Morels
Contributors to this thread:Kansas
From: Dragon
27-Mar-23
How all hunt's model mushrooms on here? I'm in Crawford County and if could warm up a bit, it's should be a good year. We have had ample moisture the last few weeks, just need warm temperatures
From: ksq232
27-Mar-23
You’ve had ample moisture in Crawford county?
From: Slate
27-Mar-23
Can’t wait. I was too early last year. Coming out on the 25th of April so hoping
From: Slate
27-Mar-23
Can’t wait. I was too early last year. Coming out on the 25th of April so hoping
From: crestedbutte
27-Mar-23
They’re popping down in Okla. Got my Fung”eye” mushroom/shed antler shades and ready to get to searching here in KS soon ;?)
From: AaronShort
27-Mar-23
I stumbled on some false morels yesterday while looking for sheds. Six of the rust colored ones in about a five foot circle. A little warm weather would be nice. Lows in the 50's and they will pop.
From: Dragon
27-Mar-23
It's pretty wet
From: Dragon
27-Mar-23
It's pretty wet I'll let you all know when we start finding them. We walk the strip pits, which when you find them, it's a whole bunch
From: Catscratch
27-Mar-23
I have stats that go back a ways. Here's numbers for the last 3 yrs for first and last found dates, and totals for the season. Last year was by far the driest of those 3 yrs, but we still found them at the same time and as many as normal. Point being, my experience has been no matter what the temps or moisture they tend to do their thing at the same time every yr.
In 2020 we found our first on March 27th, last on April 16th. 191 Total.
In 2021 we found our first on April 4th, last on April 18th. 135 Total.
2022 we found our first on April 5th, last on April 24th. 210 Total.
From: crestedbutte
27-Mar-23
From KS Morel Hunters Facebook page.
From: Slate
27-Mar-23
Well by Jason’s records I’m screwed
From: Catscratch
27-Mar-23
Ha, point taken Slate! I'm in the south part of KS... not much above the OK line. It matters when it comes to dates!!! Don't think moisture or temps change the dates from year to year though.
From: Slate
27-Mar-23
Gotcha Cat I’m also only 13 miles from the OK border below Wichita.
From: be still
27-Mar-23
I don’t know Slate…by Jason’s records the dates keep slipping back a few days.
You might find one or 2 but that’s a hell of a drive for that many.
I’m planning on being up there around the 19th so maybe I’ll get lucky on a few.
From: Catscratch
27-Mar-23
Slate, send me a message if you want to talk mushrooms but not public. I might know about where your at. I grew up in Ark City... The ones we find in the 3rd week of April are usually dried up big yellow ones.
From: Kansan
28-Mar-23
I’ve never had much luck mushroom hunting.
From: Two dogs mobile
28-Mar-23
I don't have details like Catscatch, but being in Chase County several miles north of him my experience is I find them the first week or so of turkey season. I find that when the Lilacs bloom it is time to look for mushrooms. I have found a few old ones the first week of May, that not very often.
From: Slate
28-Mar-23
I’m not heading out just for mushrooms of course but it’s always fun finding them and eating
From: crestedbutte
30-Mar-23
From: Catscratch
30-Mar-23
Huge Grin!
From: Copperhead
04-Apr-23
Moisture, ground temperature and decaying wood are the three largest determining factors. I've been hunting them for over 50 years from eastern Jackson county Mo. to southeast Kansas and I've found them as early as the 2nd week in March to as late as the 1st week in May. I live in NW Cherokee county Kansas and have yet to find any this year. We definitely need some moisture around my house.
Good luck and great hunting.
From: ksq232
04-Apr-23
I’m not much of a morel fan, but if it means more people praying for rain, then bring them on!!!
From: Buckdeer
04-Apr-23
If Oklahoma doesn't keep their fires south of border they will burn up all of southern Kansas
From: Copperhead
07-Apr-23
My cousins found a few the past couple of days. My son, grandson and I are going out this weekend to some of our favorite spots. Hopefully we have some success.
From: Dragon
09-Apr-23
Looks like we are going to have an adult Easter egg hunt. Happy Easter
From: Copperhead
10-Apr-23
We found 41 little grey ones in one spot and I have 15 growing in my yard I also found 3 along my creek on the southern bank.
From: Catscratch
15-Apr-23
82 this morning. I love this time of yr!
From: Catscratch
15-Apr-23
From: sitO
15-Apr-23
OK, no F's given on the fungus, but tell me about the rocks
From: Catscratch
16-Apr-23
Followup pic...
From: Two dogs mobile
17-Apr-23
Catscatch: That's a good bunch. I'm jealous. I probably won't get out this year as I'm trying not to do anything stupid after my recent back surgery. If I'm lucky my brother may bring me a few. What are the mushrooms in the bottom picture?
From: crestedbutte
17-Apr-23
Cat....82 mushrooms....and how many ticks, LOL?
From: Catscratch
17-Apr-23
Permethrin baby! Zero ticks between the two of us.
Those reddish ones are False Morels. I don't eat them. I hear they are good if you cook them right but I like my liver enough to skip that chance.
I'm glad we went to look. No rain in the last month but my calendar said it was time, so we gave it a shot.
