Shroomers hunt an ever-elusive quarry

While there are a lot of people concentrating on bagging a turkey during the spring, it isn't the only hunting season that's going on. One quarry is hiding in the woods, resting behind fallen logs and among popping Mayapples, Dutchman's britches and trout lilies. There are no special permits or licenses — all you need is permission to go foraging on the targeted property. It does take some careful searching to locate your prey and timing can be very important. Thankfully, it doesn't require the hunter to be in the woods at dawn. Camo clothing isn't necessary either, except to possibly hide from those competing to find your hidden hot spots. As for specialized hunting gear, all it takes to bag your quarry is literally a bag. As for myself, I especially favor a plastic bread bag to get the job done. If you haven't already guessed, it's the time of year for morel mushrooms to pop out of the forest floor. It's also a time when a lot of recipe boxes are dusted off to find just the perfect meals to be prepared. If you choose to join the hunt, you'll soon learn the many secrets of the search, which will prepare you to become a dedicated "shroomer." You might find yourself using valuable vacation time to go shrooming, even venturing to that state up north to share in their legendary mushroom harvest. One thing is sure, once you've located a productive area, you'll likely keep it as secret as your past dating life. If asked for hunting advice, you'll likely mislead your best friends, sending them on unsuccessful forays to protect your own happy hunting grounds. Some shroomers will even take kids along on their searches, bordering on violating child labor laws. The target of all the excitement is the Morchella mushrooms, the true morels — morel being the most commonly used name. They are an edible mushroom with a distinctive honeycomb-like appearance. Their cap is composed of a network of pits and ridges which give it a natural spongey look. They are gathered every spring for their superior taste, the joy of the hunt, and are prized by discriminating gourmets. Morels are most readily found from the first of April through the first week of May, sometimes a little longer. The best time is usually when daytime temperatures hold steadily in the 60s with nighttime lows not dipping below 40 degrees. I would say that we are nearing the peak in Ohio. Michigan's morel season is usually a week or two behind us. Try to time your hunt to closely follow the second deep penetrating spring rain of the year. One old-timer told me that when the redbud trees begin budding, morels pop out to applaud the show. There's a hint of experienced wisdom to that advice. These tasty little mushrooms like to grow in shaded, wooded areas and their edges. They seem especially prone to be found around dead elm trees and in areas where tulip, aspen and oak trees like to grow. As the early spring ground is warming, you'll find them on south-facing slopes in fairly open areas. As the season deepens, your search should also deepen into the woods and onto north-facing slopes. The Ohio Division of Forestry adds this additional advice, "In Ohio, morel mushrooms are most often found on the edge of wooded areas, and they can be found around many kinds of trees — sycamore, aspen, oak, ash, and elm trees. They also grow at the base of dying trees." Look for plant species that share these fertile forest areas as a clue of where you might make a find. These include fiddle-head ferns, moss, Mayflowers and trillium. Morels have also been known to magically appear in yards causing, more than one mowing job to be delayed. Morel hunting is kind of like fishing. It may take you a while to find your first one but when you do, it's time to slow down and start working a pattern. These fungi like the company of their own kind and are often found in groups which my father called a "mess." If you're the outdoorsy type as most shroomers tend to be, consider carrying a little extra gear along. I like to take binoculars, a camera (many cell phones will get the picture-taking job done) and a wildflower or birding guide. A notebook is another worthwhile addition. Nothing like a walk in the woods to help generate new thoughts, ideas, plans and memories — besides allowing you to record your favorite spots. There are plenty of morel recipes on the web and plenty more in the hands of devoted shroomers. Check these sites for mushrooming insight: www.morels.com, www.thegreatmorel.com, www.mushroomgear.com and www.morelmushroom.com "Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom." — Thomas Carlyle Along the way During the Ohio Wildlife Council's