this, remember that some healthy morels species have toxic replicas, so you have to be extra sure of what you eat.
The commonest colors for a morel are grey, tan, and yellow, but these bad guys are mostly reddish in appearance. They also look differently internally, but this does not erase that some may be strikingly similar to edible species.
False morels contain gyromitrin, a poisonous, toxic, and cancer-causing compound. When consumed, the body converts it to monomethylhydrazine (MMH), a rocket fuel component that tends to accumulate over time in the body and usually gives symptoms too late. So, while a false morel will not cause you to drop-dead instantly, it is a slow poison that affects the body systems, most especially the nervous system, as it builds up.
Importantly, always cook your morels, even the ones you think are healthy. They always carry a little toxicity that can only be eliminated through heat.
Takeaways From How To Hunt Morel Mushrooms In The Wild
Some preppers do not prioritize knowing how to hunt mushrooms in the wild, and this is because an 8-ounce cup offers just 20 calories. The energy expended in gathering them may be more than the energy you’ll gain from eating.
However, morels have several great nutrients. These evasive little nuggets are rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, copper, vitamins B, D, E & B6, folate, riboflavin, and niacin. These are excellent vitamins & minerals that will keep you healthy and agile throughout your stay in the wild.