Since you’re already out foraging for morels, you should be using the supply list I detailed in Essential Gear for Moreling. The only extra thing to bring is a garden trowel to dig them up.
The reason why you want to dig them up instead of yanking them up from the ground is because you’ll need to trim, using your knife, the bottom third of the bulb with the roots still intact and replant it. This is in hopes of them growing back (like their onion and leek cousins). Make sure that you replant the trimmed bulb as deep as it was when you dug it up. I’ve been digging a couple inches around the plant and 4-6 inches deep to make sure that vast majority of the roots are still intact – you’ll be surprised how deep they go down.
So where do you find them?
I’ve never found them directly around the morel producing trees in my woods, but I find most within a hundred yards of them, so just keep to deer trails and look for plants 4-8 inches high with 2-3 waxy, slender leaves that grow from a red stalk. To further help you, about half of the colonies I’ve come across congregate around cedar trees. I’m unsure of the co-relation, but it’s been pretty effective so far in finding more colonies.
Unsure if you come across some?
The best way to know is to cut a little chunk of a leaf off and smell it. You should be able to smell a subtle to strong aroma of onion. If it does, you’ve got yourself a ramp.
I’ll be updating this more as I continue to forage for these little guys, so check back in to read about more findings as well as getting some recipes – hoping to get one out next week. Until then, happy foraging!