Wife and I take off next week to do some knocking about in our new, to us, camper. Thought we would end up around in Oakanogan country. My wife wants to try to find some morels, and I'm sure up for eating them. Any ideas where to try? If you have a semi secret locale, feel free to e-mail me. No, I promise I won't write about it.

Dave,

For true morels try looking in the aspens along the lower river and creek flats and other lowlands but not in the flood plains. They are usually pretty easyto find around Memorial weekend but might be a bit early this year.

For the black morels find an area that was burned in a fire last summer.

Good luck!

Haven't hunted them on the east side but I imagine it's the same. Look through the cottonwood patches. The older the trees the better. It may be late they usually come up at the same time as the stinging nettles and best about 2-3 sunny warm days after a good rain. Good luck.

Stringer,

You are referring to the "early morel" (Verpa bohemica) that is found under the cottonwoods in march. They closely related to the morels (Morchella) but not the same.

The "true morels" can be found on the westside this time of year in abandoned fields and orchards and also under stands of wild cherry and sometimes mixed forest and edges.

Oops, sorry. Not paying attention. Have only picked true Morels once. My dad got a load of top soil for his garden and he got a nice crop of them the first year. Morel picking is not as good up here ( southcentral AK) I have found some but they are not in large patches.