In this week's episode, Editor Gary Castor chats with Maddie Fennewald, the media specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, about morel mushroom hunting.

They discuss what morels are, when and where to find them, and how to differentiate edible morels from poisonous look-alikes. Fennewald provides tips for successful hunting, including preferred environmental conditions and locations, and cautions hunters to correctly identify mushrooms using available resources like online guides and field books. The discussion also touches on preparing and cooking morels, highlighting various recipes available through the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Mushroom hunting resources: https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/MushroomGuide.pdf

https://mdc.mo.gov/blogs/discover-nature-notes/mushroom-hunt