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[Charlie Zureki]

  Hello,

 It's Morel Mushroom time of the year. I collected about half of a 5 gallon bucket this morning in about 45 minutes. It was getting too light out so I had to quit.... can't give away "my territory".    

 Seems like a pretty good year for the shrooms, with the cold spring we've had.

 Anyone else collecting?

Hammer

[Mac Kerr]

I don't know where to look, but Morels are pretty much my favorite mushroom in stew or with beef. Happy cooking!

Mac

[Cory 'Rooster' McKinnon]

I've always been a fan of the cubensis in a cream of mushroom soup.  

[Charlie Zureki]

Mac Kerr wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 13:22

I don't know where to look, but Morels are pretty much my favorite mushroom in stew or with beef. Happy cooking! Mac

 

 Hey Mac.... I'd send you some, but, you'd probably hate me when you opened the box and saw a pile of mush.... and no "rooms". They don't have a very long shelf life.

 As far as Morel hunting... look for old stands of Elm Trees, especially some that have been felled.  

 Good Luck and happy hunting.

Hammer

[W. Mark Hellinger]

Charlie Zureki wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 10:50

Anyone else collecting?

Yes.

I've heard that collecting Black Morels is possibly a no-no here... endangered spieces or something... so I don't collect Morels anymore, even though there's some large patches here locally (acres in size).  I do still collect other varieties here locally... most of which I prefer to Morels anyway.

I recommend Ed Tylutki's book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Pacific-Northwest-Naturalist -Books/dp/0893010626

Nothing like a BBQ steak and a big ole skillet of butter fried mushrooms.

[Charlie Zureki]

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 15:38

Charlie Zureki wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 10:50   Anyone else collecting? Yes. I've heard that collecting Black Morels is possibly a no-no here... endangered spieces or something... so I don't collect Morels anymore, even though there's some large patches here locally (acres in size).  I do still collect other varieties here locally... most of which I prefer to Morels anyway. I recommend Ed Tylutki's book:  http://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Pacific-Northwest-Naturalist -Books/dp/0893010626 Nothing like a BBQ steak and a big ole skillet of butter fried mushrooms.

 Hey Mark,

 at about $10 an ounce for Dried Morels... you may want to investigate that Law.  You might be sitting on a gold mine.

 The spores from these mushrooms are in the millions.  

Cheers,
Hammer

[John Ward]

I'm sure someone is just waiting for this so here goes....

The Morels are legal; it's those "magic muchrooms" you can't pick.

[Guy Nix]

Cory 'Rooster' McKinnon wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:29

I've always been a fan of the cubensis in a cream of mushroom soup.

My kinda soup!

[Tim McCulloch]

John Ward wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 18:28

I'm sure someone is just waiting for this so here goes.... The Morels are legal; it's those "magic muchrooms" you can't pick.

Go ask Alice.. I think she'll know....



Tim Mc

[Lee Richard]

I thought this thread was going to be about the Morel drivers.
Last year I spent a good couple days pulling the hf's out of Clair UB-2003 speakers, and loading new ones into them in the middle of the night. This was done at the top of a ladder during bad bad bad weather. Oh by the way, it was in a lounge on a cruise ship going around Cape Horn, the water between South America and Antarctica.
It was one of the few times I was glad speakers have magnets, otherwise the screwdrivers and allen wrenches would've kept falling off the ladder. They lasted only a few months from what I hear. Oh well, not my problem anymore.

[Dave Unger]

Charlie Zureki wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:50

Hello,  It's Morel Mushroom time of the year. I collected about half of a 5 gallon bucket this morning in about 45 minutes. It was getting too light out so I had to quit.... can't give away "my territory".      Seems like a pretty good year for the shrooms, with the cold spring we've had.  Anyone else collecting? Hammer

One thing I seriously miss about living in northern Michigan is picking morels this time of year.  You should hunt with mesh bags (like onion sacks) so the spores fall out while you walk around.  You should also grab some wild leeks (ramps) while you are out hunting, they go together perfectly!

