If you leave the base (“root”) the mushrooms will continue to grow and produce spores. Thus more morels!
I usually put the base somewhere else to grow. The mushroom “mycelium” is already growing underground from where I picked it. If I want to place it somewhere close to home, I bring them out of the woods and plant them where they will be convenient to find. If not, I like to gently pull up the morel and then cut the base off and give it a toss. There is quite a bit of controversy on how to correctly pick morels, but as long as you don’t throw the base in the garbage, you have done what the mushroom wants you to do…spread it around! I don’t throw any parts of mushrooms away. They either go in my belly, in my yard, or in my compost pile.
I’d just like to know how to dry morels. I had some that I had washed and then my husband decided to dry them, he put them on a pizza pan and set them outside, now they look funny to me and I am not sure we should eat them. Could you please help me?
Hello,
The main thing you need to worry about when drying mushrooms is mold. If they don’t dry quick enough, it can be a problem. This is compounded when mushrooms are wet from rain or washing. I do not wash mushrooms with water unless I absolutely have to, and especially if they are to be dried. The mold can be of various colors and should not be eaten.
Drying small mushrooms can be as simple as laying them on a plate, or stringing morels on thread and hanging them. They should stay out of the light and need moving air more than anything. We like to dry them on a food dehydrator because it is safer and easier to manage. An oven works if you can turn it way down and leave the door open. I usually dry small batches of morels on a plate or screen inside where I can watch and turn them. Larger mushrooms need to be sliced before drying.The following link will get you to an article on drying and storing mushrooms: http://www.montanamushrooms.com/2009/07/12/drying-and-storing-oyster-mushrooms/
I’ve had decent luck in finding morels around the Stillwater forest however they all seem to have at least some worms. Even the newly sprouted smaller ones. Although I cook most of what I find that day is there a recomended handling of those that dont make the table right away?? Last season I would slice them and leave them to air dry on paper plates with a fan on to circulate the air and when I rotated there were noticable worms on the plates. Should I look in a different spot or just accept that there’s gonna be a little extra protien in with them?
I like to think the extra protein won’t hurt me!
The only way I know to kill the little buggers, is to soak the morels in salt water. This does not help the drying process, and dilutes the mushroom flavor. As long as you remember to cook dried mushrooms before you eat them, I don’t see a problem. They seem to be worse in cool and slow growing weather like we have had this year. Thank you for your response,
Dean
Thank you for the informative site. I have found some false morals in my yard and was wanting to know if they are also safe to eat. If so, I plan to make sure I scatter them around for next time. I’m in Sheridan, Mt. and have found various mushrooms all over and excited to have even false morals just in my yard.
Never mind Dean. Found the site the tells that the false morals are poisionous. Bummer.
Nicely done, that would have been my advice also!
I have been seeing some puffbals around though. Most of them are edible, and I find them delicious. Do you only pick morels, or do you venture into the rest of the edibles? Thank you for the response,
Dean
Hi, if someone could let me know where to look for morels this time of year, I’d really appreciate it, we’re heading n to Butte then Missoula then Flathead Lk up to Glacier Park
Please reply to my e address fmroz@telus.blackberry.net
as sometimes I cannot get to websites
hi there big brother. i was excited to see all your pics of mushrooms. we found morels in cody wy (where i live ) for the first time ,since i have lived here, this year. we were so excited. i grew up hunting morels and thanks to my big brother i hunt them now. great site.
Found 4 Black morels near Pentwater, Mi 4-07-12
AWESOME…LET THE GAMES BEGIN…anyone else?
thank you for the info!
Great site! I’ve been out all weekend near Lewistown checking my spots and nothing yet. Pretty sure this will be the beginning of a great season! Plenty of moisture but too chilly at night-sounds like that will change this week.
We/I call those false morels “calf brains” up here and eat them all the time. As long as the inside doesn’t have the spider web/stringy/cotton like texture we chow em right down (after pan frying that is).
Happy Shrooming!
Hello, and thank you for your response!
Things are pretty dry here. I am hoping for more rain.
Do you pick the oyster mushrooms? I am going to check for them today.
I was told that the “calf brains” are delicious, but you have to make sure that you cook them hot and thorough. The fumes while cooking are toxic and I was told that there is some possibility for accumulation in your system from long term consumption. I cannot recommend eating them on this site, but obviously you know what you are doing!
