Are You Familiar With This Wyoming Dirty Little Secret?

Ask a Wyomingite where their honey-hole fishing spot is, and they'll laugh, then walk away. When you ask any Wyomingite where their super secret morel mushroom spot is, you won't even get a chuckle. You're not going to like what they say to you, either.

In Wyoming, finding Morel Mushrooms is a serious business. If you can find a Morel honey hole, you've found your source for extra income. You can make serious money by picking and selling them to mushroom lovers who don't know where to find them. Reports are saying you could earn up to $75 per pound.

They've been finding mushrooms in the Eastern part of the country for the last couple of months. As the weather starts warming up and spring rain begins to fall, the coveted Morels pop up all over the woods.

You notice on the map that there have been no Wyoming Morel sightings. Have there been no Morel sightings, or is it a big secret, and people aren't revealing their secret?

First, there's a good there have been no sightings yet. The ground temperature needs to reach at least 50 degrees. In Wyoming, the growing season is from late April through July, depending on what part of the state you live in and the progression of the weather.

If you're going to try to capture some of these springtime morsels, make sure you follow the rules. If you're hunting mushrooms, you may or may not be surprised that there are restrictions and guidelines you'll need to follow.

Here are the highlights from the National Forest Service's website for hunting mushrooms in the Medicine Bow-Routte National Forest.

Personal-Use Mushroom Permit Conditions

• This permit must always be carried when collecting and shown to a Forest Service Officer upon request.
•  Mushroom harvesting is prohibited in any Wilderness Area, Research Natural Area, or Special Interest Area. The permittees are responsible for ensuring they are not in a restricted area. A violator will be cited.
•  Harvesting is not permitted within 100 feet of any open Forest Road and 500 feet from Snowy Range Scenic Byway (Hwy 130, WY) and/or Battle Highway (Hwy 70, WY).
• Harvesting is not permitted within 100 feet of developed areas, including campgrounds, picnic grounds, and recreational residences.
• Cut or break the mushrooms off at ground level.
• Raking or other ground-disturbing activities when collecting mushrooms are prohibited.
•  Matsutake mushrooms, commonly known as pine mushrooms, must be cut in half at harvest time. They cannot be sold.
• Each household can harvest up to 1 gallon of mushrooms per day, for a maximum of 5 gallons per calendar year.

Commercial-Use Mushroom Permit Conditions -

• This permit must be carried at all times when collecting and shown to a Forest Service Officer upon request.
• Mushroom harvesting is prohibited in Wilderness Areas, Research Natural Areas, and Special Interest Areas. Permittees are responsible for ensuring they are not in a restricted area. Violators will be cited.
• Harvesting is not permitted within 100 feet of any open Forest road and 500 feet from the Snowy Range Scenic Byway (Hwy 130, WY) and /or the Battle Highway (Hwy 70, WY).
• Harvesting is not permitted within 100 feet of developed areas, including campgrounds, picnic grounds, and recreational residences.
• Harvesting is not permitted anywhere in the Routt National Forest; a permit is only valid in the Medicine Bow National Forest.
•  All harvesters over 12 will be required to hold an individual permit.  The minor's permit will include the parent or guardian’s name.  If harvesters are under 18, the permit must be kept with the parent/legal guardian while collecting and transporting mushrooms.
•  Cut or break the mushroom off at ground level.
•  Raking or other ground-disturbing activities when collecting mushrooms are prohibited.
• Harvesters will conduct themselves civilly at ALL times. Conflicts with other mushroom harvesters, territorial actions, and other disruptive behavior will result in the loss of this permit.
•  Each permit is valid for the collection of up to 10 gallons of mushrooms in one 7-day period and expires 7 days from the date of issue. Individuals may purchase up to 5 charge mushroom permits per calendar year.