[Mac Kerr]

Dave Unger wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 23:35

Charlie Zureki wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:50   Hello,  It's Morel Mushroom time of the year. I collected about half of a 5 gallon bucket this morning in about 45 minutes. It was getting too light out so I had to quit.... can't give away "my territory".      Seems like a pretty good year for the shrooms, with the cold spring we've had.  Anyone else collecting? Hammer One thing I seriously miss about living in northern Michigan is picking morels this time of year.  You should hunt with mesh bags (like onion sacks) so the spores fall out while you walk around.  You should also grab some wild leeks (ramps) while you are out hunting, they go together perfectly!

Hey guys, let me know when to drop in for dinner.  

Mac

[Charlie Zureki]

Dave Unger wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 22:35

One thing I seriously miss about living in northern Michigan is picking morels this time of year.  You should hunt with mesh bags (like onion sacks) so the spores fall out while you walk around.  You should also grab some wild leeks (ramps) while you are out hunting, they go together perfectly!

 Dave, it's Turkey Season too.

 Roasted Turkey, leek/cornbread dressing, butter sauteed Morels, and a wild spinach, dandelion and cattail root salad.... too bad there's no berries yet... for the dressing.

 Yeah, you Northern Michiganders know good eatin

 In my county we only have deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, ground hogs, doves, turtles, and fish... although the Walleye (Pickerel to Canadians) is fantastic.

 You Northerners, get all of the Big Meal Beasts... Moose, Bear, Elk, Snipe, Buffalo.

Cheers,
Hammer

[Dave Unger]

Charlie Zureki wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 07:28

Dave Unger wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 22:35 One thing I seriously miss about living in northern Michigan is picking morels this time of year.  You should hunt with mesh bags (like onion sacks) so the spores fall out while you walk around.  You should also grab some wild leeks (ramps) while you are out hunting, they go together perfectly!  Dave, it's Turkey Season too.  Roasted Turkey, leek/cornbread dressing, butter sauteed Morels, and a wild spinach, dandelion and cattail root salad.... too bad there's no berries yet... for the dressing.  Yeah, you Northern Michiganders know good eatin  In my county we only have deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, ground hogs, doves, turtles, and fish... although the Walleye (Pickerel to Canadians) is fantastic.  You Northerners, get all of the Big Meal Beasts... Moose, Bear, Elk, Snipe, Buffalo. Cheers, Hammer

Not many Moose or Bear near Traverse City, it ain't the Yoop.  The Buffalo are on a farm, makes for easy killin'!

Too bad the Wings crapped out yesterday.  Here's hoping we'll get our shit together tomorrow night!

[Art Welter]

Charlie,

I do miss the Snipe hunting since moving from Minnesota...

Art

[Charlie Zureki]

Art Welter wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 16:40

Charlie, I do miss the Snipe hunting since moving from Minnesota... Art

 Yes, and they're big ones in Minnesota compared to the one's from Michigan. At least 50% bigger!

 Minnesota's herds migrate from Northern Canada down into Minnesota.... where ours are locked in by the Great Lakes.

 The young ones are good grilled, but, I find the more mature ones are best in a stew or slow cooked.

 The striped ones have really boomed, just like the black squirrel population.

 Art, do you do any rattle snake hunting?  I'd be willing to trade lb. for lb. Or?

Cheers,
Hammer

 

[W. Mark Hellinger]

Charlie Zureki wrote on Tue, 05 May 2009 15:41

Hey Mark, at about $10 an ounce for Dried Morels... you may want to investigate that Law.  You might be sitting on a gold mine.  The spores from these mushrooms are in the millions.   Cheers, Hammer

Looks like you're right... I've looked high and low and can't find any mention of Morels being on the endangered spices list in these parts.  Not that I'd consider commercial harvesting of the seemingly vast tracts of Morels in this area (which are still under many feet of snow).

Figures though.  Somewhere around 10 - 15 years ago when I got my head handed to me for considering picking some Morels (like I'd been doing for 35+ years previously)... it was at the hands of a holier than all militant nature preservationalist.  I told her what I thought and the funny thing is:  she hasn't spoken to me since then.

[Mac Kerr]

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 20:56

funny thing is:  she hasn't spoken to me since then.

That sounds like a good thing.

Mac

[Charlie Zureki]

Mac Kerr wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 20:08

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 20:56 funny thing is:  she hasn't spoken to me since then. That sounds like a good thing. Mac

Yeah, it would be hard to talk to her anyway with a mouthful of butter-fried Morels.  