From: Ben
18-Apr-23
Hey, I went out and looked a little and found two pretty dry Morels and then these two with just shafts and a dry nubbin. You experts does this mean the ground is too dry for the head to form?
From: Ben
18-Apr-23
The second one is in the grass about a foot back.
From: Catscratch
18-Apr-23
Any chance cut one of those nubbin mushrooms in half Ben?
From: Ben
19-Apr-23
I never picked them but, they are on my creek bottom. I'll go back tomorrow and see if they are still there and I'll cut one in half.
From: Catscratch
19-Apr-23
Just curious to see if they are hollow or not. I would wonder if they are even morels. Hard to tell from pics on my phone but they don't look like morels to me (even miss shaped morels).
From: AaronShort
19-Apr-23
Thats another type of false morel. It is hallow. Smell it and you will instantly know you wouldnt want to eat it. I get them in my yard occasionally.
From: Catscratch
19-Apr-23
Aaron, I was thinking they are some sort of stinkhorn but can't see pics well enough to tell.
From: Catscratch
19-Apr-23
Mmmmmmm!
From: AaronShort
19-Apr-23
I would have to look up the scientific name. I've seen some with taller heads like a regular morel but they are very thin walled and stink.
From: Ksgobbler
20-Apr-23
Found them in a spot I have never found em.
From: Ksgobbler
22-Apr-23
They are really cranking.
From: Bwhnt
22-Apr-23
I'm so jealous...they are like hens teeth where I am. Very hard to find. Any recipes?
From: Kansan
22-Apr-23
Far too dry in my part of southeast Kansas. Hopefully with the rain over the next few days they’ll start popping up.
From: Ksgobbler
22-Apr-23
Finding some more today. This spot has been picked over but found enough for a couple meals.
From: Ksgobbler
24-Apr-23
Yesterday
From: Catscratch
24-Apr-23
Nice job Ksgobbler!
From: Ksgobbler
28-Apr-23
Its slowed down. Some good quality but not much quantity
From: Kansan
28-Apr-23
Folks I’m talking to are just now starting to find quite a few around here in SEK. I have a friend that filled two great big bags full today. I haven’t found any yet this year, but maybe my luck will change. I’m going to go out looking tomorrow, and I’ll bring my shotgun along just in case I cross paths with a turkey. :)
From: Ksgobbler
28-Apr-23
Rain ran us off probably the best spot. We were soaked before getting back to the truck. Hoping a few more pop after this rain.
From: Catscratch
29-Mar-24
From: Catscratch
29-Mar-24
From: AaronShort
29-Mar-24
I went out for a little bit this morning and struck out. A few toad stools had popped was all I found.
From: KsRancher
29-Mar-24
Holy smokes! I wasn't even thinking about morels yet. Going to have to go look this weekend
From: Catscratch
29-Mar-24
Had a really good walk! Left a lot of little ones. Maybe we'll be able to find them again and they'll have grown? Also found a lot of false morels.
From: Slate
29-Mar-24
Nice Jason you always seem to do good
From: ksq232
30-Mar-24
Nice Cat! There have been a few people finding some over this way, but no motherloads that I’ve heard of yet. Need some rain.
From: Catscratch
30-Mar-24
We drove down pretty close to the OK border to find these James. Haven't found any at home yet but I do know of some that have been found in our area.
From: Ksgobbler
30-Mar-24
We looked today and found nothing.
From: Kansan
31-Mar-24
Found a mess of them behind the chicken house. Most of them had some freeze damage. Several were huge yellows. They must’ve already been up for some time.
From: sitO
31-Mar-24
sitO's Link
From: Catscratch
01-Apr-24
Great haul if you only had to walk behind the chicken coop to find them! They'll get a skillet greasy!
From: hawg
01-Apr-24
FWIW...I collected about 80 this past weekend...Cowley County. They were everywhere and I had to make myself stop looking when the bag was full. I even had a picture of a trespasser on my trail cam with a bag of them.
From: Ksgobbler
02-Apr-24
Brother and a coworker both found them yesterday. Both said they looked fresh. I have a day off tomorrow so gonna look hard. My son really like to look so will save the best spots for him
From: Kansan
02-Apr-24
With this rain, and darn near perfect temperatures. They ought to be going crazy over the next couple of weeks.
From: Slate
03-Apr-24
Hit it right yesterday
From: Ksgobbler
03-Apr-24
Found a few this afternoon
From: Bwhnt
03-Apr-24
I'm jealous. They are very hard to find in CT. Looks like a great feast. I find a lot of oysters, honeys, chickens and hens every year.
From: Catscratch
04-Apr-24
Hawg, we picked 180 and left a whole bunch. Been giving some away and sharing with some people who'd never had them before. Rare for us to have extra so spreading the wealth. Looks like a NICE bunch of the ksgobbler! Had a friend call last night to say he found a mess of them. Sure hope to get out a little this weekend! Watch for tick... I've found plenty of those too!
From: hawg
04-Apr-24
Still picking around 50 a day (full bag) per 1 hour of hunting time...and all I want to deal with at one time. It's been the best year in a long time and I'm stocking the freezer just taking a little walk through my own timber.
