‘Tis the season Rich, earthy, nutty … nothing beats a morel! With morel foraging season in full swing, it’s time for a refresher on how to pick true morels — not their poisonous look-alikes. - Quick tips Real morels have a distinct honeycomb-like structure on the cap. Also, the cap should be completely attached to the stem as one complete structure. - Slice it up Cut the morel lengthwise from cap to stem… it should be hollow inside. - Fresh prints Morels will leave a cream to light-yellow spore print. To take a spore print, place the morel’s fruiting body on dark paper or aluminum foil and cover it for 6 to 12 hours. Spore prints are always a handy way to double-check your mushroom identification. - Trailblazers Want to know where to find morels? Follow the wildfires: Morels love the nutrient-rich ash left behind from fires, helping the forests regrow and regenerate. Mushroom hunters will often map out wildfire sites to check the following spring for fresh morels. - Major key Always verify every mushroom you forage. If you’re not 100% sure of the mushroom you picked up, don’t take the chance. - Doppelgangers Don’t get tricked by morel look-alikes! Click here to check out the mushrooms most often confused for morels.