I have heard so much about morel mushrooms. Every person I know raves about how amazing they are and yet I have never found a friend that will teach me to hunt them or take me with them when they hunt. They joke that they would have to blindfold me if they took me along so that I wouldn't know where the mushrooms reside. This is not just one or two people either, this is many people who all behave in this very selfish and unkind manner when it comes to morel mushrooms. Is this the norm? On the one hand I would truly relish the experience so that I might discover what all the hype is about, but on the other hand, if it is going to make me behave the way that others behave, I'm not sure I want to learn. I have decided to post a plea for help (promising myself that I will not behave the way others behave): Is there anyone in the KC area who would be willing to teach me/my family how to hunt morel mushrooms? Pamela from Fieldstone Organic Farm

I live in MI not KS but I can tell you that anyone that knows where to find morels usually keeps that info to themselves, good luck.

yeah, around here we say we could show you but then we would have to kill you. LOL The problem is you show someone one of your spots and then they show someone your spot and then they show someone your spot and I think you get the message. Pretty soon you don't have a spot.

Keep looking eventually you will have your own spot and you will not tell anyone either.

I went out for about five years before I ever found any.

Good luck. Don't give up. The mushroom Gods be with you!

NOBODY GIVES UP THEIR FAVORITE HUNTING SPOTS BUT I CAN TELL YOU HOW EASY IT IS TO FIND THEM GO TO ANY MAJOR RIVER, KANSAS, MISSOURI,GRAND ECT OR ANY CREEKS RUNNING INTO THEM AND START WALKING IN THE TIMBERALONG THE RIVER LOOK AROUND DEAD COTTONWOODS ONCE YOU FIND THEM YOUR HOOKED AND YOU CAN GENERALLY GO BACK TO THE SAME LOCATIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR AND FIND THEM AGAIN ITS THAT EASY GO GET EM!!!!

I am going again tommorow found about thirty today around five oclock I live in Shawnee.. If you want to find a few and I could show you what they look like etc. Send an email .

A RARE find!! A kind soul that was willing to share with our family and give us a helping hand in learning how to hunt morel mushrooms: what to look for, where to look, and making sure we actually saw them with our own eyes! For your kindness, generosity and willingness to teach we thank you. He sets an example for the rest of you that are unwilling to share-it's a sure bet we would never infringe upone his area, not for anything. That would be dishonorable, disrespectful, and down right unethical. We really enjoyed learning how to hunt for the morel mushrooms and will keep you posted Jody.
Cheers! Pamela and family.

It was my pleasure thank you for the farm fresh eggs. Now about "polk salad" in about a month. Oh it is great with those fresh eggs. You cut the tender tops wash them in the washing machine and scramble them in with eggs.
Truly awesome.

youtube has tons of videos of showing people morel hunting too. I'm sorry your friends are so selfish the people on this board are really helpful, just ask... oh wait you did and someone took you out. I love the Great Morel Forum

Nobody would help me either. It took years of coming back with nothing, then finding a few, to hitting the jackpot last year and finding 8 pounds in several hours. Every tip I researched went out the window as I've never seen one web site suggest looking where I found these, nor have I ever seen anyone picking in this type of area. You'll feel a huge sense of accomplishment if you don't give up and try until you succeed. I used to be bitter towards people who were tight lipped, but I kept going, and it paid off. Only one other person knows where I got lucky because he was driving by and busted me. It will be a race this year.

KC is a great area, 1mickymoo gmail , found 11 yesterday, looking very promising today..

4 - 18, 39 in douglas county, 12 day old yellows and 27 fresh greys

4 - 19, 15 more fresh greys

160 4-22-09 , and it's raining!!!! for me , best year since 1994

THE BEST ADVICE ALWAYS COMES FROM THE OLD TIMERS. THEY ARE SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES. DO YOU HAVE ELDERLY NEIGHBORS? SOMETIMES, WHEN I AM OUT DRIVING AROUND, I'LL SEE AN ELDERLY PERSON OUTSIDE AND STOP TO TALK; I LEARN MORE FROM THEM THAN FROM ANY BOOK. HERE IN WISCONSIN, THERE ARE NURSING HOMES, ASSISSTED LIVING HOMES, AND SENIOR CENTERS. YOU COULD CALL SOME OF THESE PLACES AND ASK IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SETTING UP A "STORY TIME" FOR ANYONE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH YOU. I'M SURE THAT THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. THEN, WHEN YOU FIND SOME, YOU CAN BRING THEM IN TO THEM ALL COOKED AND WARM FOR THEM TO ENJOY, AND SHARE YOUR OWN STORIES BACK TO THEM.

