MONROE COUNTY, Ind. -- A pair of boaters in Monroe County are facing charges after DNR officers say they were caught with illegal ginseng in their canoe.
Conservation Officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources stopped a canoe on Sunday because they didn't believe the boaters had a permit to be on Lake Monroe.
Conservation Officers said Kristina Curry, 33, was seen attempting to cover something behind her when they approached. Officers determined she was trying to hide ginseng.
Curry and her passenger, Matthew Ross, 33, admitted to digging the herb on state property and having more at their campsite.
After getting consent to search the pair's campsite and vehicle, officers found 7 ginseng plants, 2 ginseng roots and other various roots. All roots were seized for evidence.
Curry and Ross are both charged with possession of ginseng out of season and digging ginseng on state property.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources ginseng can be legally harvested from September 1-December 31 of each year. Ginseng must be sold to a licensed ginseng dealer or disposed of prior to March 31 of the following year. It is always illegal to dig Ginseng on state property.
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