It is always interesting to me to study what some cultures eat and others will not. I think moderation and seasonal availability has something to do with this! Let us know how you do and I will do the same.
Dean
Any word of any morels in the Missoula area?
I have not heard any news yet! Anyone out there finding morels yet?
no morels, checked all my hotspots and talked to a couple of fellow hunters in the field. One said he found some in Missoula. found some grand oysters though!
Nice, thanks for the info!
It takes quite a while for me to get sick of eating good oysters!
Are the False Morels edible? My husband has found many of them and said they were always found by the real morels???
People eat them, but I cannot recommend eating them. I am told they are delicious, but they contain a toxin that is mostly evaporated while cooking, However, the toxin can build up in your system (bio accumulate) and kill you. Not a chance that I am willing to take! They do seem to grow where the true morels grow.
Just moved out to Joliet MT a couple of years ago didn’t know Montana had Morels and have been tring to find them do they around The Joliet area
Yes, morels grow in the Joliet area. I am not sure about the moisture there right now. This will be key in finding them.
Happy hunting,
Dean
Nothing in Southwest Montana yet…at least I don’t thnk so…newby:)
I live in Cardwell and have started hunting Morels on our property. So far we have found about 10. Ate them already and they are delish 🙂 I’m sure we will find more when we get warmer weather, a few years ago we found about 150 just in our front yard !
Nice! It is always sweet to have your own patch. I am sure your dogs will protect it. When it warms up it might be a good year for morels! Do you pick any other mushrooms?
Happy Hunting,
Dean
I was up Skalkaho Sat, 10Jun, & there were 30+ out of state(mostly CA) vehicles & people carrying 5gal buckets, wearing backpacks, in the last year’s fire area. Must be a good place for Morels. . . Understand there are more pickers up past Painted Rocks.
I live in Kalispell and I’ve been finding alot of morels lately. I have about 100 lbs in my fridge and I can’t seem to find anyone to buy them.
I know a buyer that would be interested in purchasing all of the morels you can find!
To dean how much do they pay? For morels
Hello,
It depends on the type, grade and condition of the morels.
The buyers at the burns are paying $2-$5 per pound for black morels of average size and condition.
$8-$10 seems to be the top price for wholesale morels.
I know a reputable buyer if anyone has morels to sell. Contact me at my email MontanaMushrooms@gmail.com or on the website.
Happy Hunting,
Dean
do you suggest soaking morels in a brine to kill bugs.
Hello,
I do not soak my morels, or any mushroom, unless they are really dirty or need re hydrating. I feel it takes away from the flavor and the extra moisture makes it hard to preserve or prepare them. Wet mushrooms spoil pretty fast!
Dean
Getting fired up for a great shroom pickin season!! Thanks for the interesting, informative site. I’m floating the Smith River in the begining of May, have you ever heard of anyone pulling morels off of some of the islands there? Maybe too cold? lookin forward to an amazing trip, spring and summer!!
Hello, and welcome to Montana Mushrooms!
I have not heard of anyone picking morels on the Smith float, but most are pretty tight lipped about the morels. Things are behind this year, so it might be early, but it never hurts to check for them.
Good luck and tell us how you do,
Dean
Curious if any morels have been found in
Billings area and what other edibles might be in the area?
I have not heard anything from Billings yet. If it rains enough, there will be morels! Some of the relatives of the button mushroom, like the tork (Agaricus bitorquis) and the meadow (Agaricus campestris) grow in the spring and are some of my favorites. The faithful oyster(Pleurotus ostreatus) is out and much like the meadow, prefers the fall and will be back. Let us know how you do,
Dean
Great website! Bozeman seems to have absolutely everything to offer (even our very own mycology website). I know that hunting locations are always kept close so I hope this is an agreeable question. My family is coming into town for the weekend and my pops loves hunting his mushrooms. I am hoping to head out for a relaxing day hunting for morels. Any suggestions? Just a road or a canyon would be a great tip to send me on my way!
Hello Sam, and thank you for the compliment! I think your best bet this weekend will be the river bottoms. Things are just getting started and this rain should kick things in gear. I have been picking some Oyster mushrooms and all we needed for the morels was some rain!
