Going mushroom hunting: What to know about searching for morels in Delaware

Kelly Powers, Delaware News Journal
Updated ·3 min read

Hunting for morels is no simple task.

Besides patience, many guides online offer advice on how you can search for these wild mushroom delicacies. The distinctive fungi hide well along the forest floor, with brown honeycomb-like pattern of ridges and pits on their caps.

And thanks to "rich wooded areas, expansive shoreline and volatile temperatures," Delaware offers the right ecology for hunting such Morchella, according to MorelMushroom.com.

Always exercise caution with mushroom picking — but black, gray and yellow morels should be fair game in the First State this spring. There are false morel lookalikes to be aware of, however, promising gastronomical distress or toxins if ingested.

Make sure you know what you're picking.

When does morel season start?

A collection of morel mushrooms soak in water. Before cooking, morel mushrooms should be soaked in a light salt water for about 10-20 minutes, Missouri Department of Conservation Southwest Region Media Specialist Francis Skalicky said.
A collection of morel mushrooms soak in water. Before cooking, morel mushrooms should be soaked in a light salt water for about 10-20 minutes, Missouri Department of Conservation Southwest Region Media Specialist Francis Skalicky said.

It varies by location.

Delaware's morel mushroom season comes in the spring, like many states, as temperatures are back on the rise. Typically, per MorelMushroom.com, it begins as temperatures start consistently hitting the 60s. Predicting when they'll start to fruit can be tricky, even for the experts.

That's typically roughly late April and early May. And Delaware has been hitting and exceeding those temperatures already this season, with plenty of rain to encourage growth.

Wilmington's own Ti West: The star-studded finale to a beloved horror trilogy is coming. This Delawarean is behind it

Starting the morel hunt ...

The "prime time" to hunt morel mushrooms is from mid-March to late April. Morel mushrooms can traditionally be found in low, moist areas. South-facing hillsides are also a good place to find the mushrooms.
The "prime time" to hunt morel mushrooms is from mid-March to late April. Morel mushrooms can traditionally be found in low, moist areas. South-facing hillsides are also a good place to find the mushrooms.

If you're not hitting local farmer's markets for these umami bombs, you've got to hit the wilderness.

Locations thriving with morels may be found at the edges of woodlands, around dead or dying trees, in old apple orchards and at sites where the soil has been disturbed, as previously reported by Detroit Free Press.

There may be guidelines for how morels you can take from any area, if you are so lucky to find a bounty. Make sure you have the green light to collect mushrooms if you're planning to hunt on any land you do not own. In Delaware, you cannot willfully cut, collect or possess any "wildlife, flora or fauna" from state parks — including these mushrooms — per state regulations.

Stay persistent in the search. These delights are generally 1 to 5 inches in height, though some can be even larger.

Also, it's key to not cause destruction to those natural areas you choose to hunt. Hopefully, any mushrooms you find can return for the next season of foraging. Using a mesh bag to collect is recommended, too, allowing spores to continue spreading and mushrooms to stay dry.

Delaware State Parks guide: Amenities, parking, passes and all the fun you can get into

Tips for the hunt

Here are some tips from MorelMushroom.com:

  • Morels enjoy warmth, while also appearing after a few days of rain. Check your local forecast.

  • Go with a team, for more eyes. Stay persistent, and cover as much ground as you can.

  • Look near leaf litter, pine needles and areas with a lot of decomposing matter, as morels use that as their food source.

  • Look for areas that are wet, as morels require a lot of water to grow.

  • Look for areas exposed to slightly more heat than others, or vice versa. If the temps are in the lower range, an area with direct sunlight and warmth may be primed for fruiting. If temps are too high, look for shaded areas.

  • Once you find one, it is likely that more are nearby. Also, go to areas where you know they have fruited in the past.

  • For yourself, bring good shoes to hunt in and make sure you're bringing insect repellant to guard against ticks and other pests.

Got a story? Contact Kelly Powers at 231-622-2191 or kepowers@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What to know about going morel mushroom hunting in Delaware