Searching for morels (pic heavy)

I'm not a morel hunter but if I'm packing a trail gun it is usually a Blackhawk in one caliber or another. There is something that just feels right about carrying a sixgun.

I'd have to learn a lot more before I'd trust myself to eat a mushroom I found in the woods.

Armored farmer said:

One of my favorite spring pastimes is hunting for morels. We are fortunate to have a fair amount of timber, and with the wet weather, a fair amount of time to kill.
I like to bring along an easy carrying sidearm just for fun. I might come across an old junk pile that needs a little help Biodegrading.
What's your idea of an easy carrying trail gun?
Oh, and any morel hunters?
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Great Pics, who needs a gun? What a beautiful place to just go and enjoy Mother nature with total peace. And there is always something special about finding a nice shed antler.

at first glance I thought the title of your thread was “Searching for morals.” I think that would have generated some funny responses. Nice pics!

Jeb Stuart said:

Great Pics, who needs a gun? What a beautiful place to just go and enjoy Mother nature with total peace. And there is always something special about finding a nice shed antler.

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But nature is much more enjoyable if you can blast something.

Choctaw said:

But nature is much more enjoyable if you can blast something.

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Or just don't get eaten or mauled.

crestoncowboy said:

Or just don't get eaten or mauled.

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Well, there is that too.

in a rifle I like anything with a sling, such as my Browning SA-22 or if a hand gun I like my S&W model 63 --22lr. or my Ruger LCR 38sp in a de santis pocket holster with either snake loads or cast bullet reloads or both.

Bull

There is nothing here (Fl) that my beat up Glock 23 can't handle.

Over 200 since Thursday evening on my little 43 acres. We only covered 10%of it.

On the east side of the Rockies here, Morels are sort of rare but with the wet weather we've been getting, it might be worthwhile to explore the creek bottoms and hope to find them and asparagus. Chanterelles are more common in the foot hills but come later in the Summer/Fall. Boletus/Leccinum are common there but you have to get to them before the worms do.
My Bearcat is usually along but seldom gets much of a workout.

My wife would go hunting for morels with you. A buddy from way back used to go out as well. I never have.

Are morels unique in their appearance or are there other, perhaps poisonous, varieties that mimic them?

Speedo66 said:

Are morels unique in their appearance or are there other, perhaps poisonous, varieties that mimic them?

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Don't take my word for this, but I'm pretty certain that the appearance is unique and they won't kill you. I've found a couple while turkey hunting, but don't have the eye, or patience, to find them. I used to work with a bunch of guys from West Virginia who could go for an half hour walk and come back with a bag full. I remember them saying to look around apple trees and elm stumps. They could find Ginseng too, if any was growing there.

There are a number of what's known as false morels that are similar in appearance, some of which are poisonous.

MutinousDoug said:

There are a number of what's known as false morels that are similar in appearance, some of which are poisonous.

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Well that ends that. lol

I like the 870 super mag as a trail gun....

Must have been turkey hunting.

I have a recently acquired S&W 17 that would seem a logical trail gun but I like the added power of the .22 Magnum if I spot a hog. I don’t have a .22 Mag handgun and wouldn’t want one for a hog anyway so my trail gun of choice would have to be my 597 Mag.

S&W-34 in .22 lr.

I tasted my 1st Morel last week found on our property. Pretty good.

Found a few very nice grey morels yesterday.
For anyone worried about identifying morels and other mushrooms, this is a pretty good book. Amazon and WalMart both have it for under $20

I haven't found any here yet but when I go out, I want both hands free (or more likely a walking staff in one) and I don't want the burden of a rifle or shotgun, slung or not. I carry an old S&W model 66 (no dash) loaded with .38 wad cutters on my hip. or sometimes a 4" colt woodsman.
a couple years ago I found a bunch of small grey morels before the big yellows came up. Made a hot Morel and bacon dressing and served in over a wilted spinach salad with sliced duck breast. My wife is an excellent cook and a genuine foody and she still says that there has never been a better wilted spinach salad served.

Nice sheds there AF.
Those two have at least a couple of good knife handles in them.