clipping tops

[Reeder49]

I have over an acre in wild sim.  Last year I clipped the tops after berry collection.  There were a couple hundred that I waited longer because the berries were not ripe.  Then I was poached.  Every plant that I left unclipped was dug. This year I have intentions to clip again forgoing the seed collection.  The deer have been helping me with this already.  My question is, will clipping the top too early be bad for the root (no photosynthesis)?  I don't mean the seed stem.  I mean the whole top.  I'm sure next years growth bud is established but am still worried this could be bad.

Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated.  Hope everybody's having a great year.

[Brad]

I normally collect tops in mid Augusts -a couple weeks before digging season.  Last year I didn't, but most years if I don't get them all I at least get the ones highly visible from trails and such.  I think they will be fine if you wait until mid August.  You might lose some root growth, but that gives them more wild character too.

[Reeder49]

Thanks for the reply Brad.  Hopefully the roots of the seng that the deer have feasted on won't die off.  Mid May is all the growth they got before becoming salad.

[Brad]

I see deer browse the same as alternaria.  If the tops die off, the roots will survive if they have enough mass.  Normally, seedlings are the most at risk.  If they make it until mid July (normally the buds develop by then), they will likely come back the following year even if the tops die off early.

[priorservice]

great help guys thanks for the knowledge. I'm looking in to long distance surveillance systems that run on 12 vdc and can transmit up to 15 miles line of sight.
Also signs like trespassing on this land is an agreance to pay 1000.00 per second fine  picture will be taken once you cross this line. want land to hunt call a realtor or join a hunt club.

http://www.vfmstore.com/ir4300wl.html

http://www.elinetechnology.com/downloads/Wireless-Cameras.pdf

[Brad]

I'm not current on the surveillance stuff at this point.  However, my initial hunch is that posting signs like that is just advertising that you have something that is very much worth stealing.

I'm thinking you might be best with a fence and standard no trespassing signs and hiding your cameras well.  Ginseng thieves have the ability...and normally the time....to steal cameras also.  Don't hang them like deer cams....get them into brush and things low to the ground where they are hard to spot.