MUSHROOM

HUNTING  CLUB   

The Morel Mushroom Hunting Club's:

State By State Morel (and other mushrooms) Finds Names and Dates Included

(not limited to Morels)

 Don't forget to send photos!   Email me!

Color Key (for quick scanning of information):

Red= Date

Red/ Italic= Comments from Chris Matherly (right) or David Fischer (left)

Orange= Just general info

Light Blue= Name

Green= Location

Purple= Morels Found

Pink= False Morels Found

White= Other Types Of Mushrooms Found

Please, take a second and   or, email your findings right now!

Concerning Picking Mushrooms: Please, do not pull up the Morels! Pinch them off above the ground, or use a knife and slice them off. What you are doing is exactly the same thing as breaking a branch off of an Apple Tree to pick the Apple. You damage the underground plant of the Morel by pulling them up. You keep this practice up, and in a couple of years you will not have Morels in that spot any longer! Besides, why do you want to bring home all of that dirt anyway?- Chris M      Featured Info:

 It is finally completed! 3-disc set, 5 1/2 hours of content!

<--click to view trailor

Over 15 years in the making, over 5 1/2 hours of mushroom content. How to find 125 of the most common edible mushrooms, also includes about 11 of the most common poisonous mushrooms. This is a must for every serious mushroom hunter. There is commentary on where and when to find them on each species. Species included are:

$49.95  Includes shipping!

Current Reports Of Mushroom Finds:

June 1st, 2008: Jeff T   yellow morel - general location = Lake of the woods Township. Near Little Grassy River. Northwest Ontario Ca.  Growing Conditions = Along abandon driveway, lined with poplar trees. They were in a 15'diameter cluster. We looked in the heavy brush and found none.

June 2nd, 2008: Bjorn  yellow morel - general location = dakota county MN Growing Conditions = soft loose soil near tops of hills Additional Comments = whether we(my hunting party) go out to look if we we come home empty handed we always have a good walk through the woods

June 3rd, 2008: chris   - i hit the motherlode in the UP of michigan last weekend,    2 of us picked 65 lbs in 2 days  in the a burn area.  wow   pictures area 20lbs in wheelborrow and 30lbs packed ready for the ride home.   al hayes

June 3rd, 2008: Chris, I have found a few of these now and happened to have my camera with this time. This mushroom was growing on a decaying stump that was about 7 inches in
diameter. This is in southeast Idaho. Also I have been finding nice yellows on riverbottom habitat. Thanks, John Stosich

These are some nice Oysters! - Chris M

June 4th, 2008: hugh urban  yellow morel - general location = Minneapolis, MN Additional Comments = This story was sent to me today by my brother who lives in Minneapolis. It's pretty hilarious:

"I found a morel the other day. It was a yellow about 4 inches high with a misshapen bulbous top. I brought it home and took a few pictures of it. Then I posed Lola [his dog] with it. She was remarkably well behaved; not moving a muscle for several minutes while a took a bunch of photos. I then made the mistake of saying 'OK, we're done,' forgetting that in Lola's version of English 'OK' means: 'You've done well. You may now have your treat.' Right before my disbelieving eyes she cheerily leaned over and gobbled-up my morel. I think I shouted 'GODDAMN IT, LOLA' loud enough for half the block to hear. Poor dear - she thought she was getting a tasty reward, but instead she got the scary angry baritone."

June 4th, 2008: Hi Chris, GREAT site!  It has really helped a few of us here in WA state who are experienced mushroomers (chanterelles, boletes, oysters, lobsters) but just getting into morel hunting.  We recently had our first foray, details follow:

