Morels World

For such a slim volume, How to Find Morels is exceptionally useful, providing wonderfully valuable information about mushroom hunting and hunting for morels in particular. Milan Pelouch covers nearly every aspect (finding, preserving, and eating) in an easy-going and approachable way for both practiced hunters and novices alike.

While the tone of the text is very conversational, it can be somewhat meandering at times–repeating itself and with occasional organizational problems. However, as the book is rather brief (and easily read in one sitting), this fault isn’t as problematic as it could be. Regardless, Pelouch provides fantastic information, tips, and recommendations, arming readers with great skills to pursue the wily morel. Subjects addressed encompass everything from supplies and tools needed for a pleasant hunt, where to search, and what to look for to preserving and eating the find. Basic information is also given about the mushrooms themselves, when they’re in season, and even the possibility of cultivation.

Also included are a number of recipes using or featuring morels which were contributed by the author’s wife, Lila. Unless I brought back a particularly large crop that I was willing to experiment with, I personally would skip these and stick to what I know and love: fry ‘em up in butter and flour with a bit of salt for seasoning added. Pelouch briefly mentions this preparation, but does not appreciate it as much as I and my family do–he would most likely attribute this to the fact that we hail from Ohio.

Probably one of my favorite things about this book is the photography. Not only is Pelouch an avid mushroom hunter, he is an avid (and quite skilled) mushroom photographer as well. The pictures are gorgeous in addition to being informative.

I grew up hunting mushrooms with my family and morels were always prized above all others. Now I feel even more prepared, and excited, for my next hunt. It is true that mushroom hunters often will keep their secrets to themselves (even people in my family have been known to keep information from each other) which makes this book even more beneficial. I might even share it. Maybe.

Morel season is over for now. But we can do some things in the off season to prepare for the upcoming spring season. If you like to walk or you are a hunter go out and find your areas by looking for elms and popular tees. If you have a GPS device use it. If you don’t, then write down signs of the areas thatyou found. This will help in the upcoming season. Happy Hunting.   www.morelsworld.com

This is important for a couple of reasons. First it keeps air flow to your freshly picked morels. Second it lets spores drop out and back to your hunting area. Now this does not guarantee that they will be there next year but it surely won”t hurt anything. Remember to cut off morels at the base. Happy Hunting http://www.morelsworld.com

Morels grow abundantly in the two and sometimes three years immediately following a forest fire.^[11] However, where fire suppression is practiced, they may grow regularly in small amounts in the same spot year after year. Commercial pickers and buyers in North America will follow forest fires to gather morels. The Finnish name, huhtasieni, refers to huhta, area cleared for agriculture by slash and burn method. These spots may be jealously guarded by mushroom pickers, as the mushrooms are a delicacy and sometimes a cash crop.^[10]

Morels have not yet been successfully farmed on a large scale, and the commercial morel industry is largely based on harvest of wild mushrooms

When gathering morels, care must be taken to distinguish them from the poisonous false morels, including Gyromitra esculenta, Verpa bohemica, and others. Although the false morels are sometimes eaten without ill effect, they can cause severe gastrointestinal upset and loss of muscular coordination (including cardiac muscle) if eaten in large quantities or over several days in a row. They contain a gyromitrin-like toxin (an organic, carcinogenic poison) that is produced by the mushroom.

The false morels can be told apart from the true morels by careful study of the cap, which is often “wrinkled” or “brainy”, rather than honeycomb or net-like. Gyromitra esculenta has a cap that is generally darker and larger than the true morels (Morchella sp.). The caps of early morels (Verpa sp.) are attached only at apex (top) of cap, unlike true morels which have caps that are attached at or near the bottom