Fire & Mushrooms

[sharps4590]

Two weeks ago today, when it was dry and windy, we had a fire at our place and it burned off 50-60 acres. Mostly it just burned off the leaf litter and some of the deadfall. Does anyone know what kind of effect, if any, will that have on the 'shrooms?

Vic

[Outdoorsfool]

I've heard of people having good finds in brush fire areas. Don't know what the time span between fire and mushrooms was though. Our fearless 'shroom moderator probably has an answer for that.

[Tablerock]

I don't know the min / max time span but I can tell you that last years "dream find" / motherlode came from an area that had been burned off about 6 months before mushroom season. There had also been some trees pushed down with a dozer just before the burn... ( Dirt had been disturbed ).

[Outdoorsfool]

A family friend that we hunt on near Trenton had a burn several years ago. He was bumming thinking he wasn't going to have any 'shrooms that year. So far, that has been his record year. But again, I don't recall the time span...I've killed too many brain cells since then.
If what you had was just a regular ole brush fire, without too much intense burning, I don't think it will affect it at all. May even help it.

[Tigerhaze]

I started burning my place during the winter/early spring starting two years ago. It has definitely improved the distribution of morels.

My friends in Montana have told me the best morel hunting is on mountainsides that burned in previous years.

[Tigerhaze]

Here is an interesting article about morels and fire:

Shroom Boom

[sharps4590]

Thanks for the replys fellas!

Vic

[Outdoorsfool]

Vic - If you don't want to waste your time checking out that fire scorched, barren land, just PM me directions to it. I'll check it out for you and let you know what I find.

[sharps4590]

Come on down ODF.....I looked this evening and never found any anywhere on the place. But, for me to find morels they must be nearly fluorscent orange and on fresh plowed ground. Other kinds I find frequently. I believe the morel god doesn't want me to enjoy them. Been that way all my life.

Vic