Photo: Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(Undated) -- There are reports that the heat, humidity, and warming soil temperatures in the past week are helping the morel mushrooms along. Jim Coffey of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the season is progressing. In northern Iowa the first morels, "little grays" are just popping up, those are mostly gone already in southern Iowa, replaced by the mid-sized yellowish morels.
To find them, Coffey says look closely on the south facing slopes and warmer areas of the forest floor. He also warns hunters about ticks, poison ivy, and turkey hunters too. He recommends mushroom hunters wait until later in the day and wear orange so they'll be seen by turkey hunters.
Coffey says most morels are 2-3 inches, but he has seen some 12-to-15 inches tall.
Harvested morels should be soaked in cold water before cooking and eating.
Coffey prefers the standard recipe: battered in eggs and crackers, and fried.
The Iowa DNR has published a guide "50-Tips To Spot Morels."