Good luck and let us know how you do,
Dean
We’ve been looking around some of the fire sites in south boulder nothing yet. But it’s very hard to walk into don’t suggest taking children. This rain hopefully does the trick
Hello, and thanks for the update! I agree, burn sites are not a safe place for children. Adults need to be careful too. There is the obvious dangers like the hanging snags that can fall, but the real danger is when the fire burns out huge root systems and create hidden caverns to fall in to. Be careful and let us know how you do,
Dean
Nothing yet it billings but were on 3 days of rain now! Soooo that’s what we needed to get this going (:
Thanks for the update…this rain has me pretty excited too!
How long after this awesome rain do you think it will take to produce some pickable morels in the Gallatin Valley? Glad we got this much-needed moisture!
It usually takes a few days of warm weather after the rains. Hopefully they will come right away because the ground is already warm. I went out yesterday and was surprised by how dry the ground was! This rain came just in time…let us know how you do,
Dean
I have never hunted morels 🙁 I want to take my daughter so bad and she is so excited to go. Money is tight so closest to missoula would be best…could anyone please pass on anywhere we should try. The rain is good. I just don’t want to disappoint my daughter.
Thanks 🙂
Has anyone ever found any morels near Butte? I’ve been searching for the last couple years but never have found any. I’ve never found any before and have looked in the highlands, elk park area, fleecer mountain, georgetown lake.
Hello and welcome to Montana Mushrooms!
Check out the Western Montana Mycological Association at the Fungal Jungal
They have regular forays and morel mushroom hunts for the public.
Let us know how you do,
Dean
Hi Dean
Great site! Thank you. I have been a hunter of the morel for only 3 seasons and consider myself to still be a rookie. My hunts are very hit or miss. Mostly luck at this point I think. Any suggestions on common elements of where morels gather and grow around Bozeman? I hear and read conflicting ideas. Embankments, under trees, under brush, low side, high side? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
I spent most of yesterday looking for morels down by the river with no success. In fact what I found was about 15 good oyster spots that had already been picked. This is my second year at it and I am starting to think it’s like snipe hunting. Do you think that the river bottoms in the gallatin valley are good now or should I be looking higher. With all the fires we had last summer will those be good spots this year or next. Also south facing or north? Does there need to be a water source near by?
Leave a Reply
Your source for information about Mushrooms in Montana.
If you leave the base (“root”) the mushrooms will continue to grow and produce spores. Thus more morels!
I usually put the base somewhere else to grow. The mushroom “mycelium” is already growing underground from where I picked it. If I want to place it somewhere close to home, I bring them out of the woods and plant them where they will be convenient to find. If not, I like to gently pull up the morel and then cut the base off and give it a toss. There is quite a bit of controversy on how to correctly pick morels, but as long as you don’t throw the base in the garbage, you have done what the mushroom wants you to do…spread it around! I don’t throw any parts of mushrooms away. They either go in my belly, in my yard, or in my compost pile.
I’d just like to know how to dry morels. I had some that I had washed and then my husband decided to dry them, he put them on a pizza pan and set them outside, now they look funny to me and I am not sure we should eat them. Could you please help me?
Hello,
The main thing you need to worry about when drying mushrooms is mold. If they don’t dry quick enough, it can be a problem. This is compounded when mushrooms are wet from rain or washing. I do not wash mushrooms with water unless I absolutely have to, and especially if they are to be dried. The mold can be of various colors and should not be eaten.
Drying small mushrooms can be as simple as laying them on a plate, or stringing morels on thread and hanging them. They should stay out of the light and need moving air more than anything. We like to dry them on a food dehydrator because it is safer and easier to manage. An oven works if you can turn it way down and leave the door open. I usually dry small batches of morels on a plate or screen inside where I can watch and turn them. Larger mushrooms need to be sliced before drying.The following link will get you to an article on drying and storing mushrooms: http://www.montanamushrooms.com/2009/07/12/drying-and-storing-oyster-mushrooms/
I’ve had decent luck in finding morels around the Stillwater forest however they all seem to have at least some worms. Even the newly sprouted smaller ones. Although I cook most of what I find that day is there a recomended handling of those that dont make the table right away?? Last season I would slice them and leave them to air dry on paper plates with a fan on to circulate the air and when I rotated there were noticable worms on the plates. Should I look in a different spot or just accept that there’s gonna be a little extra protien in with them?
I like to think the extra protein won’t hurt me!