Names:  Randy, Stacey, John  Types of mushroom found:  black morels, yellow morels, giant helvella, AKA snowbank false morels (gyromitra gigas), other gyromitras (brain
mushroom, pig's ear) Quantity found: about 75 black morels, one yellow morel, 30-50 giant helvellas Area found:  east slopes of the Cascades near Cle Elum, WA
Habitat: mixed conifer forest at 4000-5000 ft elevation.  All morels were found in roadside ditches or nearby (dirt or gravel roads, not pavement); giant helvellas were off road under forest canopy and quite plentiful - we quit counting after a while. Other notes:  Morels were not plentiful; we only found as many as we did by searching for many hours over 2 days.  One of the reports on
your site from May 29 (described as a prescribed burn area on the east slopes of the Cascades) may have been from the same place - we were there a day later and didn't find anything in the burn area so that hunter may have cleaned it out.  Then again it could have just been our inexperience!  Thanks again for the site! John

June 4th, 2008: Chris, We found around 50 morels in Kitittas County WA   We have been out  twice this year and not been very successful.  We will make another trip on Sunday.  We hope to do better but the weather just won't warm up here in Washington.  The snow level is down around 5000ft.  Scott and Michie.

June 5th, 2008: hey chris, I am a new member as of today, and have my first question for you. The mushroom above I found on my mulch pile in a bunch of about 13 to 15 mushrooms. It did stain yellow and later orange at the very bottom root end as well as red on the stalk. I think it is a lepiota americana but would like your two cents to be sure. Thanks Zach Anderson  Knoxvagas Tn 

You are correct on the ID, great job! Enjoy! - Chris M

June 6th, 2008: Brian Grant  burnsite morel - general location = Newberry Michigan Growing Conditions = Hi Chris We had 20,000 acres burn here around Sleeper Lake in the UP last August and fire burn morels have showed up here since last weekend. I've never seen them in Michigan before except in pictures.I have picked around 80 pounds since Saturday. The burned pine areas are producing the best. Unbelievable!  Should be good pickin through the weekend with these cooler temps and more rain now. This is a once in a lifetime for me, I'm sure.  Additional Comments = Chris...Will a burn area such as this, produce any next year? Very little the second year. - Chris M
 

June 6th, 2008: Tim Steadman

June 6th, 2008: putski yellow morel - general location = old torn up railroad bed,been torn up for 20 years!! took a ride on my atv and i hit a jackpot like 85 nice yellow morels under one tree  (dead elms) i counted 115 and i spose 15 to 20 gotten smashed in my 30lb onoin bag and she was filled to the top!!!! yahooo morel all winter long!!! Wisconsin Siren  Burnett county

June 6th, 2008: John B.   yellow morel - general location = Found two yellow morel along the shore of Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Township, Minn. Growing Conditions = One was growing under an old dock section and the other was in tall grass. Additional Comments = Found two yellow morels on June 5, long after I thought the mushroom season had come and gone. The one from under the dock section was a perfect 6-inch specimen, while the one out in the open was a bit past its prime. 

June 7th, 2008: It's still a little early for most summer mushrooms here, but a few interesting things are coming up: laccaria, pluteus, collybia, corals, etc No real good edibles yet, but lots of things are coming in, which is a good sign for the summer shrooms -- hugh, Columbus, OH

June 7th, 2008: jen molnau  yellow morel  grey morel - general location = glenwood minnesota Growing Conditions = have been finding for 3 weeks now ...west slopes today ...east slopes 2 days ago south slopes were 1st still some spots have nothing think we have at least 2 more weeks ...greys were still small and juicy the pits were tightly packed ...biggest one 6 inches ....yellows too some 8 inchers all depends witch direction of the hills you check Additional Comments = this season hase been great so far ,the weather has been perfect ....the forcast looks great too ....

June 7th, 2008: Kay Micle, orange tubular - general location = I live in Bulger, PA........Washington County Growing Conditions = Under a quince tree, growing in wood chips. Additional Comments = 4" tall, tubular with hole at top.  Orange in color.......spongy-like material.  Has a 1"wide circle of very smooth mud around the top area.......PEFECTLY smooth and wet.  Grows out of a white pod, which I found under the wood chips.  One "mushroom" was just coming out of the pod.  I have pictures, if you will let me know where to send them.  Thank you.  I have NEVER seen ANYTHING remotely like this.  Kay Micle

You have Stinkhorns! http://morelmushroomhunting.com/mutinus_caninus.htm - Chris M

June 8th, 2008: Chris I took my grandchildren around boyne on 5/31/08 these photos are what we found . Morel Mushroom Hunter Member Ron Davidson

June 9th, 2008:Hi there, I found these mushrooms in southwest Montana about two days ago. Ive never seen any morels that were this thick before. Some of them looked like they were mushrooms growing in mushrooms. They had chambers and double stems. I was just wondering if they were normal morels and were edible. Any info on these would be  great! I can also take some more pictures if you want.