I love it when the "educated" act as if they know what's best for the rest of us.

Being that the spores are microscopic and a field full of Mushrooms you've described would be almost impossible to exterminate.

Cheers,
Hammer

[Dave Dermont]

I am a Polish Podpinka Picker from Pennsylvania.

That's pronounced "PO-pinky"

Those guys appear in the fall after the first frost. There's a mushroom you pick in the spring? I never knew!

I have not passed on the skill of mushroom identification on to my children. I hope there is still time.

There is a tradition of putting a silver dime in the pot when boiling your mushroom. The story goes that if the mushrooms are bad, the dime will discolor and act as a warning to not eat the mushrooms. I am pretty sure this is folklore, but I'll be damned if I ever cooked a pot of 'shrooms without a dime in the pot.

Yes, the dime MUST be silver. I constantly misplace my car keys, but I know exactly where my mushroom dime is at all times.

Naz Drowie!

DD

[Dave Unger]

Dave Dermont wrote on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:37

I am a Polish Podpinka Picker from Pennsylvania. That's pronounced "PO-pinky" Those guys appear in the fall after the first frost. There's a mushroom you pick in the spring? I never knew! I have not passed on the skill of mushroom identification on to my children. I hope there is still time. There is a tradition of putting a silver dime in the pot when boiling your mushroom. The story goes that if the mushrooms are bad, the dime will discolor and act as a warning to not eat the mushrooms. I am pretty sure this is folklore, but I'll be damned if I ever cooked a pot of 'shrooms without a dime in the pot. Yes, the dime MUST be silver. I constantly misplace my car keys, but I know exactly where my mushroom dime is at all times. Naz Drowie! DD

There are old mycophiles, and bold mycophiles, but there are no old bold mycophiles.

If you are unsure of a mushroom ALWAYS do a spore print!  Silver dime is definitely an old wives tale.

[Dave Unger]

Charlie Zureki wrote on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:58

Mac Kerr wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 20:08 W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Wed, 06 May 2009 20:56 funny thing is:  she hasn't spoken to me since then. That sounds like a good thing. Mac Yeah, it would be hard to talk to her anyway with a mouthful of butter-fried Morels.   I love it when the "educated" act as if they know what's best for the rest of us. Being that the spores are microscopic and a field full of Mushrooms you've described would be almost impossible to exterminate. Cheers, Hammer

The mushrooms you pick are actually just the fruiting body of a much bigger organism.  You would have to dig up the whole field and kill the mycelium in order to kill a field of mushrooms.

[Charlie Zureki]

Dave Unger wrote on Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30

The mushrooms you pick are actually just the fruiting body of a much bigger organism.  You would have to dig up the whole field and kill the mycelium in order to kill a field of mushrooms.

  Yes,I believe you are right... but,is that for all Mushrooms?  I don't know enough about them ...

  I do know that the biggest Mushroom  (family?) in the World is in the UP. I believe it was discovered a few years back, and it covers thousands of Acres.

  I think it's near the only native Cactus to Michigan.
 
 Come to think of it... Michigan is a weird State.

Cheers,
Hammer

ps. We do have Bears in lower Michigan ... lots of them. In the Thumb/Port Austin Area, and a lot in the Grayling area.

[Dave Unger]

Charlie Zureki wrote on Thu, 07 May 2009 18:24

Dave Unger wrote on Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30 The mushrooms you pick are actually just the fruiting body of a much bigger organism.  You would have to dig up the whole field and kill the mycelium in order to kill a field of mushrooms.   Yes,I believe you are right... but,is that for all Mushrooms?  I don't know enough about them ...   I do know that the biggest Mushroom  (family?) in the World is in the UP. I believe it was discovered a few years back, and it covers thousands of Acres.   I think it's near the only native Cactus to Michigan.    Come to think of it... Michigan is a weird State. Cheers, Hammer ps. We do have Bears in lower Michigan ... lots of them. In the Thumb/Port Austin Area, and a lot in the Grayling area.

Yeah, I knew that we have bears, just none of them where I'm from.  I saw one once as a kid near my dad's house in Antrim County.

You are right about the worlds biggest mushroom.  It is one of the world's largest organisms.