NWR: Where to Find Morels in VA/MD?

Y

Yule Kim

Yule Kim
I was wondering whether anyone knew where to find morel mushrooms in Virginia and Maryland and what the time of the year they are in season?

I definitely want to explore mushroom hunting and thought some of the mycologists on this board could give me some pointers on how to start. Any good reference books to buy?
 
The basics are: look for them in springtime around old apple orchards and burned areas. Black morels happen around pines and poplars; yellow morels around ash, oak and dead elms. The National Audubon Society Field Guide is a good basic reference. When you find an area that has them don't tell anyone where it is.
 
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
Click to expand...
Only go mushroom hunting with "old Italians" is the advice given to new mushroom hunters here in the valley. The emphasis is on "old Italians" who have been doing it for years.
 
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Good approach
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
Click to expand...
Only go mushroom hunting with "old Italians" is the advice given to new mushroom hunters here in the valley. The emphasis is on "old Italians" who have been doing it for years.
Click to expand...
Choose your Sebastianis with care, in that case.
 
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Good approach
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
Click to expand...
Only go mushroom hunting with "old Italians" is the advice given to new mushroom hunters here in the valley. The emphasis is on "old Italians" who have been doing it for years.
Click to expand...

Good point. Finding "old Italians" might be difficult in DC, but I hope I'll be able to find some experienced mycologists out there.

The only issue so far is that the mycologist society meets in the nether regions of Montgomery County, so getting up there and talking to the more experienced mushroom hunters will be difficult. Hoping I can figure out a way though.

Well, at least I have until spring. (though chanterelles might be around soon).
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Good approach
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
Click to expand...
Only go mushroom hunting with "old Italians" is the advice given to new mushroom hunters here in the valley. The emphasis is on "old Italians" who have been doing it for years.
Click to expand...
Choose your Sebastianis with care, in that case.
Click to expand...
That debacle was produced by the "very young" of the Sebastiani family going against the advice of the elders. Had not completed their education in "harvesting" as taught by the elders in the family.
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
(though chanterelles might be around soon).
Click to expand...

They are popping up now on in WA.

IMG_0532.jpg
If you have a bottle of 08 Clos de la Roilette you should open one. It is just brilliant and totally ready to go. 2008 is turning out to be a very useful vintage. The definition of transparent.

BJ of course may want to continue to cellar his bottles
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Good approach
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
Click to expand...
Only go mushroom hunting with "old Italians" is the advice given to new mushroom hunters here in the valley. The emphasis is on "old Italians" who have been doing it for years.
Click to expand...

Good point. Finding "old Italians" might be difficult in DC, but I hope I'll be able to find some experienced mycologists out there.

The only issue so far is that the mycologist society meets in the nether regions of Montgomery County, so getting up there and talking to the more experienced mushroom hunters will be difficult. Hoping I can figure out a way though.

Well, at least I have until spring. (though chanterelles might be around soon).
Click to expand...

road trip?
 
But more seriously, never eat a mushroom that you can't identify 100% by species. Ambiguous specimens can be left in the woods.

It's amazing how many people eat poisonous mushrooms every year.
 
originally posted by Matt Latuchie:
originally posted by Yule Kim:
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Good approach
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thank you guys for the information. I will be sure to get the field guide sometime soon and be on the look out for apple orchards!

And who knew there were mycological societies? Hopefully I'll be able to get some know-how and avoid poisoning myself.
Click to expand...
Only go mushroom hunting with "old Italians" is the advice given to new mushroom hunters here in the valley. The emphasis is on "old Italians" who have been doing it for years.
Click to expand...

Good point. Finding "old Italians" might be difficult in DC, but I hope I'll be able to find some experienced mycologists out there.

The only issue so far is that the mycologist society meets in the nether regions of Montgomery County, so getting up there and talking to the more experienced mushroom hunters will be difficult. Hoping I can figure out a way though.

Well, at least I have until spring. (though chanterelles might be around soon).
Click to expand...

road trip?
Click to expand...

I would be up for that. The Mycological Association of Washington is meeting October 4th at 7:00 pm at the Kensington Park Public Library for their "Fall Tasting" Meeting.

Loading…

mawdc.org

I think there is a $20 annual fee to get in though.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
But more seriously, never eat a mushroom that you can't identify 100% by species. Ambiguous specimens can be left in the woods.

It's amazing how many people eat poisonous mushrooms every year.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the warning. I've been reading up on morels and chanterelles, trying to memorize their main characteristics. Though all I got so far is that chanterelles don't have gills, are uniformly light orange, and are white inside.

And that false morels aren't too common in the DC area.

Gulp! I better study up.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Yule Kim:


I think there is a $20 annual fee to get in though.
Click to expand...
Cheaper than a new liver.
Click to expand...

Definitely true.

I might just start by walking around Rock Creek Park and look around without picking, just to get a feel for it. It will also give me an excuse to put on my hiking boots and wander off the running trail for once.
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Yule Kim:


I think there is a $20 annual fee to get in though.
Click to expand...
Cheaper than a new liver.
Click to expand...

Definitely true.

I might just start by walking around Rock Creek Park and look around without picking, just to get a feel for it. It will also give me an excuse to put on my hiking boots and wander off the running trail for once.
Click to expand...

When you start foraging, go in the company of several experienced veterans (Lou's old Italians, e.g.) and have them check your selections. Morels are hard to mistake and most false morels only vaguely resemble the real thing. Chanterelles are a bit trickier, but still not so tough. SFJoe's comment about new livers, though, is not to be taken lightly: many cases of mushroom poisoning result in acute hepatotoxicity and the need for a liver transplant -- no fun.

Mark Lipton
 
I'm definitely taking everyone's advice to heart. I don't plan on actually eating or even picking anything until I get an actual guide to accompany me.

Even just going around and taking photos is a good excuse to go outdoors, which is the main reason I want to do this stuff to begin with. The gastronomic angle is just a bonus.
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
I might just start by walking around Rock Creek Park and look around without picking, just to get a feel for it.
Click to expand...

Several interesting examples recently started appearing in my front yard.
 
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