TOPIC: Starting a hobby- new to ginseng

Hello,

I have been a \"lurker\" on this website for about a month and finally decided to sign up. I am very very new (or green) to the world of ginseng, and decided I needed a hobby to get me away from St. Louis. Living in the city, I don't think I get out enough and enjoy nature enough. The idea of ginseng hunting came about after seeing advertisements for \"Appalachian Outlaws\" on History Channel. I haven't seen an episode because I really don't get into \"reality\" tv. Ginseng hunting seemed to solve both issues of an inexpensive hobby and get me outside the city.

As I stated, I have been looking at the website off and on for a month. I have learned a lot by reading other new member's posts. I don't know if I missed it or haven't got far enough into the website, but what is the best way to find places to look for ginseng. I am on the border of Missouri and Illinois with National Forest and State Forest nearby in both states. I don't know any landowners or farmers. I don't know anyone who hunts ginseng... so just trying to solve these problems on my own. The forum seemed like a good place to start. Like I said, ROOKIE!

How did you guys find your locations to hunt? Did you just drive around until you saw an area with potential? When should I go into the woods and start looking for the plant?

By the way, the forums ginseng identification post are great and I have read a lot about how to id the pant and it's associate plants.

Thanks and I am excited about this new endeavor.

Hi STL_roberts,

Welcome to the forum.

The one thing you do NOT want to ever do is just find a spot and walk into the woods and start looking. Ever. That is called trespassing and can get you a citation. If you find and dig something, it could be considered theft.

You must have permission to hunt ginseng. Depending on your local state's laws, this can be simple or more elaberate...but you still need it. Most state and federal ground are off limits also.

I would look for a likely looking area and then start knocking on doors. You will get more nos than not, but if that bothers you, ginseng hunting won't work out for you either. You might walk days before finding something worth digging.

STL_Roberts...

Welcome to the forum..

Below is some information I found right here on the wildgrown site (left side). They have a summary of ginseng laws and regulations for several states.

Most of the places I hunt seng, I get access to and permission to hunt by simply talking to folks about it. Just this past week at Church on Sunday evening... A guy I have been talking ginseng with asked me to come to his place (several hundred acres) and see if he has seng growing on it. He is interested in hunting it and growing it on his property. One of his neighbors goes to my Church and a few years ago he invited me to go and look for seng on his place (again after we had talked about it some) and we went and looked and found some really nice ginseng there.

You mostly have to sort of make friends with folks, let them get to know you and be honest with them about your intentions, to gain their trust and get to hunt seng on their property.

Some farmers will let you hunt seng, if you will hunt or trap critters they don't want on their farm, Fox, Yotes, Beavers, etc..

Some landowners will let you hunt seng on their property if you offer them a % of what you find.

Good Luck at finding some good places to hunt and with figuring out this fine sport on your own. You are going to need it

It's best to go with an experienced hunter a few times to learn, but it's not easy to get an experienced hunter to take you along.

Below is a link to my youtube channel and to Billy's... you can learn some stuff about seng there.

TNhunter

www.youtube.com/user/YTTNhunter

www.youtube.com/user/ginsenghunter1



Illinois Ginseng Law and Regulations
====================================

• A ginseng harvester’s license is required for anyone who harvests wild ginseng in Illinois and the license must be in the harvester’s possession when they dig or sell wild ginseng.

• A ginseng dealer’s license is required for anyone who buys ginseng that is grown or harvested in Illinois.

• The harvest season for wild ginseng in Illinois is from the first Saturday in September to November 1.

• Wild ginseng may only be sold to a licensed Illinois ginseng dealer, and only from 2 weeks after the start of the season through March 1 of the next year. Possession of wild ginseng between March 2 and the beginning of the next season is prohibited.

• Illinois state law requires all harvested plants be 10 years old (4 leaved) or older.

• Illinois requires that harvesters plant all of the seeds from the harvested plants in the vicinity of the parent plants in a manner that will encourage their germination and growth.

• Ginseng may not be harvested on state land in Illinois, nor in the Shawnee National Forest or Midewin Tall Grass Prairie.

• The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Law Enforcement, serves as the state’s ginseng coordinator. This office can be reached at (217) 782-6431 or:

One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271

Missouri Ginseng Law and Regulations
====================================

• No license is required to harvest wild ginseng on private land in Missouri, but the property owner’s permission must be obtained.

• Anyone who buys ginseng in the state of Missouri for resale must register annually with the Missouri Department of Conservation (and file quarterly and annual reports), unless they do not maintain a ginseng business address in the state and they are registered as a ginseng dealer in another state.

• The harvest season for wild ginseng in Missouri is September 1 to December 31 and the selling season is September 1 to March 15.

• Missouri state law requires all harvested plants to have at least 3 prongs, which (except for the mature fruits) must be kept with the plant until it is returned to the harvester’s home or place of business.

• Missouri requires that the seeds from each harvested wild ginseng plant be planted within 100 feet of the parent plant.

• Harvest of ginseng is prohibited on any land owned or administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation and on most other state-owned lands.

