COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Morel mushroom season has officially arrived in Michigan, signaling a busy period for foragers eager to find these elusive spring delicacies. Although the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) designates May as “Morel Month,” the actual fruiting season begins as early as mid-April in the southern parts of the state.
To assist hunters, the DNR has released the 2026 Mi-Morels interactive map, which highlights over 90 locations—marked by orange and red dots—where prescribed burns or wildfires occurred in 2025. These burned forested areas are prime habitats for morels, which often thrive in the nutrient-rich soil left behind by sizable fires.
For residents in Branch County and throughout Southwest Michigan, the best time to hunt is typically from late April through mid-May, as these southern regions experience warmer ground temperatures sooner than the rest of the state.
Peak foraging conditions usually align with soil temperatures reaching between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, often triggered by a warm spring rain followed by a sunny day.
Local experts suggest searching near dead or dying elm, ash, and apple trees, particularly on south-facing hillsides early in the season to catch the first “blacks” before the larger “white” morels emerge.
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