The 2001 Morel Report
This year I was contracted by the Region 1 office of the Forest Service to predict (?!) the morel
crop. As we all know, that is dependent on all sorts of weather factors, but since the 2000 fires were
extensive in the Kootenai, Bitterroot, Salmon-Challis, and Helena National Forests we certainly have the
potential for a big morel year. Based on acreage burned, history of morel production, and a high demand
for the morels, I’d say both hobby and commercial operations will be going at full capacity,and yet with
good weather you know some morels will probably still be left sitting out in the field. Additionally, the
low snow load throughout the region means both earlier access to potential areas and less moisture
available for an extended season. BE ADVISED THAT THERE IS A BAN ON OFF-ROAD
MOTORIZED TRAVEL IN ALL BURNED AREAS.
From an access standpoint, the Bitterroot faces the most miles of ungated road to or through burn
sites, and the largest human-wildlands interface. There are concerns about friction between landowners
whose property was burned and morel harvesters.
The Helena also faces a great deal of human-wildlands interface, as well as large tracts of private
property which also burned. Landowner issues are likely to arise.
Landowner issuesled the Lolo to decide against opening the Ninemile burns to commercial
picking. The WMMA will have our annual morel hunt in this area.
The Clearwater may have commercial harvesting in the Lolo Pass area.
Production wise, the Kootenai and Bitterroot will probably draw the most attention from
commercial buyers. The Salmon-Challis (not studied) will have a large commercial morel harvest as well,
meaning that there will be an abundance of picking territory between Salmon and Darby and this will
probably attract the greatest number of migrant harvesters. Should the spring be reasonably cool and wet,
we could see a very large volume of morels coming out of this area. But due to the fast draining granitic
nature of the soils across both forests, should we see ahot dry spring / early summer, the season length
could shorten to just a couple weeks or so. In this case, the Kootenai could become the focus of attention
of many hungry mushroom hunters.
As for the Helena NF,a wet spring and a few cloudy days are needed to coax out the fungi. Due
to the low snow load, the typically sunny days and drying winds of the east side spring will spell a short
season, although it could be an early one.(thus attracting the attention of pickers waiting for other burn
areas to come in) The huge expanse of burned areas contains several areas sure to harbor morels. The
northern part of the Cave Gulch fire has a morel potential comparable to one of the big fires in the
Kootenai. Specific areas of the Toston-Maudlow fire may attract some attention, but it seems slim pickings
next to the wetter burn areas in the Bitterroot. On the other hand, the hotbed of morel picking that
promises to develop in the Challis-Bitterroot area may turn off some who want a less competitive
environment.
A wild card this year is the 50,000 acre fire in the Custer, with a good deal of larger timber on the
north slopes. It could be a very productive burn site, and if the grays come in, a commercially important
one. I know of no buyers planning to go there.
Due to the large acreage burned this year, I’m not posting the “start point” like other years, as it has
very little to do with fire perimeters. Acreage also seems irrelevant, as the average size of the burns listed
here is bigger than all the fires of 1999 combined. Most of the larger fires are easy to find, and your local
FS office will have maps available, thanks to the efforts of WMMA members and lots of help and
cooperation from the Forest Service. Thanks to all who helped make this report possible.
The numbers listed estimate the probable relative productivity of morels based on factors such as
historical productivity, suitability of habitat, and geological features. They are meant for comparison, not
as a numerical estimate of pounds or acres.
Cave Gulch
Maudlow-Toston
125+