• The Missouri Department of Conservation serves as the state’s ginseng coordinator and can be reached at (573) 751-4115 or:

901 West Truman Blvd.
P.O. Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102

• It is illegal to collect ginseng in Mark Twain National Forest, which can be contacted at (573) 364-4621, or at:

401 Fairgrounds Road
Rolla, MO 65401

No Offense Please

Let me just say that I understand people being encouraging and friendly. It's just that at this particular time in the history of Wild American Ginseng, folks are somewhat more on edge than usual about the plant. Many people, myself included have put a lot of sweat equity and their hard earned dollars into growing Wild simulated or virtually wild ginseng on property they own. The stories of someone coming along and digging up that hard work and personal property illegally are seemingly endless. It's distressing to me that people might take advantage of the advice of good natured friendly folk on this web site that mean well, to do things the wrong way.

I'm a hunter and trapper , I get the whole desire to hunt and that hunting ginseng is a tradition. I also never go into my Ginseng woods to check my security cameras without a 12 gauge shot gun.

All I'm saying is be aware of the seriousness of what you may be undertaking. This is no game.

Good point rpdgrump, Growers will definitely do what it takes to keep their ginseng safe. I know a few growers in Missouri that would make it rough on a trespasser/ thief. I also know plenty of ginseng hunters that would be mad if someone else got in their digging spots.

I agree with TN, Get to know landowners and ask for permission to look on their property.

Being a good steward of the woods in general is the key once you get past the learning stage, the getting permission stage, etc. Plant more seed than root that you dig. Many including myself have said it all along that if you plant 30 seeds from a wild plant many of them will germinate. If left to mother nature very few of the 30 wild seed will make it down into the soil to germinate and survive.

So in essence a good steward of the woods ginseng digger can ensure the survival of ginseng in their area.

We all had to start at some time and all of us were newbies at one point. We welcome newbies if they obey the written and unwritten rules of the hunt. Do what is right and teach what is right is the only hope we have pertaining to managing the future success of ginseng.
Good luck,
Latt

Welcome to the site. I'm glad to hear you didn't watch the stupid show and get ideas of becoming wealthy by digging roots. As has been said above, the real only way to become a ginseng hunter is to go out with an experienced ginseng hunter. It would be quite an undertaking to figure it all out on your own. Most everyone I know or have talked to that hunts ginseng has been shown how by a more experienced person.

It's great you want to get outdoors. If you are close to State Game Lands, State Parks, or National Parks, my advice is to just go hiking. You won't be able to dig anything from State or Federal land.

As far as finding land, you first need to know what type of environment grows ginseng before you can find new hunting areas. Then if you go past a nice section of woods that looks right, you find out who owns it and get permission. I typically share between 25% and 50% of what I find with landowners, but occasionally they give me free reign and don't ask for anything in return. And quite often they politely tell me I'm not welcome on their property. If you are brave enough to head into Private Property without permission, you better be ready to have a shotgun barrel pointed in your face, and have the state police called on you.

My advice would be to put your feelers out and find someone close by that already hunts ginseng legally, and see if they would be a mentor.

Good luck, and stay safe.

First - Thanks for the advice. I will start asking around at church and see if anyone hunts. Is there local clubs or groups that get together or is it pretty much individuals on their own? Also, thanks for the info on offering some of the root to landowners and talking to the landowners. I will just need to find some areas and start asking. I have learned a lot about where to look, (North/Northeast slopes, sandy soils, etc.) from reading. Just need to get out and find those areas.

Second - I am not here to steal anyone's roots, tresspass on anyone's property, or \"take advantage of kindhearted folk.\" Just a newbie looking for a hobby that doesn't cost a lot of money and doesn't require a whole lot of equipment and a little advice to get started. Not knowing me or my background, some of the post threw me off. Why the \"this is not a game\" and \"seriousness of my actions\" talk? Am I that threatening as a newbie... or is that response given to others. This is going to be a hobby... not work and I will not make it work. I want to enjoy my hunt and have fun. I think some people missunderstood/ read too much into my post.

Anyways. Thanks again. I appreciate good advice and enjoy reading the site.

STL_roberts...

Sorry if some replies seemed a little hard...

I think it was this statement from your first post that alarmed a few folks..

\"Did you just drive around until you saw an area with potential?\"

That is what most ginseng poachers do... and then they sneak in and steal roots from the landowner, don't get permission, trespass, basically have no respect for others property.

Many of the guys on this form, are not only seng hunters, but also grow wild simulated seng. The thoughts of someone just driving by, stopping and stealing their ginseng is enough to ruffle a few feathers (and to make some shooting mad)

Good Luck with finding some good spots to hunt.

It is a very enjoyable sport or hobby - that is if you like being in the woods, and at times way back in the woods (where you usually find good ginseng).

TNhunter

Also, you've picked a bad time to become a ginseng hunter. The reality show on History has made a lot of people nervous about new hunters, thinking many are here just to get rich quick. I'm not insinuating that you are in this group, but just that you are a new person right after the show airs is all.

In any regards, we always are welcoming to those that share our enthusiasm for nature, and of being a good steward of the forest when you take a harvest. I hope you stick around and make some new friends and learn as much as possible. Again, welcome to the forums.

Carl