Oklahoma May Crown the Morel as State Mushroom—But Don’t Expect a Map to the Good Spots

My inbox during legislative session is basically a firehose of news releases: bill filings, committee drama, impassioned statements. I usually treat them like spam — delete, delete, delete. There are plenty of reporters camped out at the State Capitol and pundits on Substack who do the heavy lifting and maybe roll their eyes at the same stack I do.  

But then the subject line on this release screamed MOREL, and I did a double-take. “Wait… this is what they’re debating down at 23rd and Lincoln? Mushrooms?!” Why not? It’s the kind of wholesome, low-stakes news that makes me smile rather than reach for antacids.

When I saw it was authored by Rep. John George (District 36 that includes Luther), it officially became Luther-local news. So, I let dinner burn as I worked on this, eschewing other articles that nag me to research and write.

Morels absolutely deserve to be the state mushroom. They’re elusive, delicious, and basically nature’s little treasure hunt. But do we really want to broadcast the GPS coordinates of every honey hole in the cross timbers, creek bottoms, and undisclosed locations around eastern Oklahoma County? I’ve asked plenty, and no one gives up that information!

After a solid decade of tromping through our woods and coming back to the house empty-handed, I finally got “the eye” last April. One glorious afternoon, bag filling up, earbuds in, listening to Bono’s Surrender memoir (five stars, highly recommend—turns out mushroom hunting pairs beautifully with Irish introspection, especially for Generation Xers). Of course, the ticks were the after-party guests; that’s spring (summer, fall, and even winter) in Oklahoma.

I even dug up some proof from the photo archives: the moment my morel “eye” turned on, plus the money shot where I dusted my own foraged morels with Orton’s House Seasoning (Pecan Festival royalty) before they hit the screaming-hot cast-iron skillet. Oh, the memories. 

HB 3263 sailed through the House Tourism Committee unanimously. Now it’s on to the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee, then the full House, repeat at the Senate, before it lands on the governor’s desk.

If it all passes and gets signed, do we go big? Official morel-hunting brochures? Guided tours with bug spray provided? Or do we play it cool, accept the fame quietly, and keep our spots state secrets?

Either way, this bill has me counting down to spring even harder. This fun bill is a reminder to get outside, appreciate where our food comes from (it’s hard work, all of it), and celebrate the peaceful beauty of our neck of the woods. It’s also a reminder to study up first (there are false morels out there, possibly poisonous) and prepare them properly, and I don’t mean just in butter. 

NEWS RELEASE – The House Tourism Committee this week passed House Bill 3263 to establish the morel mushroom as Oklahoma’s state mushroom.

Considered a delicacy because of cultivation difficulties, several thousand Oklahomans partake in morel hunting every spring.

“I’m one of the thousands of Oklahomans who hunt the tasty morel mushroom each spring,” said the bill’s author, Rep. John George, R-Newalla. “I wanted to run this fun piece of legislation to support these dedicated foragers and maybe attract new interest in Oklahoma’s landscape and promote more awareness of Oklahoma’s variety of mushrooms. By implementing a state mushroom, we could even expand opportunities for communities across the state to attract tourists and teach about fungi safety.”

George’s district in eastern Oklahoma County has had many reports of morel sightings.

“I myself am fortunate enough to pick between 200 and 300 or more in good years at a location in my district,” George said.

The morel, native to Oklahoma, tends to grow in mid-March through early May. Morel mushrooms can be found all across the state, and they grow only under specific temperature and precipitation requirements. However, morels can be toxic if consumed raw or undercooked.

Eight other states have also established state mushrooms.

HB3263 passed out of the House Tourism Committee unanimously and is now available for review by the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.

Rep. John George, a Republican, serves District 36 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Cleveland and Oklahoma counties, including much of Luther.