June 9th, 2008:melinda, Additional Comments = i went to the whole grocery here and was alarmed to find a large bin of morels selling for 25 bucks a LB!  EVERY ONE WAS A FALSE MOREL!!!! 

June 9th, 2008:Deborah C.Woods inky caps, reishi, artists conk,  and more. - general location = New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida Growing Conditions = Inky caps under oaks, gum trees, and palms, around cut logs of above trees on the ground.  Reishi's on sparse grass around same kinds of trees.  Artists conks growing shelf-like on palm tree trunks.    Additional Comments = Have morels EVER been found in Florida?  My wooded acre homesite looks very similar to places in VA and IN where I've found morels, except for the palm trees.

June 9th, 2008: SNS   yellow morel - general location = Eastern Minneapolis-St.Paul Area Growing Conditions = Yellows abundant (although very late this year) near deadfalls of multiple species.  Greys (I think) specifically near deadfalls within stands of white pine. Additional Comments = Have been finding a half dozen to 3 dozen each time out from May 31 to June 8th...and they may not be done yet.

June 10th, 2008: Gayle Eidson  burnsite morel - general location = Finally coming up in burnsite in SW Montana. Beautiful.  We had snow just 2 days ago---it has been a long winter.
Growing Conditions = Pine and fir forest.

June 10th, 2008: Steve, Eastern part of Minneapolis St Paul Abundant Yellows and Greys (I think). Yellows around many different species of deadfall. Greys specifically around deadfall in stands of white pine. Each time out got a half dozen to 3 dozen, from May 31st to June 8th….and I don't think they are done yet.  Some were monsters.

June 11th, 2008: These are mushrooms that I found in west central Idaho in a mountain area that burned last year. There was literall thousands of mushrooms there.

June 13th, 2008: My wife Grace found 10 lbs. of Morels walking near Victoria  on Mothers Day weekend. Knox County Illinois

June 13th, 2008: The black Morels are all finished in Oregon, but the esculentas are just getting going good at about 2500' to 3000'. Popeye

June 13th, 2008: Misty Rose - general location = Kenai, Ak on June 12, 2008 (my Birthday!) Growing Conditions = In my yard, towards the bottom of a small hill. Additional Comments = This is the first time I have seen these around my house. I am very interested in the growth of Alaskan plants and enjoy watching the mushrooms pop up in the fall. These grew in the late spring/early summer of this year. I find that strange but I don't know much about Morel Mushrooms.

June 15th, 2008: Lynn Downey   grey morel - general location = North of Newberry, MI in the area of the 2007 forest fire. Growing Conditions = On the burnt over "islands" in the swampy forest fire area.
Additional Comments = My wife and I hunted the area about 8 miles north of Newberry, MI on the west side of hwy. 123 just this past weekend (Father's Day).  The marshy area has hundreds of "islands" of pine that are scorched and grey morels are everywhere.  Some up to 6" tall x 2" in diameter.  We left those as we like the 2" size.  There are many tiny ones yet to mature so picking will be great for at least two more weeks.  Bring plenty of bug spray as the misquitos, black flies, chiggers and deer flies are thick.

June 15th, 2008: Chris, We were up by Tofte Mn this weekend planting deer food and found a few I could not identify. No morels and the fruit trees/lilac were in bloom. I spoke to a DNR gal and she said in the five years up there she has not found any morels!! Any comment? The woods are a mix Pine Aspen and Maple and rocky. Jerry Petschen

June 16th, 2008: bob,  pslisylibe bluefoot - general location = wheeling west virgina Growing Conditions = in tall grass near the ohio river in the dark areas of the woods

June 17th, 2008: Hi Chris, looks like you are having another awesome year. I was fortunate enough to get into my first large batch this year. I picked a little over 120lbs on this trip. Great pics on your site. Thanks for sharing.