The only way I know to kill the little buggers, is to soak the morels in salt water. This does not help the drying process, and dilutes the mushroom flavor. As long as you remember to cook dried mushrooms before you eat them, I don’t see a problem. They seem to be worse in cool and slow growing weather like we have had this year. Thank you for your response,
Dean
Thank you for the informative site. I have found some false morals in my yard and was wanting to know if they are also safe to eat. If so, I plan to make sure I scatter them around for next time. I’m in Sheridan, Mt. and have found various mushrooms all over and excited to have even false morals just in my yard.
Never mind Dean. Found the site the tells that the false morals are poisionous. Bummer.
Nicely done, that would have been my advice also!
I have been seeing some puffbals around though. Most of them are edible, and I find them delicious. Do you only pick morels, or do you venture into the rest of the edibles? Thank you for the response,
Dean
Hi, if someone could let me know where to look for morels this time of year, I’d really appreciate it, we’re heading n to Butte then Missoula then Flathead Lk up to Glacier Park
Please reply to my e address
fmroz@telus.blackberry.net
as sometimes I cannot get to websites
hi there big brother. i was excited to see all your pics of mushrooms. we found morels in cody wy (where i live ) for the first time ,since i have lived here, this year. we were so excited. i grew up hunting morels and thanks to my big brother i hunt them now. great site.
Found 4 Black morels near Pentwater, Mi 4-07-12
AWESOME…LET THE GAMES BEGIN…anyone else?
thank you for the info!
Great site! I’ve been out all weekend near Lewistown checking my spots and nothing yet. Pretty sure this will be the beginning of a great season! Plenty of moisture but too chilly at night-sounds like that will change this week.
We/I call those false morels “calf brains” up here and eat them all the time. As long as the inside doesn’t have the spider web/stringy/cotton like texture we chow em right down (after pan frying that is).
Happy Shrooming!
Hello, and thank you for your response!
Things are pretty dry here. I am hoping for more rain.
Do you pick the oyster mushrooms? I am going to check for them today.
I was told that the “calf brains” are delicious, but you have to make sure that you cook them hot and thorough. The fumes while cooking are toxic and I was told that there is some possibility for accumulation in your system from long term consumption. I cannot recommend eating them on this site, but obviously you know what you are doing!
It is always interesting to me to study what some cultures eat and others will not. I think moderation and seasonal availability has something to do with this! Let us know how you do and I will do the same.
Dean
Any word of any morels in the Missoula area?
I have not heard any news yet! Anyone out there finding morels yet?
no morels, checked all my hotspots and talked to a couple of fellow hunters in the field. One said he found some in Missoula. found some grand oysters though!
Nice, thanks for the info!
It takes quite a while for me to get sick of eating good oysters!
Are the False Morels edible? My husband has found many of them and said they were always found by the real morels???
People eat them, but I cannot recommend eating them. I am told they are delicious, but they contain a toxin that is mostly evaporated while cooking, However, the toxin can build up in your system (bio accumulate) and kill you. Not a chance that I am willing to take! They do seem to grow where the true morels grow.
Just moved out to Joliet MT a couple of years ago didn’t know Montana had Morels and have been tring to find them do they around The Joliet area
Yes, morels grow in the Joliet area. I am not sure about the moisture there right now. This will be key in finding them.
Happy hunting,
Dean
Nothing in Southwest Montana yet…at least I don’t thnk so…newby:)
I live in Cardwell and have started hunting Morels on our property. So far we have found about 10. Ate them already and they are delish 🙂 I’m sure we will find more when we get warmer weather, a few years ago we found about 150 just in our front yard !
Nice! It is always sweet to have your own patch. I am sure your dogs will protect it. When it warms up it might be a good year for morels! Do you pick any other mushrooms?
Happy Hunting,
Dean
I was up Skalkaho Sat, 10Jun, & there were 30+ out of state(mostly CA) vehicles & people carrying 5gal buckets, wearing backpacks, in the last year’s fire area. Must be a good place for Morels. . . Understand there are more pickers up past Painted Rocks.
I live in Kalispell and I’ve been finding alot of morels lately. I have about 100 lbs in my fridge and I can’t seem to find anyone to buy them.
I know a buyer that would be interested in purchasing all of the morels you can find!
To dean how much do they pay? For morels
Hello,
It depends on the type, grade and condition of the morels.
The buyers at the burns are paying $2-$5 per pound for black morels of average size and condition.
