….because lots of people are stopping by a post I made way back on August 18, 2012 called No Mushrooms in Southern Ontario. I made this post to poke fun at myself and others who guard their mushroom spots. However, some people were not amused by it at all. Here is the first paragraph of that post:
In the last few days, an alarming number internet surfers have landed on my blog after searching for information on edible mushrooms in Southern Ontario. I would like to ease the troubled minds of these individuals right now. There are no edible mushrooms outside of grocery stores in Southern Ontario. None. Zero. Nada. Zip. Don’t even bother going out for a look. You won’t find any. Let me spell it out. Southern Ontario is a terrible place to go mushroom hunting. Ever since the edible mushroom blight of 2006, all edible mushrooms in Southern Ontario have either disappeared entirely or have been seen hitch-hiking to Quebec. As I mentioned in an earlier post back in the spring, Eastern Ontario and Quebec are both excellent places. I’ve heard North-West Ontario and Manitoba have their moments too. Here in Southern Ontario, though, I wouldn’t bother even trying if I were you.
I’ve taken plenty of abuse for this post. I’ve received some emails telling me off and calling me names + you can read the comments on the post. I thought it was pretty obvious at the time that I was kidding around, but I was wrong. I didn’t mean any harm, but I found myself in an area in which my sense of humour was not welcome. I’m hoping that those folks I ticked off are over it now over two years later. I do in fact forage for mushrooms in Southern Ontario and I do find enough for a few dinners. In fact I’ve made plenty of posts on this blog showing pictures of mushrooms I’ve collected. I don’t find the unbelievable bounty of fungi some foragers find, for instance in the mountain west or in many other areas, but yes I do find enough to keep me interested.
Some of the people who have landed on that slightly infamous post did so while searching for “Map of King Bolete locations in Southern Ontario”. Well, I don’t have any good locations for that species, but I can assure you if I did, I might be reluctant to publish a map on the internet. Same with morels. Sorry to disappoint.
I’m tempted to suggest that my morel spots are so top secret I blindfold myself…..that I toss camo-netting over the morel-mobile and sweep away the tire tracks, and crawl for miles on my belly in search of these tasty treats….but that would only get me in more trouble.
I enjoy wandering the woods with my dogs foraging for mushrooms. I like to go places where I can enjoy some peace and I like to go places where every edible in the forest hasn’t already been harvested. I’m the kind of guy who is apt to check where the local mushroom club is going foraging so I can go someplace else quieter. That is no knock against mushroom clubs. I think learning from experienced foragers is a great way to go. I just like to avoid the crowds. I’m happy if I come home with a modest basket of edibles. Every now and again I have a better day and have enough to dry for winter stews as well. These quiet spots are getting harder and harder to find, and that’s why people are secretive about where they go. By the time the honey mushrooms fruit in the fall the woods in easy reach of the city are crawling with foragers (not to mention hunters) and at that point I usually pack it in for the season.
Curiously, my best morel spot is right under the noses of all kinds of people who live nearby or hike the local trails. Another like that has been swallowed up in a housing development. This year though, I’m not paying much attention to the signs that morels might be fruiting since my broken ankle simply will not heal up in time to allow me any foraging before at least mid-summer.
For those inexperienced foragers out there, please be careful and don’t eat any mushrooms that you can’t identify with 100% certainty. I don’t say this lightly. There are some nasty mushrooms in Southern Ontario, some deadly ones and plenty of sickeners too and with some of these there are no second chances. It isn’t so hard to learn to identify some common tasty edibles that can be easily identified. Take the time to examine what you find in detail, and don’t go with “I’m pretty sure.”
27th Street 
If you know a good location to hunt for morels, I would love to hear. I spent many happy childhood days with family looking for those elusive devils. We would pack a picnic basket and drive to the Penetanguishene area on a warm mid spring day. Results varied from year to year but the hunt was very enjoyable and challengng. A sure sign they would be aroung was the appearance of trilliums. Sadly, that area has become so developed over the years that I doubt any of our old spots exist.
Pardon the typos. Happens when we try typing early morning:) Corrected version below.
If you know a good location to hunt for morels, I would love to hear. I spent many happy childhood days with family looking for those elusive devils. We would pack a picnic basket and drive to the Penetanguishene area on a warm mid spring day. Results varied from year to year but the hunt was very enjoyable and challenging. A sure sign they would be around was the appearance of trilliums. Sadly, that area has become so developed over the years that I doubt any of our old spots exist.
Hi Brian,
I have a couple spots I go to, but once people find those, I’ll have to hunt up some new ones. Look for the same conditions and the same kind of surrounding trees that existed when you found them at Penetanguishene. You will find them in the same sort of spots over and over again.
Thanks for replying Eugene.Yes, I became quite familiar with the kind of topography ideal for morel growth.(I used to return annually). I was telling a friend that people guard their morel hotspots like fishermen staying secretive about their favourite locations. My challenge isn’t so much finding a spot where morels would grow as much as an area that is not private property. I have heard that parts of The Bruce Trail might be suitable.
Hi Brian,
Yes that is the problem isn’t it. For a while I was foraging for morels on some land that was owned by a developer and slated for future development. Nobody cared that I foraged there. Unfortunately, the developer eventually got around to building on the land and the place has been swallowed up.
I don’t know if you are allowed to forage on the Bruce Trail, but I suggest you check before you go and do it. I know parts of the Trail are considered sensitive.
In general, for most mushrooms, I forage in County forests (it doesn’t take much work to find out where the various county forests are) or on Crown land. Morels are a slightly different problem as I don’t find so many deep in forests.
Good luck. Let me know if you find some good spots!
I google-fu’d “Morels Southern Ontario Canada” and your post screaming no edible mushrooms in Southern Ontario popped up. I thought it was funny and that’s too bad other folks didn’t recognize the sarcasm that jumped out of the ground at them. Hopefully their skills at finding mushrooms are finer tuned 🙂
Hope the ankle heals fast and you eventually get out to enjoy the peace and beauty.
Thanks very much Cindy. I’ve heard blacks are our already and yellows can only be a week or two away. I expect I’ll miss morels and also the spring oysters this year, but I hope to be back in the forest for some lobsters and chanterelles and hedgehogs and so one later in the summer.
We demand detailed maps!
Oh, ok I’ll send those right along.