Morel hunting can be a fun and rewarding way to bond with the fresh nature of springtime. But with it comes a ton of responsibility, so please be careful and respectful. The wild can be unforgiving if you are unprepared. For your first hunt, it could be a good idea to go out with an experienced guide. Here are some important Morel foraging tips and ethics to consider before diving face first into the forest.
Morels are typically known as a Spring Mushroom, a time when very few other woodland mushrooms are fruiting. There are many different species of true Morels in the genus Morchella. Each can behave differently within different ecosystems, elevations, and weather patterns. Different species have affiliations with different trees and types of forest. They come in a variety of colors- white, yellow, gray, black- and some change color as they mature. Don’t get hung up on scientific names, as they often change as comparisons to other specimens are made, especially now that DNA analysis is more practical. In the current landscape of the internet, you should be able to figure out which species are local to you, and their timing. Join a local Mycological Society, a Facebook group, or simply do an internet search for “Morel Progression Maps”. Typically, Morels need a consistent soil temp of ~50F to fruit. You can stick a thermometer in the ground, or you could also learn to recognize signals from plants nearby.
(Morchella americana, Yellow or Blonde Morel) 
(Morchella tomentosa, Grey Morel) 
(Morchella brunnea, Black Morel)
Indicator Species
Learn environmental indicators for your region. For starters, when folks near you are posting Morel pictures on social media, scan the photos for other plants growing nearby. What trees are leafed out, what plants are sprouting and what flowers are blooming? For example, in the the Colorado Rockies I often find Black Morels near blooming Calypso Orchids, Arnica, and young Woodland Pinedrops. All these organisms are responding to temperature and moisture, so timing can vary slightly year to year.
Identification
Buy a field guide for your area. Do not rely on Mushroom Identification phone apps. Here are my 3 favorites for the western US:
-Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora (covers all of North America, but especially Pacific Coast)
-All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms by David Arora
-Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountain Region by Vera Stucky Evenson
True vs False.
Learn how to recognize the “true” Morels in the genus Morchella from the closely related “false” Morels. The caps of “true” Morels, have a netted or honey comb shape of defined ridges and deep pits. They can be round to conical in shape. The stem connects to the base of the cap, or very close to it, and the entire mushroom is completely hollow.
Verpa species may have similar ridges, but when sliced in half it is apparent that the stem and cap connect way up under the skirt. This mushroom makes some people ill and I do not eat it.
(Verpa bohemica, NOT a true Morel) 
(Verpa bohemica, NOT a true Morel)
Typically referred to as “false” Morels, Gyromitra species have more irregular wrinkled caps, without deep pits or defined ridges. Some Gyromitras contain toxins and I don’t advise eating them, though some people do.
(Gyromitra montana, Snowbank FALSE Morel) 
(Gyromitra infula, Hooded FALSE Morel) 
(Gyromitra caroliniana, Eastern FALSE Morel)
Ethics and Respect
Tread lightly in nature- Avoid trampling all the fresh green plants sprouting. You are seeking a gift from nature, so don’t destroy the ecosystem. I try to step on rocks and logs whenever possible, as a way to minimize my impact on the soil.
Leave No Trace- Pack it in, pack it out. Pick up other trash if you have room in your pack.
Do not trespass on private property without permission. If you’re brave, ask permission. It is your responsibility to know and respect property boundaries.
Many parks and public lands do not allow foraging, or may require permits, so be sure to know the rules.
Respect other people’s “secret spots”. If someone kindly shows you their spot, even if it is on public land, it is not cool to go back and harvest there without their permission. Learn to recognize that type of habitat and look for your own “secret spot” elsewhere. In some areas, mushroom hunting is extremely competitive, even dangerous if you stumble upon an aggressive hunter. Be aware and be careful.
Avoid over-harvesting. This amazing fungus is recycling nutrients back into the food chain. Yes, you are part of the food chain, but leave some for the critters. Older soggy mushrooms, or ones with bad spots will spoil quickly in your bag anyway. Try not to harvest more than you can eat, share or dehydrate.
Leave the little ones. Let them mature and spread their spores. If you are able, come back in a few days and harvest when they’re bigger. Or if you’re in a popular area, leave them for other hunters to find. Perhaps they’ll follow suit and leave you some next time.
(young Morchella brunnea) 
(young Morchella americana)
Cover the evidence. After harvesting a mushroom, I like to brush organic matter back over the spot. This helps hold in moisture and may benefit the Morel mycelial body underground. Plus, if other hunters find a cut stem and see your success, they will try to beat you to it next time.
Basic Tools
A knife. Doesn’t need to be very big for Morel harvesting.
A breathable basket or bag- paper or cloth. NOT PLASTIC.
Protection from the elements… sun, rain, ticks, MOSQUITOES
Compass and maps. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Mark GPS coordinates of your car. Put your keys somewhere safe. I have heard numerous stories of foragers losing their keys in the woods.
The game
Even when you’re in the right place at the right time, you’ll need Morel vision to spot these camouflaged little tricksters. Your eyeballs will become trained to the pattern recognition. Don’t get discouraged if everyone else is finding them, and you just can’t see them. It could help if you study pictures of Morels before going out. This pattern needs to be ingrained in your subconscious. As you scan the forest floor, you’ll surely be fooled by leaves, pinecones, sticks and rocks. That’s a good sign that your brain is focusing in on shapes and patterns, and you will learn very quickly. I like to scan the ground 5-15 feet around me, close enough to see the honeycomb pattern and far enough to recognize their dome silhouette above the leaf litter. Getting on your hands and knees is an advantageous perspective. For whatever reason, they are harder to spot while directly above them, and sadly many get stepped on. Once you see one Morel, stop and look around. It’s likely there are more, and you may already be in the middle of a patch.
(Morchella americana) 
(Morchella tomentosa) 
(Morchella tomentosa)
Harvest Method
There will always be an ongoing debate about whether to cut the mushroom off at the ground or pluck the whole base out of the ground. I don’t think it matters either way. The underground mycelium is not harmed either way. I like to cut level with the ground and cover the spot with debris.
Cleaning
In some environments your Morels will be free of grit. However, often you’ll be harvesting in sand, mud, and burnt debris. Your knife tip can be used to scrap it off. A toothbrush often works well. Sometimes I can blow it off with a burst of breath. Clean them as well as possible before putting into your bag. Or use one bag for good clean specimens and another bag for ones needing to be cleaned later. Just before cooking, I soak them in a bowl of water with a pinch of salt, then lightly swish and rinse. Too much water for too long will make your mushrooms soggy. If they are as sandy as this one pictured, I leave it for nature. Chewing rocks ruins the culinary Morchella experience.
Insects may be nibbling away from the outside, or inside of your mushroom. It’s a good idea to slice your mushroom in half before cooking. If a slug or roly-poly slips into your dish… bonus protein!
Eating
Always cook your mushrooms! Even with true Morel species, some people have allergies or adverse digestive reactions. As with any new mushroom being introduced into your system, eat only a small amount, and wait 24 hours before eating a full meal of them.
I am not an exciting cook, so you’ll have to seek recipes elsewhere. 99% of the time I cut them up, sauté in olive oil with garlic, and scramble into eggs and/or serve with quinoa.
Still sounds fun?
So many rules and bugs… and you still want to go mushroom hunting? When you find your first Morels, you will understand what the excitement is all about! And if you don’t find them, remember that it’s about the journey, not the destination. Enjoy your time in nature!
