Indiana conservation officers are conducting an investigation of two men for the possession of ginseng out of season, along with additional drug and alcohol charges.

 

Daniel D. Craig, 67, of Dupont was arrested and jailed atJennings County on the following charges: Possession of Ginseng out of Season, B Misdemeanor; Theft of Ginseng, Level 6 Felony; Transporting Untaxed Liquor, Level 6 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony; Possession of Paraphernalia, A Misdemeanor; Trespassing, A Misdemeanor; and Cultivating Marijuana, A Misdemeanor.

Jacob Smith, 32, of Dupont was arrested and jailed at Jefferson County on the following charges: Possession of Ginseng out of Season, B Misdemeanor; Possession of a Wild Animal Without a Permit, C Misdemeanor; Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony; Possession of Paraphernalia, A Misdemeanor; Cultivating Marijuana, A Misdemeanor; Possession of Stolen Property, Level 6 Felony; Unlicensed Still Equipment, C Misdemeanor; and Possession of Untaxed Liquor, C Misdemeanor.

On August 9, around 3:40 p.m., Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Craig near the 4000 block of South 380 East in Dupont. Three pounds of green ginseng, methamphetamine and untaxed liquor were located in his vehicle and consent to search his residence was given.

Conservation officers, Indiana State Police and Excise conducted the search of Craig’s residence where they located drug paraphernalia, and marijuana plants were located at the residence as well.

On August 10, an interview was conducted on Smith following information obtained during the search the previous day. He gave consent to search his residence. Conservation officers conducted a search of Smith’s residence, where they located a coyote pup and a whiskey still.

After a search warrant was obtained, they located ginseng inside the residence. Officers also located stolen property, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana plants and untaxed liquor.

The investigation is still underway. The charges are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Legal harvest of ginseng Ginseng may be lawfully harvested in Indiana starting on Sept. 1 of each year, through Dec. 31. Ginseng must be sold prior to the beginning of the following year. Harvesters do not need a license to dig ginseng nor sell it to a licensed dealer.

From Sept. 1 of the current year to March 31 of the following year, dealers can legally purchase ginseng from harvesters.

When reselling ginseng purchased  directly from harvesters, the dealer must fill out a form certifying the ginseng’s origin and weight. A copy of the certification must accompany the ginseng when it is shipped.

•It is illegal to harvest wild ginseng  out of season, a Class A misdemeanor.

•To harvest legally, a ginseng plant must have at least three prongs and a flowering or fruiting stalk, or at least four internodes on the rhizome. To harvest plants not meeting these criteria is a Class B infraction.

•It is required that mature fruits and any seeds on the harvested ginseng be planted in the vicinity where the plant was dug and in a manner encouraging germination.

•It is required that the entire stalk and leaves be retained with the plant until it is taken to the harvester’s residence or place of business, unless the root has at least four internodes on the rhizome.

•It is illegal to sell or remove mature fruits and seeds from the vicinity where the ginseng was taken.

•It is illegal to buy, sell, or possess any ginseng out of season without written authorization from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Law Enforcement – a Class B misdemeanor.

•It is illegal to buy uncertified ginseng for resale without an Indiana Ginseng Dealer’s License, a Class B misdemeanor.

•Only certified ginseng can be sold to a buyer in another state. To export uncertified ginseng is a Class A misdemeanor.

•Harvest ginseng only where it is permitted. Digging on state property is not allowed; digging on private property without permission is theft; and digging on other properties may require a permit.

•Anyone violating the rules will be prosecuted. Indiana conservation officers encourage citizens to contact 800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367) or ICO Central Dispatch at 812-873-9536 to report any ginseng violations.

 

Patoka Lake will conduct two in-person drawings for controlled dove hunts on one sunflower field on Sept. 1-2. The hunts will take place at Lick Fork State Recreation Area (SRA). They are limited to one sunflower field this year because heavy rains at planting time resulted in poor growing conditions.

 

Drawings will be held at 6:30 a.m.EDT both days at the Lick Fork SRA Hunter Check Station No. 3 parking area, about 0.4 mile east on E. Lick Fork Marina Road from State Road 545.

Hunters should be aware 10 groups or fewer are expected to be drawn, and there is a maximum of two hunters per stake.

Hunting hours for drawn hunters will be from 7:15 a.m.-noon EDT. All fields surrounding the controlled sunflower field will have similar time restrictions. There will be no “stand-by” or refilling of shooting stations for early departures. The field will be closed after noon each day.

Fields will be considered “open hunting” starting Sept. 3. Shooting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise, to sunset. Hunters must purchase the proper licenses and stamps, and possess a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number.

New this year: hunters at Patoka Lake will be limited to 50 shells, except for youth hunters, ages 17 and younger, who are limited to 75 shells. Hunters must use nontoxic shot of size 6 or smaller, and they must plug their shotguns so they contain only three shells.

Dove hunters seeking a non-draw hunt can find three fields totaling approximately 20 acres in Newton-Stewart SRA. Enter through the Patoka Lake main gate and travel along the main road (CR 1075 W) about 1.5 miles. Hunters should park in the gravel area on the left-hand side of the road. Hunters are encouraged to wear blaze orange vests and hats.

For more information, call 812-685- 2464. Patoka Lake is located at 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513. 

 

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.