Black Morels

[henryboy32]

We are in for some nice weather near Kalamazoo this weekend. It is going to get in the mid 60s with rain Thurs, Fri, & Saturday. Sunday, it is suppose to get near 70. Each of those nights it will be in the mid 40s. If you ask me, Sunday or Monday should be a good time for the black morels to pop up. Does anyone have any good suggestions for hunting blackies?

[farmlegend]

To me, morel mushrooms have plenty in common with shed antlers. Namely, I only find them when I stumble upon them. Never when actually looking for them.

[shooter921]

Aren't those things easier to find when you look my a certain tree? I can never find them and I hate it because I love those things!

[SalmonSlayer]

generally the west side of hills is where ive had luck.

haven't been out yet but if this warm days keep up it should be good this saturday!

ben

[fishandhunt]

The black morels should start popping when the soil reaches 50 degrees. There is plenty of moisture in the soil now so rain isn’t as critical as with the white morels. To start hunting, look to established woods, large diameter trees where the soil has not been disturbed for some time.

I find the first blacks of the season on south slopes where the sun warms the soil first. After they start, the next weekend they may be anywhere in the woods, or if it has been steady temperature, overcast, etc. they tend to follow the terrain from south slopes, to valley basins, to east slopes, to west slopes to north slopes last. Certain kinds of trees to look for are ash, any ash tree I see in the woods I walk to. Ash trees stand out if you know what they look like, there will be diamond patterns in the bark and you can see them for a long ways once you’ve learned how to identify them. Also, a mature stand of popple can be tremendous hunting, look in the leaves and around dead branches on the ground. Another early season spot is where trees have fallen and taken the soil with them. These appear as mounds with a depression adjacent to them. The trees do not need to be present, they could have rotted away years ago. Also, small mossy patches of ground have given some up over the years, or the early tufts of grass that look like they have no reason being there.

Each year is different, with the amount of snowfall this past winter and the relatively cooler late winter, snow has just melted in the north woods. After a few weeks of warm weather, they’ll start showing themselves. This year I would start with south slopes. Last year, with the warmer February and March, the water had a chance to evaporate and I found lots of blacks in depressions that would hold runoff water the longest. Best advice is to find a mature woods and look for ash trees to start. Many people look at their feet and generally down; this is NOT the best way to look. Scan the forest floor from 10 – 12 feet away and look for a dark blotch, or a rounded shape. After you find a few it becomes second nature. I typically have the next one picked out before I pick the one I’m heading to.

Any questions feel free to email me or post here.

Mike

[hypox]

What is the earliest you have found them? I generally find them at the end of april, but have found a couple on april 14th, a couple years ago. I think sunday or monday will be too early...but, I guess I could be wrong

[Sarge]

My dad used to say that Mother's day weekend was the peak and very nearly the end of the morell season.

[gotta be outside]

mushrooms , turkeys
I love this place

[hypox]

so, what does everyone think? This weekend has been in the high 70's and tonight the low is 60...(at least in kalamazoo). Weve had plenty of rain. I think I'm gonna go check some spots monday. It seems a little early, but you never know, a fresh batch of morels sounds pretty good right about now!!

[henryboy32]

Checked a few areas Sunday and had no luck finding any black morels. Did anyone else around here find any? The ground still felt well under 50 degrees F Sunday.

[JasonTheOutdoorsMan]

i too thought about them and went out to look on sat and a little sunday. found none. today it rained here.(cass county) so i am thinking it will be soon. i think when the dog woods start to bloom i will be back out into the woods.

Jason

[SalmonSlayer]

went out sunday an dfound only two. But it's a start! They were real small, both around 1 inch so I left em...hoping to find them again in a few days. But now with the cooler weather of yesterday, I dunno. Should be picking up any day now!

Ben

[Erik]

Salmon slayer that is way cool! I checked three spots so far and nothing. I was thinking it must just be way too early but you have re-fueled my fire. I'll check another spot tommorow.
To the guy that asked when the earliest anyone has ever found a morel in michigan. I think it was two years ago, the el-nino year, I found the earliest ones ever, the first weekend in april. They were very small as all the early ones I've ever found have been. Once they start poping it just gets better and better till the middle to end of may! The big yellow ones always seem like they start when the dog woods bloom.
Venison and morels, now theres some good eatin!

[Hacksaw]

Other types of trees that I have luck finding them under are: Cherry Trees, Apple Trees, and Dead Elm Trees. although cherry trees seem to produce the most black morels and the other types seem to produce more yellows these are all good trees to improve you chances of finding some. Last year we found over 2000 blacks (not kidding) around a large area filled with cherry trees. Good luck and hope you find some!

I have also been out looking and have yet to find any, it should not be too long until they start to pop around here I hope.

[henryboy32]

Hacksaw,

Were the cherry trees you spoke about wild or the orchard type cherries? Because our woods has a lot of the tall straight cherry trees that are wild and grow those tiny cherries on them.

Randy