public newsletter march 2019

March 2019 Newsletter

“The 2019 Morel Mushroom Season, Chris’ Insights”

Please note: This website is finally back from being down nearly a year. The first newsletter (September 2018) is available to the general public however current newsletters October 2018 and beyond will be available for “Members-Only”. Click the join logo below to become an official member to the club and enjoy all of the amazing member benefits.

UPDATE: This current newsletter, March, 2019 , is available to the general public for free but please consider supporting this website and joining the club!

Order Fresh Morels! Fresh Morel Mushrooms Shipped Overnight

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     As of 3-19-2019, it appears that the 2019 season is about right on the normal average as far as timing goes, or maybe as much as a week earlier than normal in the Southeastern US. There was a 3-night freeze in March in the south with lows in Atlanta of 19 degrees! This did in fact damage many early babies and there are signs of frostbite.

     Also, reports from Texas showed even worse damage. Overall amount of Texas reports are very few and far between.

     For whatever reason, the finds in Georgia and Alabama have surprised me as overall not much damage has shown up and it seems that the size and quantities of finds reported are also surprisingly way above average. The photo below shows 20+ pounds found in Central Georgia on March 16th:

     I found my first morel locally in Paulding County Georgia on March 14th, and this particular local spot had signs of heavy flooding from winter rains, leaving lots of 6-inch deep sand bars all over my hunting areas. This is why on my forecast map, I colored-in this area as below average finds but this may not be widespread.

     Earlybird black morels have already been spotted as far north as Kentucky. Realize that there are microclimates that occur such as rocky soil where the ground temps heat up much faster than the rest.

     Also, realize that morels grow slowly, up to 3-weeks. The baby black above would have grown another 5 inches if left another 15 days. 

     Snowfall totals for 2019-2019 are above average across the entire US. As a result, areas especially in the Northern US and New England as well as the PNW should have above average morel finds.

Image result for snowfall totals 2019

     Also, the plains states such as Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri finally had decent snowfall amounts this past winter and also should make the morels be more plentiful there.

Image result for snowfall totals 2019 pnw

          Snowfall depths in the Western US are also quite impressive. This should lead to above average morel finds in these areas, especially in the fire zones.
     On Wednesday, March 21st, I am heading south to scope out 2000 acres of land. I was contacted by the owner who is interested in learning about morels and offered to host a foray there in the future if indeed we do find that it is a good location, and I suspect that it will be. Wish me luck! I will add content on this page when I return of what we found.
     I wish everyone the best year ever, and think that it certainly has the potential to be just that for most. Happy hunting! Hope to see you in the woods!

Chris’ annual video morel forecast for the 2019 season, and current finds:

Forecast Map:

Current Hot Spots Map (updated 3-19-2019):

Latest Progression Map:


Member Benefits

    So you have been coming to this website for a while now, or maybe for the first time, and used the “Current Mushrooms Finds” page, or the “Recipe of The Month”, took a guess at the “Mushroom Photo Of the Month”, viewed the “Morel Progression Maps”, or took a look at the extensive 650+ “Species List” with photos and descriptions, or maybe you submitted a photo to Chris to get his help with the “Mushroom Identification” of your find. Maybe you left a message on the “Morel Message Board”. All of these things are free to the public, and what a job it is just to keep up with all of this. So what on Earth could there be beyond this in the “Member Areas” that would be a benefit to me?

