TOPIC: Ohio Seng Season 2010

Billy wrote:

I tell you 5 I have seen days when I didnt dig more than 3 ounces in 7 or 8 hours walking and hunting,sure have,but I always say that seng hunting is rewarding in different ways,Sometimes the peace and relaxation,other times the exercise,but I have the most fun digging a pile :o) .......

Billy I was thrilled to find that patch after 2 short evening hunts getting skunked. And it was an awesome morning as I saw about a dozen deer back in there and flushed I don't know how many turkeys from their roost. I also think there is more seng back in there. It is one of the largest areas I've ever had permission to hunt and is very steep terrain so I havent got to cover even half of it yet, but have learned how the ridges run back in there so hopefully can get around a little quicker next time I get to go.
I'm still hopefull of digging a big pile of roots this fall, but realize that it just may not happen as I am committed to only checking out new unknown territories this year. May even do the same next fall.

Cool man root 5! I found 2 yellow plants yesterday. We got down to 38 dgrees Sat night!

5prong wrote:

Billy wrote:

I tell you 5 I have seen days when I didnt dig more than 3 ounces in 7 or 8 hours walking and hunting,sure have,but I always say that seng hunting is rewarding in different ways,Sometimes the peace and relaxation,other times the exercise,but I have the most fun digging a pile :o) .......

Billy I was thrilled to find that patch after 2 short evening hunts getting skunked. And it was an awesome morning as I saw about a dozen deer back in there and flushed I don't know how many turkeys from their roost. I also think there is more seng back in there. It is one of the largest areas I've ever had permission to hunt and is very steep terrain so I havent got to cover even half of it yet, but have learned how the ridges run back in there so hopefully can get around a little quicker next time I get to go.
I'm still hopefull of digging a big pile of roots this fall, but realize that it just may not happen as I am committed to only checking out new unknown territories this year. May even do the same next fall.

5 I admire your stedfastness to your commitment this year.I am like you seeing the area is that big I think that it is a good chance that you have not found the best seng yet.And I hope that is right.When you go back in there I hope you dig a pound and some nice mature roots.Your regular hollers will look very good after a couple years off I do that all the time and it does work very well.G/l your next dig my friend.

Maya, Thanks, and thanks for sharing that pic of that beautiful yellow 3-prong. The last 2 years here have been so dry in August that I haven't got to see many like that. Most plants around here the last 2 years have wilted before turning yellow. I hope it rains almost every day next August LOL

Billy, thanks. I decided I just have to take a vacation day this friday to get back in there and have time to check it out better. I'm going to pack a lunch and make a day of it. I've got to tell you though, my legs ache just thinking about it. VERY STEEP!! I'm talking like a 6/12 pitch!! I'm only in my forties, and already wondering how much longer I'm going to be able to do this thing I love so much. Good luck to you on your next outing. I read your other post and wish you the best. Try to take your time and not overdue it. G/L

good looking sang right there 5.

Well guys, I got back out to that big property again today. I didn't find a whole lot more ginseng, but had just an encredible day. I wanted to start up where I left off last Saturday which was on a north facing bank about 3/4 mile from the road. Now it's not a bad walk once you get to the top of the ridge which is about 400 feet diference in elevation from where I parked the truck along the gravel road. This long ridge which takes me pretty much straight to that north bank is just loaded with oak trees, which in turn are just loaded with acorns this year. I found myself wishing that I'd brought my 22 LR along as I saw dozens of gray squirrels today. I had at least 7 or 8 of them just sit and stare at me walking towards them until I'd get 15 to 20 feet from them. Some of the most fearless squirrels I've ever seen in the wild.
Shortly after reaching my destination of that north facing slope I started finding some more seng. Most of what I was seeing was young 1 and 2 prongs, but did find 9 bunches worth digging and several other smaller 3 prongs. This slope may not be just loaded with ginseng, but I'd call it a root hunters paradise as there is a lot of blood root, black cohosh, blue cohosh, and goldenseal. I don't know if I've ever seen that much black cohosh in one area. I think a fellow could easily dig over 500 pounds of it off that hill.(getting it back to the road wouldn't be very easy though).
This slope runs about 3/4 of a mile before taking a definate turn toward the east or west. I was starting toward the east end of it moving westward. Just as I was getting toward the area where it started that definate turn toward the west I spotted some nice size patches of some old big goldenseal. I don't always mess with digging seal, but seeing how these were old guys and considering that I had't gotten much ginseng so far I decided to dig a little. I ended up with just under 2 pounds of seal. I only dug for about a half hour. These were some big roots for goldenseal and that rain we got yesterday helped soften the ground just enough to make it easy digging other than a few rocks. Probably could have gotten 7 or 8 pounds of roots from good mature plants, But I just can't seem to make myself stay at it when it comes to digging seal.
After digging the goldenseal I made my way back to the top of the ridge and followed it to check ou a couple other spots that looked good on the topo map, but neither of them panned out. That north facing slope is very steep and I didn't take but a couple of pics while out there, but snapped a few of the roots I dug today once I got home.

A pretty nice three I dug today.

One goldenseal root.

The goldenseal on the screens.

way to go 5..nice big hairy seal..