Burn Morels

[Birdgetter]

Hi, I know after a burn there is usually an abundance of morels. I know of an area that burned in 2017 that  people were finding morels in last year. So is there any chance there will still be a good amount of morels two years after the burn? Or would I be better off checking 2018 burns?
Thanks!

[cbond3318]

I’m in my infancy when it comes to picking Morels and I by no means understand exactly why and where they pop but, I have found morels in an area of past burn for multiple years and I think when I found them the burn was already 3 yrs old.


@pianoman

[pianoman9701]

  Several years is usually correct. And think about it, the spores came from somewhere, so there were morels growing somewhere in that forest before the fire.

[Birdgetter]

Ok, thanks I'll definitely be checking the area come spring. 

[MR5x5]

3 yrs easy.  But check your excitement until something more like mid April.

[NW SURVEYOR]

My suggestion is to never "Check your excitement", just check the calendar.

[NOCK NOCK]

From what I have experienced, 1st year after fire they are usually thick, consecutive years after that there is a HUGE decrease in the amount you will find.

[Skyvalhunter]

No morels this year the wolves and cougars got them due to the lack of deer. That state hopes to make more money by charging a fee to pick morels I hear.

[pianoman9701]

No morels this year the wolves and cougars got them due to the lack of deer. That state hopes to make more money by charging a fee to pick morels I hear.

Most public lands require a permit for picking, usually free for personal use. Commercial permits from the FS are usually about $160. I think that DNR may do the same thing, but I'm not sure.

[KopperBuck]

I keep going back to an old burn that's probably 4 years old now. Still find a bunch, but there may have been a bunch before the burn too. Definitely had more the first year and has tapered off some. But definitely would keep checking it out every year. I keep an inventory off spots and hit them all at some point if needed.

Question on the permits.. how does FS enforce that, other than catching you over your limit? Are shroom buyers keeping records, or is it all cash? Just wondering because I know it's part of the economy here, and knowing a lot of the folks that are selling them I would bet 5 times the amount of the permit that they don't have one.

[pianoman9701]

I've never been checked in the forest but I've talked to guys who have. Also, the county mounties will check the buying stations, especially in Skamania Co. I'm sure there are others who are...exuberant.