Welcome to The Great Morel

The Great Morel extends a very warm welcome to all its visitors! If this is your first time here, then a special welcome is in order. The Great Morel web site has been created for the great and passionate morel mushroom hunters of America and all around the world. The Great Morel doesn't lay claim to the official title of The Most Visited Mushroom Site on the Internet, it’s darn close and worth a look around. If you've come here looking for serious resourceful information, you won't have to look hard to find it. If you're stopping by wondering "what the heck is this shroom'n crap all about?", then rest assured you will more than likely have a better understanding when you are finished.

Take a look around, and you'll see why The Great Morel is known to be the most resourceful compilation of information regarding the morel mushrooms on the net. Contained within The Great Morel you will find one of the most extensive listing of morel links, where you will find most anything relating to the great morel. Add to that some good humor, some great stories and some of the most beautiful images, and you've got a great place to enjoy a morel moment.

Thanks to the contributions of many, The Great Morel has compiled what may be the largest morel recipe page, which is sure to delight the taste buds of all. For those shoomers who are seeking ways to preserve their morels, hit the Preserving page to see how others are preserving their morels. You can’t forget to check out the Stories and Tales page for more than a few of the interesting stories The Great Morel has received. If you are in search of answers to the mysteries of the Great Morel, then a must visit to the Frequently Asked Questions page, along with the Question and Answer page is in order. Here you will find questions, answers and feedback from fellow hunters.

Sit back and enjoy your visit!!

The morel mushroom season varies across the United States depending on the region in which you are located. Typically it arrives in the spring months for most regions. Many variables such as air temperature, ground temperature and rain levels impact the growing cycle and how bountiful the crop. There have been many studies as to how, where and why the morels make their grand appearance in certain conditions and not others. Most mushroom hunters will present all kinds of "SWATS" (Scientific Wild Ass Theories) on how, where, and when to find them. Almost every mushroom hunter will have a few "SWATS" of their own, some with merit, while others are just that....theories. You can find detailed answers to various questions regarding the growing season and more on the FAQ page.

Typically they are found in moist areas, around dying or dead Elm trees, Sycamore and Ash trees, old apple orchards and maybe even in your own back yard. Ground cover varies and it is very likely that each patch of mushrooms you come across may be growing in totally different conditions. It is a common practice of shoomer's to hit their favorite spots year after year.

If you are a first time hunter, you should make your first hunting expedition with someone who knows what a good morel looks like. There are several types of morels, some edible and others poisonous. The woods will dole out many types of fungi to the hunter, therefore, The Great Morel recommends that all shroomers - rookies and veterans alike visit Edible and Poisonous Mushroom Page by Barbara Bassett, Naturalist. This site has great images of the good, the bad and the uglies! Click here for other great sources of morel identification as well as make sure to visit The Great Morel's page on the false morel.