Morel mushroom hunters have been reporting good results across most of central and eastern Oklahoma the past two weeks, and the cold snaps haven’t seemed to hurt.
With more cold and rain this weekend and temperatures forecast for lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s come Wednesday, the coming weeks should look good, as well.
Some posts on the Oklahoma Morel Hunters Facebook page, which has nearly 6,000 members, have been eye-popping, with big pop can-sized yellows and people finding hauls that cover tailgates and counter tops.
Page founder Ian Slattery said that he would be out in the freezing weather Saturday and that Thursday his group found plenty of “itty bitty” yellows, as well as larger mature mushrooms.
A reminder to mushroom hunters is warranted in coming weeks with spring wild turkey season under way. Avoid wearing red (which is the color of a turkey’s head) and it’s a good idea to wear some hunter orange, be it a hat, vest or shirt, to make sure you’re safe as you wander through the woods.
Slattery said the season has been good so far, with the warm and cool fluctuations keeping the morels fresh and keeping the bugs down.
Look for morels in damp (not wet) areas of hardwood forest, especially where elm, cottonwood and cedar may be mixed. Morels hide in the leaf litter, but with experience mushroom hunters learn to see what they’re looking for and know that where they find one, more are likely to be hiding.
