Morel mushroom season is underway in Iowa and does not require a license, offering another outdoor pursuit while turkey hunting continues until May 17th.

According to Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King, a common tip from frequent foragers is to search around dead and dying elm trees. King also advises Raccoon Valley Radio listeners who are hunting for morels to be mindful of any turkey hunters who may be in the area.

“Also, if you’re our mushroom hunting, would strongly encourage you to wear maybe some clothing with some brighter colors on it, something that’s not supernatural out there in the outdoor so that people would see you if they are recreational hunting. And there’s a chance that, you know, somebody could be turkey hunting that came in from a different route or different, from a different point. And you didn’t know each other was out there. So just be cognizant of that and think about that sort of thing.”

King warns morel hunters to be cautious of false morels, which closely resemble their edible counterparts but can be toxic. To distinguish between the two, he advises cutting the mushroom in half lengthwise: a true morel will be hollow inside, whereas a false morel will have a solid interior.