Mushroom Hunting

[ratherbefishing]

I don't know how many of you hunt, but the season is coming. I plan to post my pictures on here along with counts and conditions.

A lot like fishing posts I guess.

If you have never been and would like to give it a try, I can share some of what I know.

Others, feel free to post your finds as well.

Until the season starts, I'd like to read some stories.

[jmsteele187]

What kind of mushrooms do you usually look for, morels? I love mushrooms and have always wanted to go looking for them, but don't really know where I should be looking.

[slabslayer]

Same with me.  I find a few now and then in my woods, but never take the time to do it right.  We love mushrooms too.

[ratherbefishing]

I hunt morels and half-frees "Peckerheads" 90% of the time.

I usually do best in higher humidity and after the fruit trees bloom. The mushrooms I hunt will usually be found inside of a 4-6 week growing season. The mushroom season can last into late May or early June depending on how quickly it gets hot.

I have found large morels that were just about used up as late as Memorial weekend in central Kentucky. I have also found them as early as late March near the reservoir in Bellefontaine.

I look for Mayapples about knee-high and Trilliums where they bloom. I also look for dead or dying Elms and Ash trees, but they can be found in and around stands of Maples and to a lesser degree, Oaks.

[Optfish]

my sister isfinding in sw iniana now!!!  We find around tulip poplars and butternut trees also!   

[slabslayer]

Good info.  My woods has all the above described locations.  I'll be on the lookout, thanks for the heads up!

[jmsteele187]

This may be a dumb question, but how do I know if I'm looking at a elm or an ash tree? I know a lot of trees, but these are two that I don't know how to identify.

[beckslabs]

I went for two hours today and found 18 blacks in Darke county. Just starting to come up but we need rain rain rain please   

[zoeconner]

The best time to go for me is just after a good rain. The ground will be wet so it will have a darker color to it. The peckerheads stick out like a sore thumb. You can see the white stems very easily. For me its easier on the eyes.

[ratherbefishing]

Got out today and found a mixed bag with my daughter and my neighbor. A lot of them were starting to dry out. They still fried up just fine!

For tree identification I have a great suggestion, Trees of Ohio Field Guide by Stan Tekiela

[Bryan]

This may be a dumb question, but how do I know if I'm looking at a elm or an ash tree? I know a lot of trees, but these are two that I don't know how to identify.

Chances are if the tree is dead it's an ash tree. Damn emerald ash bug!

[ratherbefishing]

We got off to a fast start at Buck Creek State Park this morning! Just about 10 steps into the woods and we spotted a nice yellow just off our path. This same dead elm yielded a half dozen more yellows and greys. My daughter found the second one and followed a radial path around the tree to find the others.

A few Scarlet Caps here and there and some May Apples about 10" high offered high hopes, but alas..... we left with only a half dozen. This looks to be a great new spot though! We'll check it again in a couple of weeks.

Come on rain!

[Bryan]

Well I think that (my previous post) was the dumbest answer anyone has ever given! I some how, even after reading it twice missed ratherbefishing's directions to look for 2 types of ALREADY dead trees! HAHAHA!!