$8-$10 seems to be the top price for wholesale morels.
I know a reputable buyer if anyone has morels to sell. Contact me at my email MontanaMushrooms@gmail.com or on the website.
Happy Hunting,
Dean
do you suggest soaking morels in a brine to kill bugs.
Hello,
I do not soak my morels, or any mushroom, unless they are really dirty or need re hydrating. I feel it takes away from the flavor and the extra moisture makes it hard to preserve or prepare them. Wet mushrooms spoil pretty fast!
Dean
Getting fired up for a great shroom pickin season!! Thanks for the interesting, informative site. I’m floating the Smith River in the begining of May, have you ever heard of anyone pulling morels off of some of the islands there? Maybe too cold? lookin forward to an amazing trip, spring and summer!!
Hello, and welcome to Montana Mushrooms!
I have not heard of anyone picking morels on the Smith float, but most are pretty tight lipped about the morels. Things are behind this year, so it might be early, but it never hurts to check for them.
Good luck and tell us how you do,
Dean
Curious if any morels have been found in
Billings area and what other edibles might be in the area?
I have not heard anything from Billings yet. If it rains enough, there will be morels! Some of the relatives of the button mushroom, like the tork (Agaricus bitorquis) and the meadow (Agaricus campestris) grow in the spring and are some of my favorites. The faithful oyster(Pleurotus ostreatus) is out and much like the meadow, prefers the fall and will be back. Let us know how you do,
Dean
Great website! Bozeman seems to have absolutely everything to offer (even our very own mycology website). I know that hunting locations are always kept close so I hope this is an agreeable question. My family is coming into town for the weekend and my pops loves hunting his mushrooms. I am hoping to head out for a relaxing day hunting for morels. Any suggestions? Just a road or a canyon would be a great tip to send me on my way!
Thanks,
Sam
pfeifer.s.e@gmail.com
Hello Sam, and thank you for the compliment! I think your best bet this weekend will be the river bottoms. Things are just getting started and this rain should kick things in gear. I have been picking some Oyster mushrooms and all we needed for the morels was some rain!
Good luck and let us know how you do,
Dean
We’ve been looking around some of the fire sites in south boulder nothing yet. But it’s very hard to walk into don’t suggest taking children. This rain hopefully does the trick
Hello, and thanks for the update! I agree, burn sites are not a safe place for children. Adults need to be careful too. There is the obvious dangers like the hanging snags that can fall, but the real danger is when the fire burns out huge root systems and create hidden caverns to fall in to. Be careful and let us know how you do,
Dean
Nothing yet it billings but were on 3 days of rain now! Soooo that’s what we needed to get this going (:
Thanks for the update…this rain has me pretty excited too!
How long after this awesome rain do you think it will take to produce some pickable morels in the Gallatin Valley? Glad we got this much-needed moisture!
It usually takes a few days of warm weather after the rains. Hopefully they will come right away because the ground is already warm. I went out yesterday and was surprised by how dry the ground was! This rain came just in time…let us know how you do,
Dean
I have never hunted morels 🙁 I want to take my daughter so bad and she is so excited to go. Money is tight so closest to missoula would be best…could anyone please pass on anywhere we should try. The rain is good. I just don’t want to disappoint my daughter.
Thanks 🙂
Has anyone ever found any morels near Butte? I’ve been searching for the last couple years but never have found any. I’ve never found any before and have looked in the highlands, elk park area, fleecer mountain, georgetown lake.
Hello and welcome to Montana Mushrooms!
Check out the Western Montana Mycological Association at the Fungal Jungal
They have regular forays and morel mushroom hunts for the public.
Let us know how you do,
Dean
Hi Dean
Great site! Thank you. I have been a hunter of the morel for only 3 seasons and consider myself to still be a rookie. My hunts are very hit or miss. Mostly luck at this point I think. Any suggestions on common elements of where morels gather and grow around Bozeman? I hear and read conflicting ideas. Embankments, under trees, under brush, low side, high side? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
I spent most of yesterday looking for morels down by the river with no success. In fact what I found was about 15 good oyster spots that had already been picked. This is my second year at it and I am starting to think it’s like snipe hunting. Do you think that the river bottoms in the gallatin valley are good now or should I be looking higher. With all the fires we had last summer will those be good spots this year or next. Also south facing or north? Does there need to be a water source near by?