From: Catscratch
04-Apr-24
What's your freezing process hawg? I've tried a couple of different things but nothing that keeps them frying up like a fresh one.
From: Two dogs mobile
04-Apr-24
I am also curious how you freeze them. The only way I found that kind of worked was to fry them and then freeze them. It looks like I better get out and look a little.
From: hawg
04-Apr-24
After soaking and cleaning I lay them out on paper towels to dry a little and then shake them in a bag with flour and seasoning of choice (I prefer a cajun flavor). I then put them on a cookie sheet keeping them from touching each other and then place the cookie sheet in the freezer. When frozen I put the individually frozen mushrooms in a ziploc bag and then back to the freezer. When I'm ready to cook some later I get them in a hot skillet or fryer before they thaw. It's a great way to just cook a few to add to any meal that they would complement and they taste fresh for the most part.
Getting to head home now to try to fill another bag. Got to make hay while the sun shines!
From: Ben
04-Apr-24
hawg, That is exactly how I do it too! I put Louisiana Fish fry in a gallon zip lock and shake them good. Then the same freezing method as you. I usually have mushrooms for several maonths on a decent year. I'm in Miami county and so far I've only found a few greys. If it would warm up and have another rain it would help a lot.
From: keepemsharp
05-Apr-24
Tried today, think the leaves were too deep to see, but old eyes.
From: non typ
05-Apr-24
I made up a batch of cream cheese and bacon stuffed morels and jalapeños on the smoker last night with steaks
From: Catscratch
05-Apr-24
That sounds great non typ!
Brought home just shy of 9 pounds today. There were 2 guys near a spot the wife left a bunch of little ones last week, so I showed them the spot and only picked 1 of every 3 I saw. Nice guys and we all walked away happy.
From: Catscratch
05-Apr-24
From: Ksgobbler
05-Apr-24
We picked about 50 today. Walking back to the truck after not finding many and my daughter saw one in the ditch. Started looking around and voila.
From: t-roy
06-Apr-24
Catscratch….you need to figure out that freezing process. Might have to look at doing a swap of mushrooms for chestnuts ;-)
It’s been slim pickings for mushrooms here in Iowa the past few springs. We’ve had very dry conditions when the temps are right. Hopefully, this spring we fare better. The wife LOVES to mushroom hunt.
From: MDW
06-Apr-24
Found more yesterday morning in about 30 minutes then I did all last year. Close to 4 gallons. Depending on rain, I will go tomorrow.
From: Two dogs mobile
07-Apr-24
I went to one of my best spots this morning and got shut out. I think it is a little early here. At least I hope that is the case.
From: Catscratch
07-Apr-24
T-roy, if I could ship them you'd already have a batch!
First batch out of the freezer. Going to give a bunch away but going to fill our freezer too.
From: Kansan
08-Apr-24
Starting to get really good here in SEK. I’ve been going out and easily picking enough for a meal several days a week. Still mostly smaller/medium grays so far. Conditions look ideal for the next couple of weeks.
From: crestedbutte
08-Apr-24
Why search for them and come away with chiggers and ticks when you can just walk into the grocery store and buy’em. $299.99/lb. here in Houston, TX
From: MDW
09-Apr-24
Holy crap, and I gave away five or six pounds the other day! Picked another eight pounds sunday afternoon. Will probably go today.
From: keepemsharp
09-Apr-24
Still too dry here.
From: MDW
09-Apr-24
Found another 100 or so today, traded most of them away to a couple of girls.
From: Ben
10-Apr-24
MDW, heard of that with carp onetime at a KBA Carp shoot but, never mushrooms!
From: Catscratch
10-Apr-24
What are girls giving you guys for carp and mushrooms?!?
From: Ben
10-Apr-24
I don't know about the mushrooms but, the old boy at the Marias Des Cynes carp shoot was loading them in the trunk of his car and Easton ask him what he was doing with so many and he told Dave he was taking them to K.C. and trading them for sex ( not his exact words). We all about fell down laughing after he told us!
From: Catscratch
10-Apr-24
Bahahahaha!
From: Two dogs mobile
11-Apr-24
Two dogs mobile's Link
I was at one of those carp shoots. As I remember I had 63 lbs of carp to weigh in. As they were being weighed there was a man standing close by that obviously wanted them. I asked him if he wanted them and he said he sure did. He told me to put them in a tub in the trunk of his Cadillac. He said Id helps ya but I gottsa bad back. He had A Wyandotte county tag. I hate to think of the condition of those carp when he got back to KC on a hot June day. I didn't ask what was doing with them but had my suspicions. As I remember there was a picture that made it's way into the KBA magazine with my fish being weighed and the man standing close by.
From: keepemsharp
11-Apr-24
As I recall he was wearing a yellow jump suit and a big Panama hat.
From: Ben
11-Apr-24
And a lime green Olds or Cadillac. LOL
From: MDW
12-Apr-24
I remember helping load some fish that day! As for what I'm trading for, Well?
From: Ksgobbler
15-Apr-24
Found 5 tonight that we could eat. Found 8 more that were far to dry. Even Found one growing under a rock.
