TOPIC: digging tool

Latt,
I always describe it to my son as to \"dig big\" and to not worry with prying small pieces of dirt away from a root one at a time. Its kinda the same scenario as using a shovel to dig up an overgrown shrub or plucking the whole thing out of the ground with an excavator and just shaking the dirt off the roots. You will get all the roots easier with the excavator, and much faster.

Hillhopper

So far I'm in the flat screwdriver category, and my fingernails, but maybe I'll upgrade to something better, if I ever find some roots worth digging. Last few years have been depressing.

Thanks Hillhopper.

Mortis,
What do you mean ??? According to some, it is more abundant now than ever. Hell it sounds like it grows right out of the cracks in the sidewalk. You should be finding it everywhere. lol
Sorry, I couldn't pass up on that opportunity. I hear you brother. It's not like it was 30 years ago. That's why I am growing it too.
Latt

I usually carry my long handle digger (when actually using it as a walking stick on steeper places) holding the head in my hand and the other end of the handle on the ground. That is not a hard rule though, I do vary that at times.

But when I am covering a lot of ground and walking faster (have not made it to the seng spot yet, or on my way out) I carry it over my shoulder most of the time.

I have a old lucky seng hunting tee shirt, that has a stain on the shoulder that (Tide, OxyClean, etc) will not get out from my seng digger handler rubbing across it.

I will not throw it away though - - - cause it's my lucky shirt

Guaranteed to find 4 prongs - if you are willing to walk enough.

One more thing on the long handle digger. When you are using a flat head screwdriver or short handle tool, you almost always have to get down on your knees when digging.

When using a long handle tool, you can just bend over a bit and dig. You don't have to get down and then back up every time. Over a long day of hunting seng, that little difference will keep you from being quite so worn out.

Also with a long handle digger, before you actually start to dig one you can make a circle around our seng top, brushing the leaves and stuff around and test for snakes.

If one is there he will move and you will spot him.

When you just go down with a short handle digger and start digging... well if there is a copper head hiding there, you are much more likely to get bitten.

TNhunter

*cringing*

Fellas, I've seen more damage by guys using screwdrivers than any other tool! Get something that will loosen the soil well away from the root and carefully move the dirt with your hands. Anytime you get any digging tool too close you will sooner or later damage the root and lose about 2/3 of its top value.

I like the trapper's trowels, but am also experimenting with small madock type tools and long handled small shovels.

Hilhopper, does the point wear down a lot or bend on your rock hammer ?


Hillhopper wrote:

A rock hammer has become my preferred digging tool the past few years. It may take a few more gouges than a long handle digger in soft soil but I cant tell a big difference and in really rocky soil it works better. In some steep places I feel I need both hands to navigate the slopes to keep from falling and moving at a steady pace. When your finished digging, slip that baby back behind your belt and your off to the races again.
If your terrain isn't as treacherous as mine can be then a long handled, light duty mattock works good as a walking stick and to beat back brush also.

Try the rock hammer or a Mattock and you'll never carry a screwdriver again. I promise.

Hillhopper

Nope, not at all.

good, but I would hope it would wear down just a little, I was looking at a Estwing one in a hardware store and it was quite sharply pointed.

I was kind of intigued by the digging stick/pole that Greg Shook (Georgia Boy) used on Appalachian Outlaws to dig seng. That is probably the only really good thing that came out of the Show! They never really showed the business end of the stick/pole but he seemed to be able to extricate the roots fairly easy and I wonder if it is really as good as the scenes showed. Maybe I will make me one out of a Hickory limb or Cedar limb and leave a offshoot branch for using it like a handled walking cane for hiking and for leverage with tougher roots and see how well it works. I will still take along my Ginseng digging hoe just in case the digging stick/pole doesn't make the grade.


Frank