Tools and equipment for harvesting morels in the woods:

• Old clothes that can get stained and/or ripped (including a long-sleeved shirt and long pants— even if it’s quite warm. Wearing an old t-shirt underneath will allow you to take off the longsleeved shirt if you get hot.

• Comfortable shoes (waterproof hiking boots are best)

• Snug-fitting hat, to keep ticks away

• Gloves, in case you encounter jungles of poison ivy

• Mesh bags to carry morels (potato, onion or orange sacks also work well)

• Pocket knife, for cutting morels if necessary

• Water and snacks, including beer, if you’re up for a real adventure (But don’t imbibe so much you get hurt, lost, or become tempted to litter or feed wildlife!)

• Small first aid kit and snake bite kit (you won’t need it if you bring it—but you will if you don’t!)

• Insect repellent (natural repellents with citronella and/or lemon eucalyptus seem to work best; Repel Lemon Eucalyptus is very serious stuff, and it repels deer ticks, too)

• A small trowel and toilet paper in case nature calls unexpectedly (dig a hole at least six inches deep at least 200 feet from any stream, river or lake, and completely cover it up with dirt and leaves)

• Rain gear if necessary (hat, jacket and even pants) Why let a little rain stop you from morel mania?

• In some states morel season coincides with wild turkey season, in which case you should wear blaze orange in the morning.

• Cast iron skillet, butter, hunk of good French bread and matches (You’re not going to wait until you get all the way home to eat fresh morels, are you?!)

• A small backpack to carry these few items

• Big walking stick to gently push aside brush, briars or leaves (picking up a loose one in the woods always works; also good for encouraging snakes to move the other direction or to ward off aggressive dogs)

• A seasoned mushroom hunter, if this is your first time (It’s usually a good idea to take a companion for safety reasons, regardless)

• An open mind and a resolve to be thorough

• A respectful attitude toward nature and wildlife

• A whistle, especially for children.

It’s also a good idea to have a map or plat book in case you happen upon a questionable tract of land. Some nature preserves, national forests or even state forests might prohibit removing anything—no morels, no rocks, no nothing—so know! Familiarize yourself with the specific regulations for the land you’re traversing

Yes, you should lug a cast iron skillet with you, if you want to enjoy one of the finer things in life, that is. Margaret and Nettie Lou sing the praises of eating morels in the woods: “Like fish fresh from the lake or corn right out of the garden, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried morels straight from the earth.”

Some people suggest wearing a watch, but in it’s just a prison strapped to your wrist--especially if you’re treating yourself to a jaunt in the woods.  That sun will tell you when it’s going down.  Pay attention to how far you’ve come, and keep in mind that humans comfortably walk about two to three miles per hour.  Some people advise bringing a cell phone, which might be a good idea in case of emergency--but there are few things more ironic or profane than a cell phone in the forest!    Larry Lonik also suggests taking a whistle, especially for children.   

It’s also a good idea to have a map or plat book in case you happen upon a questionable tract of land. For example, as Nancy points out, “. . .sometimes state and federal lands have been posted by one group of morel hunters with signs saying ‘private’ and ‘no trespassing’ in an effort to keep others out of favorite areas.”  

Also, some nature preserves, national forests or even state forests might prohibit removing anything--no morels, no rocks, no nothing--so know!  Familiarize yourself with the specific regulations for the land you’re traversing. 
      

One topic shroomers like to debate during the months that they can’t be out mushroom hunting is what type of bag to put morels in. John Stewart recommends, “Take a woven mesh bag (such as an orange or potato bag) with you to put them in.  This is extremely important, because morels spread thru spores, which shake loose as they are jostled about.  Allowing the spores to fall to the ground will help to ensure morel hunting for our grandchildren and beyond!”

Frank and Debbie of Gaylord, Michigan, who host the web site www.michiganmorels.com, note that, “Paper will allow the mushroom to breathe and moisture to escape. 

However, another theory is that by using paper bags, we prevent the spores from falling out as we walk, preventing new morels from growing.”

But Michael points out that this theory, “. . .assumes that morel spores fall straight to the ground like seeds would. If morel spores were the size of, say, apple seeds, this would be a great idea; as you walk around the woods with your bag, seeds fall out in new places. But the truth is that the morel's spores are so tiny that when you pick the mushroom and lift it to your bag you have probably already produced enough air currents to send spores to Timbuktu (literally!). . .Nature has set things up so that spores will wind up on the other side of the planet even if you don't pick them and wave them around in the air.” He notes that the best reason not to use plastic bags is to keep the morels from becoming hot and moist, which initiates the rotting process. Using a mesh bag is best for allowing morels to breathe and stay dry--and allowing a few more spores to float around won’t hurt anything, either.  

However, Larry says that scientific evidence indicates that morel spores take five years to create another mushroom--and he vehemently requests that you use mesh bags! Carl the Mushroom King is just as adamant about using mesh bags. He and Marge use grapefruit or orange bags. “If you use a regular plastic bag, or a bucket, where are you gonna get your morels next year?” he asks. Otherwise, you just “wash spores right down the sink,” he says. Carl says he even watches the wind when he picks morels to see which way the spores blow--and finds morels in that area the next year. “Oh yes,” he says, when asked whether he’s experienced such direct cause and effect.