NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/823575
MAY 2017 • NEBRASKAland 57 MORELS FOR DAYS Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen I f someone asked me what about outdoor Nebraska makes me happy most – that immediately puts a smile on my face – the answer would be morel mushroom hunting. There's just something about finally emerging into the woods after a long, dreary winter that makes me feel like a kid again – ready to explore, witness the animals and trees wake, and deeply breathe in the smell of moist earth and fresh spring rain. Typically emerging in mid- to late-April and through May, the arrival of morels not only signals the promise of warmer, milder days ahead, but also a whole new year of great fishing, hunting, camping, kayaking, horseback riding ... Like that first sip of champagne on New Year's Eve and the first egg of Easter wrapped in one, morel mushroom hunting is a great way to welcome in and celebrate spring. However, don't go into the woods unprepared. When to Look Morels are fickle, only growing when conditions are just right, which makes them a poor candidate for mass production. While you won't find this fungus fresh in any major grocery stores, millions of Americans flock to the woods every year to search for this wild prize. With a distinct honeycomb-like appearance as well as possessing a richly nutty, meaty taste, morels are highly coveted by home cooks, professional chefs and artists everywhere. In Nebraska, some morel seasons are long, while others are disappointingly short. Because conditions vary from year to year, it's hard to pinpoint exactly when mushrooms will grow. However, experts generally agree that favorable daytime temperatures fall between 60 and 70 degrees while nighttime temperatures should hover around 40 degrees. Also take soil temperature into careful consideration: the earth must be between 45 to 50 degrees for morels to "pop." "Are the bur oak leaf buds the size of a fox squirrel's ear? Are any woodland violets sprouting? Have wild asparagus spears begun to break the earth yet? Have you done that first mowing of your lawn?" asked Greg Wagner in his March 27, 2017, blog post on early season morels. Wagner has found morels as early as March 20 in southeastern Nebraska along the Platte River, but basically alluded that morels will grow when and where they darn well please. Morels prefer moist, well-drained soils and are encouraged