The member areas contain so much data and info, that it would take you days to go through it all. There are hundreds of specific web pages on specific subjects, and many thousands of photos. Here is a list of many of the pages:

  • Reports– The popular “Video Morel Report”, like the Weather Channel but for Morels!
  • Newsletters– View all of the past newsletters with very interesting and informative subjects from the past, beginning in 1999! Subjects like Morel Growing Kits, Fall Morels, GPS and Mushrooming, Growing Mushrooms, Freezing, Drying and Canning Mushrooms, Festivals, Forays, DNA Studies, Growth Studies, and much more.
  • Photos– Chris has been an avid photographer since childhood, and has 1000’s of photos posted, High Quality Morel Photos for each year since 2000, breathtaking, eye dazzling shots of other beautiful mushrooms. There are many members also like Chris, with their photography, and they too have submitted Unbelievable photos of Morels. There are hundreds of member submitted Morel Photos, each year categorized separately from each year.
  • Member Submitted Photos– Hundreds of great photos of the members and their mushroom finds!
  • Recipes– Other extensive recipes for Morels, Chanterelles, and other common edibles.
  • Mushroom Questions and Answers– Compiled questions and answers from years of submissions, and most of the common questions asked.
  • Hunting Tips– Detailed hunting tips for Morels, including detailed tree identification info, when to hunt- timing, where to hunt- common places to begin looking.
  • Places To Hunt– Yes, we even have specific locations of where Morels have been reported to be found, and where Chris has personally found them. There is a separate listing for all 50 states with detailed info.
  • Morel Species– View all of the photos and details of each Morel species.
  • Video– There are full-length videos of all forays! Each up to 80 minutes long! The full length Travel Channel episode on Morels, The full length History Channel episode- Modern Marvels of Mold and Fungus. Many other videos as well. Hours of video content!
  • Foreign Morels– We have photos and info on separate web pages for these Countries: Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, and many more.
  • Fire Burn Morel Info– Yukon, BC, and Alaska, as well as Washington and Oregon and other out- West locations. Even a link to forest fire data info, so you can find last year’s fire areas.
  • Members can link to other Members– Names and email addresses to members, listed by each State. Make new mushroom hunting friends and contacts.
  • Facebook Group– so all members can communicate with each other and plan your own new get-togethers.
  • Chat Room– During Morel season, Chris is in the Chat room nightly, and there has been as many as 75 members from across the country chatting about mushrooms at the same time!
  • There are also other web pages such as: Tiny Morel Bug Info, Morels from Hungary, Mushroom Video Links on the net, Myth Busters, Mushroom Festival Info, Growth Studies- See A young Gray Morel turn into a large Yellow Morel in 2-3 weeks!, Wildflowers, Go Mushroom Hunting Online, Mushroom Stories, Mushroom Humor, Kids and Mushrooms, and the most extensive Mushroom Links page available.

All of this for as little as $20.00? You have got to be kidding! No- it’s the truth! Help Support this site today!

2 Ways to Join:

1. Mail a check to:

J. Chris Matherly

178 Seals Drive

Dallas, GA 30157

Please email me when you have mailed your check and include your email address!

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Special Discount Code Offer (expires March 15th, 2019):

FACEBOOK20-OFF-MEMBERSHIPS

(apply above discount code above at check out)

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2. Paypal  paypal.me/jcmatherly

3. Online with Stripe, secure credit card: 


Call anytime to register or if you have any questions!

(478) 217-5200

Spring 2019 Morel Forays: 


Summer 2019 Forays:

(Email me for interest, info coming soon)

  • Louisiana Chanterelle Foray June 14th-16th, 2019

  • Gatlinburg Summer Foray July 12th-14th, 2019

  • Michigan Summer Foray July 26th-28th, 2019

  • Telluride Porcini Foray August 16th-18th, 2019

  • Upper Peninsula Michigan Chaga and Porcini Foray August 23rd-25th, 2019

2019 Fall Forays:

  • Washington Fall Foray August 30th-September 2nd, 2019

  • Vermont Fall Foray September 6th-8th, 2019

  • Minnesota Fall Foray September 13th-15th, 2019

  • Pennsylvania Fall Foray September 20th-22nd, 2019

  • Illinois Fall Foray September 27th-29th, 2019

  • Northern Indiana Fall Foray October 4th-6th, 2019

  • Ohio Fall Foray October 11th-13th, 2019

  • Southern Indiana Fall Foray October 18th-20th, 2019


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