April marks prime Missouri mushroom hunting season

It's almost here. April, my favorite month of the year, with turkeys gobbling, fish spawning, mushrooms popping and nature coming alive.

It's a great time for the outdoors people. We remember a recent April when we finished the month by picking more than 50 nice morel mushrooms after taking two big gobblers and limits of big crappie.

This April holds lots of promise. Every year, around March 25, we usually find the first black morels. Although it seemed a little early, I ventured into the woods where I usually find the first morel and was rewarded by finding a few small ones.

It's a great start to the season. While I was hunting morels, loons were sounding off on the lake as they headed north for the summer.

I know a person can get addicted to morel mushroom hunting just like turkey hunting and crappie fishing and we are entering the time when all three will be hitting their peak.

Many people aren't familiar with the black morels. They are missing out on some tasty treats.

The blacks are the first to appear, along with the red or beefsteak mushrooms. My first black morel had me a little concerned because I hadn't seen them before, but several neighbors who had eaten them told me they taste just as good as the golden morels, so I tried them and was glad I did.

Those morels, along with golden and gray, are the most popular of all the wild mushrooms and for good reason. They are the easiest to identify, the safest to eat, and hunting them can be healthy, natural and a great family activity.

It is like a treasure hunt and you don't need special equipment to hunt them.

Mark Hawkins, Butler, said, "Several years ago while scouting for turkeys in Vernon County, I ran into some of the black morels and took them home to try them. Ever since that day, I combine scouting for turkeys and hunting black morels."

Last week, while visiting the post office, the clerk asked me if I had found any mushrooms. When I responded in the positive, she said she wouldn't eat that fungi, but wouldn't mind hunting for them.

It reminded me of an old friend I had that wanted to go morel hunting with me, so I took him along. We found lots of morels and when I returned to his home and handed him a sack of the morels, he said, "I don't want any because they might make me sick, but I enjoyed hunting them."

I was pleasantly surprised. He had found a bag full and gave them all to me. After that trip, every time I went mushroom hunting, I would look him up to go along. It's hard to find that kind of friend.

Tom Walker, Springfield, said, "One of the other good things about hunting mushrooms is that you don't need a permit. At least, not yet. If you hunt mushrooms on private property, be sure to get permission."

Last year, during the first week of April, I took my coffee early to the back porch to see if I could hear any turkeys gobbling and just before sunrise, I heard the unmistakable gobble in the distance, followed by several others. Every time a crow would caw, a tom would gobble.

It was enough to get turkey hunting fever going.

The turkey population is in good shape in the state and the upcoming season that starts on April 15 should be another good one. On the weekend of April 6-7, the Youth Hunt will kick off the spring season as youngsters get the first crack at bagging a big tom.

Bob Jackson, a long-time turkey hunter from Georgia, said, "You hunters in Missouri are getting spoiled. There are birds all across the state and some great hunting opportunities available.

"It's enough to make me want to move to Missouri. I was out last fall and saw more turkeys than I ever did in Georgia, and we have lots of birds there."

Then there's the great spring fishing coming up. Already. anglers have been bringing in some nice catches of crappie, bass, walleye and even some big bluegill. The white bass run is starting and will continue to improve and the crappie will be moving to the bank as the water warms up.

That's when many crappie anglers have a ball. This week, I saw eight boats in a small cove and most of the fishermen were catching crappie.

There are a lot of reasons to like fishing in April. For example, you don't have to go out early to catch fish. In fact, it might be best to wait until around 10 a.m. to start.

Another thing is that you don't have to be too picky about what lure you use. Just about any small jig will work. The weather might be a bit cool, but then you don't have many bugs to annoy you.

It's no wonder April is my favorite month. With turkeys gobbling, mushrooms popping and fish hitting, it doesn't get any better.