Author Topic: threats  (Read 3557 times)

Offline Reeder49

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threats
« on: August 10, 2015, 06:02:08 PM »
Hello everyone,  I just want to tell you a story.   

Last year someone got into a choice patch of mine and dug at least 300 20+ year old plants.  This patch was close to my house and consisted of plants that I transplanted in 2004.  At that time, every one of them were over 10 year old roots.  They were my seed producers.  Once I started buying seeds, I would blend them with seed bought online.  I had waited to top them due to the berries not being ripe yet. I did get some pictures of my neighbors but none with them having a bag of seng in their hands or any digging tools.  Of course I was very angry so handling it improperly, I knocked on their door and confronted them.  After they explained to me how they were just looking for a lost dog, I told them I was getting the police involved.  Stupidly I did not follow through with this.  I figured there really wasn't any proof of theft, just trespassing.  In Indiana, nothing really happens for that on the first go around but I put myself one step back by not reporting it.  Anyway....this incident was last August.  Last week, my thieving neighbor told another neighbor that he is going to shoot me off of my deck!!!!!  He also said he was the one that stole my seng and doesn't care about my no trespassing signs "because woods are woods". Can you believe that?  I talked to the police about this with no results to come from it except for "the next time.....".  To them the threat was "hear say".

Have you ever dealt with an issue like this?
God made dirt and dirt don't hurt.

Offline Brad

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Re: threats
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2015, 06:50:15 PM »
Wow Reeder, so sorry to hear you are dealing with this.

I don't know much at all about Indiana, but I am a cop in Ohio.  Never confront someone without proof, and then it is better in today's society to let the proper authorities handle it.  Have you contacted your local Wildlife Officer?  I think they are the ones who administer the ginseng management program in Indiana as the Division of Wildlife does here in Ohio. 

The lack of interest you experienced might be because the cop you talked to did not understand anything about ginseng, so saw this as an insignificant complaint.

Next, I would get a notebook and log EVERYthing.  What they took last time and when, specifically why you believe it was them.  The threats you just found out about AND who told you. These logs might be admissible in court as records, but in any event can provide dates and events to refresh your own memory.  I would most definitely let your wildlife officer know so he can be watching the situation knowing you have a patch you have been tending.

I hate thieves.  Good luck in dealing with that.

Offline silverwolf2604

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Re: threats
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2015, 07:36:13 PM »
im starting out...thats my biggest fear...but i could also have the greatest advantage....ginseng to my knowledge has not been found wild in any quantity near me for over 30 yrs....all the old timers who could easily identify it are dead or too old to go hunting it....and i know the spots it will grow....so im gonna re introduce it....ill plant every yr from now on...i hope one day my sons will benefit from my work...i am saddened by your loss....nothing worse then a thief.....but get your warden involved....they will go to great lengths to catch trespassers n ginseng poachers...best of luck to you.

Offline Reeder49

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Re: threats
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2015, 11:20:12 PM »
Thanks for your posts.  I am going to get in touch with my CO.  It just makes me nervous to let anyone know what I have, including the Warden.  The more attention, the more people will find out about the quantity of seng I have.  Most people are honest and wouldn't do such a thing but it only takes one bad apple.  At least I will have all of my hidden places scattered throughout my county.  They are on the deepest hollows and steepest inclines I could find. Even though it will be difficult to harvest, most people wouldn't look twice. 
God made dirt and dirt don't hurt.