SirFisher

Really appreciate all the advice and information! Hoping Stinging Nettle or Wood Nettle is coming up by then too. That stuff will boost your immune system better than anything and it tastes great.

Thank you for all of the details! The Verpa species do look a lot like Morels but I understand the difference in the cap structure combined with the inside pith makes it easy to distinguish them. Looks like the cap is different as well where the true morels look more like a honeycomb. I took a look at some images of the Gyromita species. They definitely have a different look about them so I should be all set. On the Pleurotus, if it isn't on a Poplar I'll just pass on it.😉 I can't really go too crazy with gathering anyway. Not supposed to harvest in the National Forest so I won't try but a few if I see them. Most of the camp sites in the park are centered around huge Poplar stands so if they are out, they will be close to camp. Hoping to have Fried Trout and Morels on a bed of sauteed cress, violets, chickweed and nettle before the trip is up.

Brendan, Thanks for the note! I'll do some research on Dryad Saddles and Oyster Mushrooms to ensure I know what to look for (and not poison myself!) Being in the woods 8 days I can't afford to screw up so I would be following the rule of tossing what I am not 100% sure of. Hoping to find some ramps for sure but it could be a bit early. There are some "early season" areas in the park where things pop up sooner than other areas so I may get lucky.

Hello, New guy here and sorry if this post is in the wrong place or is in general "wrong" on this forum. I'm going to be hiking for 8 days in the Great Smoky National Park the end of this month and into the first few days of April. I have read that Morels will be in season so I hope to find some of them to try. I am 99% sure I've seen them before in areas around Tulip Trees so I plan to do some hunting when I see tall stands of them. I understand that there are look alike ones that are poisonous that don't have hollow stems and the cap is not formed as low on the stem. What other things can help me distinguish the edible vs. a potential dangerous one? Are there any other mushrooms that are edible that would be popping up during that time-frame? I've focused on edible plants over the years and know what to look for but the mushroom hunting for me is new. Only thing I've harvested and eaten on a trip was my last trip when I found a really nice Chicken of the Woods (pardon if that is a wrong name but I've seen it called that). Hoping to learn here and hoping to get some good tips for my upcoming trip. Thank you, The New Guy