June 18th, 2008: We checked out Hocking Hills today and found a few interesting things: a big batch of white-pored chicken, a few more chanterelles (all cibarius, though some teeny-tiny lateritius are starting to form), some more really nice boletus variipes, and yellow spotted boletes (xanthoconium affine). Non-edibles included huge bitter boletes and red-mouth boletes, a couple amanitas, corals, etc.  --hugh

June 19th, 2008: Here some recent photos. The only mushrooms that I could identify for sure were the oysters. The others are some type of bolete(maybe a bitter bolete) and a coral, but the last I could even guess. It was milky though that could help. Thanks Zach Anderson Knoxville, Tn

June 20th, 2008: We went to Hargus Lake, OH, where there still was not a lot up, but we did find a few interesting things: boletus hortonii, lots of xerulas (check out the root on that xerula!) and some really cool rhodotus palmatus, one of the most beautiful of all Ohio shrooms. -- hugh, columbus, OH

 June 21st, 2008: margie,  white tubular with black top - general location = Sacramento,ca Growing Conditions = in dry earth next to sidewalk Additional Comments = I have never seen one like this. My husband said he saw one four or five years ealier here in Sacto. by a fruitless mulberry tree in his front yard. I would like to know the name and if they are poisinous? Thanks, MAD. I would need to see a photo! - Chris m

June 21st, 2008: Matt Dresel, chanterelle - general location = Kellyville, Creek County, OK, Growing Conditions = Mixed forest of mostly Oak trees Additional Comments = two days in a row finding a few Black Trumpets and hundreds of Chanterelles

June 24th, 2008:Chris, Have you ever eaten a snow morel and if so, what's the best way to cook them?  Found these in Central Idaho at snow line on 21 Jun in lodge pole stands surrounded by burn area.  Jack

I do not eat them, it is too dangerous, and I usually have good Morels available at the same time, so why take a chance? - Chris M

June 25th, 2008: Scott F.,  chanterelle - general location = Monroe County, Mississippi, Growing Conditions = Found 62 under the shade of a large pecan tree.

June 25th, 2008: We checked out Mt. Gilead S.P. today and found some nice early summer mushrooms: several kinds of boletes (subglabripes, innixus, separans, gilled bolete), a few small chantarelles (lateritius), lots of oysters, several russulas  (compacta and others), and we also saw at least six different kinds of amanitas (rubescens, flavoconia, citrina, etc.). -- hugh, columbus, oh

June 28th, 2008: L Fredrick chanterelle - general location = BIXBY OKLAHOMA AMERICA U.S.A. Growing Conditions = IN NATURAL COMPOSTING OLD LEAVES UNDER OAKS
Additional Comments = CHANTY'S ARE THE BOMB

June 29th, 2008: David , lepiota americana - general location = I found what I believe to be lepiota americana in Lexington, KY.  Growing Conditions = I found 3 of them sitting in mulch beside my side walk.  Additional Comments = I was curious to know if there would be any side effects, if ingested this species of mushroom? I have a picture of it, but I didn't see where I could up load the picture at.

June 29th, 2008: Skip, Elijah M, and Chris M picked about 75 pounds of Morels in a burnsite in Washington State, while filming with the History Channel, a show called Modern Marvels. We also found Spring King Boletes, and Yellow and Pink Tipped Coral.

