Mushroom hunting

Walking in the woods really is its own reward. The scent of Sweet Williams, Dutchman's Breeches, and apple blossoms fills the air. Wildlife abounds. Dappled sunlight dances on the creek. Birds sing. It is perfectly peaceful.

Take your walk at the right time this spring, however, and you might come home with more than just a song in your heart. With a little know-how and a lot of luck, you could bag the tastiest treat in the woods — morel mushrooms.

Morels, which are actually the fruit of an underground fungi, can be found from mid-April through May, depending on your location. Weather also affects the timing of each year's mushroom crop. They need about a week of warm days and nights, and there has to be adequate moisture.

Family tradition

Gary Foust of Indianola, Iowa, has been an avid mushroom hunter since his father, Vern, first took him as a young boy. Today, he's lucky enough to own the timber where he and his dad shared the first of many successful hunts.

The first step, Gary says, is to find the right piece of ground. If you know of an area where mushrooms have been found in years past, that's a good place to start. Of course, the best locations are closely guarded secrets.

If you don't have timber on your property, check the rules in your state for collecting morels from public lands. Most states do allow mushroom hunting in state forests and parks. And of course, always ask permission before entering private property. "If you do find mushrooms on someone else's land, it's a nice gesture to share some with the landowner," Gary says.

What to watch for

So, you're in the timber. Now what? "Dad always said if you could find dead elm trees that you'd find mushrooms," Gary says. "And on the east and west slopes of a ditch or riverbank. When the sun hits them, they'll glisten and shine."

Mushrooms also tend to grow around decaying apple trees, he notes.

After looking at the forest floor for a while, things tend to blend together. "When I find my first mushroom of the day, I just look at it for a few minutes to help train my eye," he says. And where you find one mushroom, chances are you'll find more. Sometimes, many more.

The most successful hunt Gary had was with his wife, LaVerta, in 1972. "The mushrooms were so thick it looked like a miniature forest of Christmas trees," he says. "We filled all of our bags, and I even took off my shirt, tied the sleeves, and filled it. We took all we could carry and still left them standing. It was amazing."

Enjoy the harvest

To prepare your morels, cut them in half lengthwise, soak in salt water overnight, pat dry, dip in flour (some people dip them in egg first), and fry in butter. Morels can also be used in recipes, but most hunters will agree they're best fried.

The Fousts have tried several different methods to preserve mushrooms, from freezing in water to dehydrating. The best way they've found is to fry the morels, then freeze them. They can be warmed in the microwave.

This spring, grab your favorite walking stick and a bag or two, and take a walk in the woods. It's time well spent — even if you come home empty-handed.

Get to know mushrooms in your neck of the woods

There are hundreds of different types of mushrooms growing wild in the U.S. While many — like the morel — are edible, others can be dangerous and even deadly.

Before going on a mushroom hunt, it's a good idea to purchase a mushroom field guide, with clear photos and accurate descriptions, so you won't mistakenly eat something you shouldn't.

There are a few species of mushroom that are sometimes mistaken for the morel. According to Iowa State University Extension, morels are cone-haped with sponge-like ridges. They often have white or yellowish-brown pits and gray ridges, and range from 2 to 6 inches tall.

Poisonous false morels grow in the same type of habitat as morels and at the same time. Their caps aren't cone-shaped; they're shorter and look more like a small, reddish-brown brain.

For more information about many types of edible and poisonous mushrooms, download this fact sheet from the Iowa State University Extension: extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN306.pdf.