Indiana

Morels are back in Indiana. Here’s what you need to know

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Morels are back in Indiana. Here’s what you need to know

Morel mushrooms have started popping up in southern Indiana and the tasty morsels will spread north as spring and warmer weather arrives.

The Great Morel tracking map has its first pin in Indiana — a confirmed sighting in Cannelton just north of the Ohio River — and Facebook groups dedicated to Indiana mushrooms are beginning to report the first morel sightings.

Morel season is brief, sometimes lasting only a month, and usually starts in early to mid-April.

Here’s what you need to know about the spring delicacy.

What are morel mushrooms?

Indiana is home to four types of morels. Typically the first to pop up in the state are black morels, which are difficult to spot and a bit more fragile.

Appearing next are half-frees, sometimes called goosenecks or peckerheads. These are longer than other morels and usually are fragile and can crumble.

The big and spongy morels, Morchella americana, are the iconic shrooms the commercial industry calls white morels. These are the main attraction as they can grow the largest and are easiest to spot.

Finally, tulip morels show up. Smaller but more abundant, these are the last to appear around the state.

Where can Hoosiers find morels?

Morels are picky and like for things to be just right for them to flourish.

Soil temperatures need to be between 50-60 degrees, and the earth can’t be too wet or too dry.

The sunlight needs to also be the perfect amount, not too sunny or too shady. These specifics become more obvious the more time you spend hunting morels.

One key tip off that morels are ready is the presence of mayapples, a woodland plant with large umbrella-like leaves.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources suggests looking for morels near dead elms, tulip trees and in beech-maple forests.

Morel harvesting laws in Indiana

Hoosiers do not need a license to forage for morels in Indiana if they’re planning to eat the morels themselves.

In state parks, mushroom hunting is exempt from regulations that say you need to use marked trails, but the DNR advises caution if one goes off-trail, asking morel hunters to move carefully so as not to disturb native plants or wildlife.

There are some restrictions during hunting seasons, so be sure to check with the latest DNR advisories.

Tips and Tricks: Morel mushroom season is underway in Indiana. What to know about the spring tradition

How to cook morel mushrooms

Morels are very perishable and last only about a week after harvest. It’s best to cook them as soon as you can.

Dozens of recipes are available online, and MidwestLiving has a great variety of different morel dishes, including morel and asparagus pizza, spring ramp pasta with morels and peas and just plain old sautéed morels.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

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Indiana

Federal legislation that Braun calls ‘crazy’ is aimed at Bears and Indiana – Indianapolis Business Journal

Published

9 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Federal legislation that Braun calls ‘crazy’ is aimed at Bears and Indiana – Indianapolis Business Journal

U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Greg Casar, D-Texas, say the bill would protect taxpayers from being extorted by team owners for huge subsidies. The legislation would likely face an uphill climb in the Republican-controlled Congress.

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Indiana

Record warmth followed by strong storms tonight | March 26, 2026

Published

21 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH-TV) – Strong thunderstorms likely later this evening with all severe weather threats possible. It is going to be warm and windy with record highs today. Much cooler air works into Indiana for the end of the week.

TODAY: Partly cloudy conditions later this afternoon with warm and breezy conditions. It is going to be a beautiful and summer-like day across parts of Indiana. We will look for high temperatures to climb into the lower eighties which will set a new daily high record. The record for today is 80 set back in 1907. Winds will be gusty out of the southwest near 20 to 30 mph.

TONIGHT: A cold front approaches the state bringing a really good chance of strong to severe thunderstorms. A few thunderstorms may develop out ahead of the main line and some of those thunderstorms could contain some large hail along with a tornado risk as well. We are under a level 3 risk of strong storms out of a level 5. So there is confidence that a lot of these storms could reach severe criteria. Threats would be damaging winds and large hail. The tornado risk is low across parts of Indianapolis but it is not zero. A slightly higher risk of tornadic activity is possible in northern sections of Indiana.

Heavy rainfall could also lead to some flooding in parts of the state. Areas may see anywhere between 1 to 3 inches of rainfall.

Best timing on the thunderstorm activity will be anytime after 8:00 p.m. and lasting until Friday morning around 4.

TOMORROW: A few early morning rain showers will be possible on Friday. The main weather story is that it will be much cooler. High temperatures will climb around 49 which is below our normal high of 56. Winds switch direction out of the northeast and it will be a bit breezy at times as well. Low temperatures late Friday night into Saturday morning will drop into the upper twenties.

7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: A chilly start early Saturday morning but we will see lots of sunshine for the afternoon. High temperatures will climb around 52 for the afternoon.

Cloud cover returns on Sunday but it will be dry for the most part. Look for high temperatures to climb into the lower 60s.

Warmer next week with temperatures reaching the low and even middle and upper 70s by the middle part of the week. A dry start on Monday with some scattered showers possible on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Indiana

IU national championship picture displayed at IND airport

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

IU national championship picture displayed at IND airport

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana University is making sure all the visitors in town for the Final Four don’t forget who won the football national championship.

A photo of former IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza and wide receiver Charlie Becker is displayed at the Indianapolis International Airport when visitors arrive and go to baggage claim.

IU football won its first national championship in program history in the 2025 season, defeating Miami in the national championship game. The Hoosiers completed the season with an undefeated, 16-0 record.

Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first IU player to win the prestigious award.

Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns last season. He is projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Becker had 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns last season.

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