regularly scheduled meeting held on April 12, the proposed hunting and trapping season dates for 2023-24 were approved. The new rules include deer bag limit changes in seven counties. ·Bag limits will increase to three deer in Belmont, Gallia, Geauga, Harrison, Jefferson and Monroe counties, and will decrease to two in Butler County. As in years past, only one antlered deer may be harvested, regardless of where or how it is taken. The deer hunting season dates for 2023-24 include: Deer archery: Sept. 30, 2023-Feb. 4, 2024. ·Youth deer gun: Nov. 18-19. ·Deer gun: Nov. 27-Dec. 3; Dec. 16-17. ·Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 6-9, 2024. The Chronic Wasting Disease disease surveillance area in Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties will again allow additional hunting opportunities to slow the spread of CWD. In addition to the statewide hunting seasons, hunters in Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties will have opportunities to participate in disease surveillance area seasons: ·Deer archery season: Sept. 9, 2023-Feb. 4, 2024 ·Early gun season: Oct. 7-9, 2023 Turkey hunting: Fall turkey hunting will be available in 70 counties this fall from Saturday, Oct. 14 to Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. The season bag limit is one bird of either sex. Spring 2024 wild turkey hunting season dates will be determined in the fall. General hunting seasons: The Ohio Wildlife Council voted to approve proposed season dates similar to last season for waterfowl and migratory birds. The council also received a proposal to reduce the ruffed grouse hunting season dates and open counties because of long-term trends in declining grouse numbers. Proposed grouse season dates are from Friday, Nov. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 26 with a daily limit of one bird. Season dates would be aligned for public and private land. The proposal would allow grouse hunting in Adams, Athens, Belmont, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Washington counties. Step outside •The Whipple State Nature Preserve is home to 40 rare species, including the only known site in Ohio for Allen's fern moss. Recently, ODNR's Division of Natural Areas and Preserves added 90 acres to the area, bringing the preserve to 473 acres. The Whipple Preserve includes a number of state-listed species, mature mixed mesophytic forest, oak-hickory forest, dolomite cliffs, globally rare dry limestone prairies, springs, a waterfall, sinkholes, and headwater streams. The preserve is named after Robert A. Whipple, who left the 248-acre parcel to the Division in his will. The area is located in Adams County near Manchester. •Upcoming trout stockings in northwest Ohio. 4/29: Crawford County — Cross Roads Industrial Ponds** 4/29: Lucas County — Olander Lake** 4/29: Lucas County — Sleepy Hollow Park Pond** 5/6: Hancock County — Giertz Lake** ** Indicates a special angler event is planned for the trout release. •Tomorrow: Nostalgia 50-Bird Trap Shoot for Vintage Shotguns. Traps open at 12:30 p.m., program at 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township Road 186. Eligible shotguns include Ithaca Model 37; Winchester Models 12, 97, 101, Super X1; Remington Models 10, 11, 17, 31, 32, 3200, 870, 1100; Browning Superposed, A-5, Double-Auto, B-2000; Ithaca, Parker and LC Smith Single Barrel trap guns and any side-by-side shotgun. •Thursday: Trap and Skeet Practice, open to the public. 4 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township Road 243, Findlay. •April 29: Flag City Toys that Shoot, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hancock County Fairgrounds Youth Pavilion. Buy, sell, trade air guns, BB guns and cap guns. Absolutely no firearms permitted. Open to the public, $5 admission. Information: email rustywaldman@yahoo.com or visit www.flagcitytoysthatshoot.com •April 29: Guided Kitty Todd Nature Preserve Spring Nature Walk, 10420 Old State Line Rd., Swanton. Hike will begin at 2 p.m. Distance: 1 mile. To register for this hike or to view other hikes and activities visit The Nature Conservancey, www.nature.org •April 29: The Great Outdoorsman Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hartville Marketplace, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, OH. Buy-Sell-Trade event features specialty vendors, fishing, hunting camping firearms, knives, outdoor gear, ammunition, collectables and more. Hosted by celebrity guest Richard Karn from "Home Improvement" and "Assembly Required." •May 7: Trap Shoot, 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township Road 186. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com