Well that is a hard question to answer but....morels can actually grow all year long if the conditions are right, however the season tends to be about 1-2 months long following the weather patterns.
There are 5 types of morels and each have their own standards.
First off we have the early grey morels which come out anytime the ground temperature averages 50 degrees for 3-5 days and in northeast missouri (usually around april but, I have found them as early as mid January (and even picked some in the snow after a cold front came thru).
Then you have your late greys and early whites which need slightly warmer ground temp. Of about 5-10 degrees. This generally is mid april
then your late morels which tend to be the bigger ones everyone finds show up a few days after the early whites with ground temps about the same. This is generally when the temperature outside is around the mid 80's to low 90's
This has been a late year for us as their are some morels out now but, we are about 20-25 degrees below average.
When hunting early in the season walk the water sources.....creeks and rivers.....that run east and west checking the north side (since that is the side the sun shines on the most) checking the edge and over the bank...as you start finding more farther away from the bank the warmer the ground has gotten and the more you will find....However the south side of these (water sources) won't start producing morels til the ground has warmed which will take a few days longer as the trees block the sun from warming it.
The season normally ends after mid May or early June if the rains don't wash them out....heavy rains are bad for them as they drink up the water and bloat then peel apart looking like a peeled banana then die....the best weather is if we get misty rains and the temp stays around the upper 80' to mid 90's
The books generally say from mid march to early july depending on where in the US you are.
There are 5 types of morels and each have their own standards.
First off we have the early grey morels which come out anytime the ground temperature averages 50 degrees for 3-5 days and in northeast missouri (usually around april but, I have found them as early as mid January (and even picked some in the snow after a cold front came thru).
Then you have your late greys and early whites which need slightly warmer ground temp. Of about 5-10 degrees. This generally is mid april
then your late morels which tend to be the bigger ones everyone finds show up a few days after the early whites with ground temps about the same. This is generally when the temperature outside is around the mid 80's to low 90's
This has been a late year for us as their are some morels out now but, we are about 20-25 degrees below average.
When hunting early in the season walk the water sources.....creeks and rivers.....that run east and west checking the north side (since that is the side the sun shines on the most) checking the edge and over the bank...as you start finding more farther away from the bank the warmer the ground has gotten and the more you will find....However the south side of these (water sources) won't start producing morels til the ground has warmed which will take a few days longer as the trees block the sun from warming it.
The season normally ends after mid May or early June if the rains don't wash them out....heavy rains are bad for them as they drink up the water and bloat then peel apart looking like a peeled banana then die....the best weather is if we get misty rains and the temp stays around the upper 80' to mid 90's
The books generally say from mid march to early july depending on where in the US you are.