June 30th, 2008: With record rain for the month of June in Ohio (over 10 inches), the woods are simply popping with mushrooms.  Some of the highlights include: lobsters, hedgehogs (hydnum repandum), 4 kinds of chantarelles (cibarius, lateritius, persicinus, appalachiensis), bi-color bolete, yellow spotted bolete, chestnut bolete,  gilled bolete, boletus variipes, boletus innixus, tylopilus alboater, scaber stalks, white-pored chicken, oysters, lactarius hygrophoroides, volvariella bombycina, and green quilted russula. Non-edibles have included millions of amanitas (virosa, flavoconia, rubescens, citrina, etc..), huge bitter boletes, plus, loads of other russulas, lactarius and corals.  I think many species are also making up for last year's very dry summer by putting out bumper crops this year. -- hugh, Columbus, OH

June 30th, 2008: Hi Chris, This popped up in the yard was hoping you confirm that this is hen of the woods .  There's quite a few large clumps of them.    Thanks Luis

July 1st, 2008: Heavy rains in N.E. Ohio for three days have been helpful. The Chicken was found on a large Red Oak that produces every year. The Oysters were on a Sugar Maple. Both in Lake County Ohio. Ed Chesko

July 3rd, 2008: After a trip to Washington State to do filming with the History Channel, I have scoped out the woods here in Georgia and found many baby Golden Chanterelles popping up, and one that is mature! Prime here in about 2-3 weeks!  Perfect timing for the Chanty Foray! -Chris M

Guided Forays Now Open For Registration:

Feel Free To call me anytime at (478) 318-2794 to discuss any of these forays. I will be glad to take your registration right of the phone in person!

(In order of earliest date first) 

July 19th, 20th, 2008- Chanterelle Foray in Georgia

August 8th-12th, 2008- Wilderness Area- Washington State Fire Burn Morel Foray

October 2nd- 5th, 2008- Mount Saint Helens Matsutake and Porcini Foray

October 17th-19th, 2008- Hen Of The Woods Foray- Indiana/ Ohio- email me now if you are interested in this foray! chrismathe@aol.com

September - November 2008- Several Forays may be planned with David Fischer?

November 21st-23rd, 2008- Late Fall Edibles Foray- Georgia- email me now if you are interested in this foray! chrismathe@aol.com

Late Winter Truffle Foray- Oregon- email me now if you are interested in this foray! chrismathe@aol.com

Below are Samples of the weekly Morel Video Forecast, new in 2007 for Members!

What people are saying about this site:

Amber Jones- I really appreciate your efforts to keep in touch. I love getting your emails and getting excited about the upcoming season and seeing the photos. I absolutely adore the shirt with the morels strapped to the top of the Hummer...that is AWESOME!! Too cute! Great idea!!! :o)

Scott Fears- You have a terrific website that has been a joy for me in the past 3 years, and I feel that I owe you a great amount of gratitude for allowing me and all the other non-members to use it free of charge. I just want you to know I do plan to pay the fee for a membership to your website in the future. Money has been tight for me for a while, but things will be better soon. Keep up the good work! 

Brandon Parker- This is my number one site to come to for current mushroom information, and your new species list is amazing!

Mike H- "This is by far the most awesome mushroom site on the net. Keep up the good work!"

Jennifer L- "I am so glad I found your website. This page is so nice to be able to keep up with all of the current finds across the country"

Gregg N- "Thanks for all of your efforts you put into this. It must be quite a chore updating these finds on a daily basis. The photos just top it off! Great job!"

M-it Shroom Man- "THANX FOR THE WEBSITE I FOLLOW IT DAILY WE USE IT FOR TELLING HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE BEFORE WE FIND SHROOMS IN NORTHERN INDIANA I HAVE A HUNTING BUDDY THAT SHOWS UP YEARLY FROM NAPLES FLORIDA AND THIS SITE WILL HELP GREATLY... THE LAST TWO YEARS HERE HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD AT ALL FOR SHROOMS BUT IM KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT THANX FOR THE POSTINGS  COME ON SHROOMS......" 

       Email me , or click the button above, give me your mushroom hunts results, give  dates, general location, Elevation if it pertains, general info. I will not give out your email address unless you wish for me to. Only  give me your name as you wish for it to be displayed, for example: John D. or John Doe...  We also welcome posting Mushroom finds from UK and around the world!

Tribute to my Father-In-Law