Ginseng, you dig it?

[Lumber_Jack]

Anyone out there dig sang besides me? Just wondering. It's in season and ever since I learned of its existence I have been on the hunt. Of course me being a forester I am in the woods a lot anyhow.

[TripleDigitRide]

Never done it myself, but I know someone who does. He sells it.

[TrickyNicky]

No, we had a seed we were wanting to crack but it wasn't viable. Looks like a good haul though.

[UncleJak]

I'm just starting out. I'm having a hard time identifying it. Everything looks like it to me. Give me some tips?

sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

[R_Bert]

Looks a bit complicated -

 

http://www.wildgrown.com/tennessee_ginseng_laws.htm

 

I never paid a lot of attention to it, all looks like poison oak to me.

Edited September 20, 2013 by R_Bert

[10-Ring]

Lots of people dig it around here.  Keeps TWRA and the GSMNP rangers very busy.

[Spots]

My dad dug it all the time growing up. I still do some ginseng hunting from time to time. Its hard to spot until you get really used to it.

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Lumber_Jack]

I'm just starting out. I'm having a hard time identifying it. Everything looks like it to me. Give me some tips?

sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

Once you learn it, you'll spot it right away.

Look at the pic above. Lots of things have 5 leaves but non have the 3 large and 2 small. In the middle of the prongs there will be a small vertical shoot that usually has red berries, but they may have fallen or been eaten by animals. But the stem will still be there.

Location is key. Start looking on north facing slopes. Areas where ferns grow is a good site. Higher elevations seem to be good, but not critical. If you're in an area with old strip mines, look on the over burden that's a great site for ginseng.

The season is open through winter but the plant drops pretty early so by mid October it will be very hard to find

[R_Bert]

Is North Cumberland WMA open to harvesting ?

 

I have seen folks up there doing it in past years.

[frankmako]

when i was a kid i use to hunt it when i went hunting.  back in the 60's/70's it was everwhere.

[Lumber_Jack]

Is North Cumberland WMA open to harvesting ?

I have seen folks up there doing it in past years.

I'm not sure. It's not a park so likely so, although being closed doesn't stop people. I've known many people to dig in frozen head and even GSMNP.

[Lumber_Jack]

when i was a kid i use to hunt it when i went hunting. back in the 60's/70's it was everwhere.

Yeah, the American Wild Ginseng is highly sought after and brings a high price so it was dug to a threatened level. Now it's regulated. Only 3 prongs or bigger and berries must be replanted immediately. Also not supposed to transport across state lines, but that's pretty hard to prove

[Lumber_Jack]

He sells it.

Well yeah, me too. It has good medicinal properties but those don't outweigh the monetary properties :D

[swim615]

Hunted lots when I was a kid with my dad. Haven't been in years but I can still spot it when I go hunting for small game in the fall.

 

I had no Idea there was a season or regulations?

 

How much is it bringing an ounce these days? I may have to hit the woods.

[Lumber_Jack]

How much is it bringing an ounce these days? I may have to hit the woods.

It varies from year to year but I won't sell for less than $600/lb dried. Once dried it keeps for years so I just wait for a good price. In 2009 it was selling for $1000-$1200/lb which was higher than its ever been.

It takes approx 3 lbs of green root to make 1 lb dried

[R_Bert]

It varies from year to year but I won't sell for less than $600/lb dried. Once dried it keeps for years so I just wait for a good price. In 2009 it was selling for $1000-$1200/lb which was higher than its ever been.

It takes approx 3 lbs of green root to make 1 lb dried

 

So what is the green weight of that sample in your photo?

 

That from one plant, or three ?

Edited September 21, 2013 by R_Bert

[Lumber_Jack]

[quote name="R_Bert" post="1036621" timestamp="1379724341"] So what is the green weight of that sample in your photo?[/quote] I'd say about 2 ounces. So it takes quite a few roots. Last year I sold a brown lunch sack full for just shy of $400. So that was about 3/4 lb. It takes effort but its fun and pays pretty good for some time in the woods. I dug this amount(8 ounces in about 2hrs yesterday) My goal is 3lbs dried this season. We'll se if I can do it. That's be a good payday

Edited September 21, 2013 by Lumber_Jack

[seez52]

does it keep forever? I've got some that was dug maybe 20 years ago if I can find it.

 

[enfield]

Where do you sell it?

[Lumber_Jack]

does it keep forever? I've got some that was dug maybe 20 years ago if I can find it.

Yeah as far as I know. As log as it hasn't molded or rotted.

[Lumber_Jack]

Where do you sell it?

Lots of places buy. Most herb and fur traders. I sell to a guy in Jonesboro. Look on wildgrown.com they usually have a list if buyers by state

[Guest Lester Weevils]

The ginseng is said to give extra energy or something, like maybe a cup of coffee. Has anyone ever noticed ginseng having any effect at all? I can tell the effect of a cup of coffee or a cigarette, but never could ID any effect at all from ginseng? Edited September 21, 2013 by Lester Weevils

[Lumber_Jack]

The ginseng is said to give extra energy or something, like maybe a cup of coffee. Has anyone ever noticed ginseng having any effect at all? I can tell the effect of a cup of coffee or a cigarette, but never could ID any effect at all from ginseng?

I've chewed the root before and felt a spurt but hard to say if its real or a placebo affect.

[Motasyco]

I've got north facing slopes, ferns, and laurel but haven't been able to spot any ginseng.  This is the first year I've even looked for it.  I know there's got to be some there somewhere.

[Dennis1209]

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!

 

I'll be "baited" no more into a game of "snipe hunting", standing out in the woods with a paper bag and stick, to club the snipes as they run by.

 

After spending hours and hours in the woods this spring morel mushroom hunting, never seen a single morel mushroom. There are no morels or ginseng in the Tennessee woods. It's a myth and conspiracy designed by TWR to substantially reduce the deer tick population for a healthier deer heard and population. Here's my proof: Is there a limit, season, regulation, harvest method or anything regulating ticks? It's about the only critter TWR doesn't regulate.

 

So there you have it straight from the horses mouth :rofl:  

 

If I remember correctly, in Illinois ginseng was highly regulated and you needed a permit or license to hunt it and there was a bunch of paper work involved selling it?

Edited September 21, 2013 by Dennis1209