YES, MOST PEOPLE ARE FUNNY ABOUT THAT WHOLE THING WITH FINDING MUSHROOMS AND GUARD THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE. WHEN I TAKE PEOPLE OUT TO TEACH THEM, I ALWAYS FIND ALOT AND IT'S SATISFYING TO SEE HOW EXCITED AND HAPPY THEY GET WHEN THEY START FINDING THEIR OWN. IF PEOPLE ARE GREEDY ABOUT SUCH THINGS, I FIND IT COMES BACK TO GET THEM IN SOME WAY. ANYTHING IN NATURE WAS PUT THERE FOR ALL TO ENJOY AND WHEN YOU SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW, IT WILL COME BACK TO REWARD YOU.

I know what you mean about how people act . I can tell you where to look on your own and guarantee you will find some probably more than your selfish friends .Then they will be asking you to take them. Do you know what a dead elm tree looks like .If not I guess you can just look for dead trees until you find mushrooms and recognize them .The best elm trees will be the ones where the bark is scaling off or if just died will be white looking. Look for dead trees where the bark is half on and half off.They tend to grow along gravel roads or rail road tracks.I have found lbs of morrels driving down gravel roads looking around dead elm trees in and along the ditches .Rail road right of ways are good places also especially abandoned ones no longer used .Just walk down the tracks and look for dead elm trees on both sides .You will find plenty PS ( Now keep this a secret ) Good luck

The reason you find morels along gravel roads and railroads is due to the limestone in the gravel and track ballast. Track ballast is the rocks between the railroad ties that help hold them in place and is 100% crushed limestone. I've found pound after pound in old crushed limestone piles with no vegetation on them and no trees for 50 yards. It's due in part to the warmth that the stone piles retain early, as well as the PH and other chemical properties. If there is a limestone mine or quarry near you, see if you can access an area where waste and contamination (non-uniform stone) is dumped. I'm in no way advocating tresspassing, as mines and quarries are dangerous places, but sometimes old roads are shared with the mine property and the public and you can literally drive along and spot morels from your car window. Big ones, and lots of them!

I agree with you that railroad tracks are good places but believe me when I say that they are dangerous. I work for Union Pacific and you think that a train would be easy to hear but sometimes they can sneak up on you. But please do not take your kids with you, it would be to easy for something to happen. Also just for info its agaisnt the law to tresspass on railroad property and depending on the area most likely you will get ran off.

Hello, The Missouri Mycological Society (just search on Google) are wonderful -- they have group forays during morel season and for Morel Madness bring in speakers, etc., too. Really great group of people, and you can learn all about how to hunt morels. :)

Hi Pam. I'm Pam. Here's the scoop. The reason everyone behaves weird about mushrooms is that once you've tried them, you're hooked. It's like gold. It's like eating the best lobster , ever. Or the best tender filet, ever.
That being said, the memory sticks in your mind and you yearn for that every year. These mushrooms only come up once a year- generally between Mid-April and early May. Seems a little early this year. However, that being said- that's why everyone is acting like its the end of the world. It's their ONE chance to find these mushrooms. It is true about finding them along creeks and little rivers. We found our little "patch" on accident last year and I will be going back. It's by a little creek. You will find them too. Good luck. Let us know how you do. Part of the fun is finding them yourself. Another tip is to look in an old apple orchard. We did that when I was little and found the mother load!!

first of all look for moist foilated areas aint gonna find any in dry spots and firs such as cedar are most suspect to house morel but yet i found one growin in my gutter! keep ur eyed peeled and stat away from slimy black shrooms