Wild rice is a member of the grass family that begins to grow in Minnesota lakes and streams after ice gives way to spring, and the sunlight penetrates the water to begin normal photosynthesis. The plant typically grows in shallow to moderate water depths and is affected by the flow, turbidity, levels or fluctuation and water quality. The plant rises to the water surface from lake or river bed by mid June. At this time wild rice plants lay flat on the water surface and appear to form vast flats of green, leafy mats. Within several weeks the leaflets strengthen and stand erect out of the water. Sudden water level fluctuation at this time can destroy an entire rice crop. During July this nonpersistent emergent will grow vertically and eventually stand two to three meters out of the water. Each plant is unisex and pollination occurs naturally throughout the rice bed. Usually during the last weeks of July and ~ early weeks of August, the cool nights cause the rice kernel to fill with a milky substance that later hardens, and becomes the seed or grain of the plant. It is when the grain /seeds are formed and ready to fall that wild rice is ripe and ready to harvest. Not all of the kernels on a plant are ripe at the same time, and subsequent harvests in the same bed produce additional yields if harvested appropriately. This is the reason that the harvest of green wild rice is illegal. Early harvest will damage plants, produce worth less product and ruin the rice bed for all of us. Rice lakes are ready for harvest at different times. Just because one lake is ready for harvest doesn't mean all are. Likewise, just because the ricing season is open, does not imply that all rice is ripe. Rice usually ripens first in shallow areas with a sandy bottom. It ripens later in deeper water and where the bottom is soft. River rice tends to ripen before lake rice. While the Minnesota wild rice seasons is opened July 1 5th of each year, no rice is rjpe at that time. Due to the extreme variability in ripeness of wild rice beds in the same proximity, the state is attempting to allow wild ricers to harvest the crop as it ripens on each body of water. The harvest of green (unripe) wild rice is illegal and will result in criminal prosecution. Wild rice beds may be closed by posting at the major access sites. Watch for signs. A review of past seasons show the earliest legal ricing occurs in the 3rd week of August. However, there have been years when wild rice was not ready to harvest until the 1 st week of Sept. This depends to some degree on the summer weather conditions and lake levels. By calling tribal governments or the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, you will receive information about when wild rice may be ripe. For those new to this endeavor or inexperienced at identifying ripe wild rice or rice harvesting tactics, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe has offered to provide advice or guidance to you. Simply contact one of the tribal offices listed in this brochure, and speak to their wild rice council. Wild rice plants are fragile. Don't break the stalks by pulling them straight down over the gunwale. Instead, bend the plants forward and away from your body. Use a watercraft with rounded rather than square gunwales. Use a light brushing or raking stroke to remove the rice. Don't club the plant. Rice is ripe when it falls off easily and is dark brown in color. Rice is not yet ripe or "green" if you have to pound the plant to remove it. Rice comes off best when the plant is dry. Moisture (rain) makes removing the kernel difficult and trying to do so usually damages the plant. Wild rice should not be picked on rainy days. Be gentle when using the push pole. Don't rip through the water. Remove rough edges from your pole to avoid catching and tearing the plant or uprooting it from the bottom. Manufactured aluminum ducks bills are not recommended as they may damage rice plant roots. Relax, ricing shouldn't be a race or competition. The strong, steady ricer gathers much more grain, than the fast, haphazard one. The best ricers tend to work up and down in long, straight paths. Crisscrossing can be wasteful and after enough passes, the rice stalks bend away from the canoe and ripe grain falls into the water. Finally, he courteous and ethical. Just because an action isn't unlawful doesn't mean it's ethical. The harvesting of ripe wild rice is open to Minnesota residents only, and requires a wild rice harvester license. A resident under 16 years of age may harvest without a license when accompanied by a licensed person. LICENSE FEES Harvester$ 12.50 Buyers license 50,000 pounds or under$ 70.00 50,000 pounds & over$ 250.00 Season Dates Ripe wild rice may be harvested from July 15th to Sept. 30th annually. RICING HOURS 9:00a.m. -3:00pm daily CLOSED WATERS After the season for harvesting of wild rice has opened, conservation officers, and other authorized agents of the commissioner may close the harvest on any public water. These closures will be posted at known access points. RESTRICTED AREAS Federal Lands - Voyageur's National Park, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, and Sherburne National Wildlife Reguge require special permits to harvest wild rice, and are issued by the appropriate federal refuge or park. State Wildlife Management Areas - are all closed to wild rice harvesting except: Mud-Goose WMA, Cass County Hubbel Pond WMA, Crow Wing County Duck Lake WMA, Crow Wing County Kettle Lake WMA, Carlton County. VEGETATION Destruction of wild rice plants, including ~ cutting, pulling, or removing is unlawful. Exotics such as purple loosetrife and eurasion milfoil threaten Minnesota waters. All aquatic vegetation must be cleaned from all watercraft before leaving any body of water. WATERCRAFT - maximum top outside width 36 inches, maximum length 18 feet. Any extension that increases normal capacity is prohibited. PUSH POLES - must be forked at the end, and the forks must be less than 12 inches in length. FLAIL - must be made of round, smooth wood, and hand held and operated. Maximum length 30 inches, and maximum weight of one pound. MECHANICAL DEVICES - The use of any machine or mechanical device is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to persons who hold fee title to all the property that surrounds the public water and: + the public water is less than 125 acres +no public access directly or through a channel or watercourse +public water within the original boundaries of any Indian reservation. FIREARMS, TRAPS, OR NETS - are prohibited in any boat, skiff, or canoe while harvesting wild rice. Any person violating any of the laws or rules pertaining to wild rice is subject to a fine up to $700 and/or' 90 days in jail. All native rice within the original boundaries of White Earth, Leech Lake, Bois Forte, Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, or Mille Lacs Indian reservations are managed by the respective reservation wild nce committees. Only the commissioner or his authorized agents, tribal members, and persons who are residents of the reservation on which they are harvesting, may harvest or gather wild rice within the boundaries of the reservation. The opening date, days, and hours of harvest on the reservations are established by the wild rice committees no less than 24 hours prior to the opening. These regulations will be publicly announced by news releases available to news services radio, and television. The days hours for harvesting wfld rice may be altered by the wild rice committees after the season has been announced. This may be done by posting notice of these alteration at major entrances to affected waters no less than 12 hours prior to the time such changes take effect. Non-tribal members who are residents of the reservation must have a Leech Lake Reservation permit in addition to the state harvesters license. Appropriate identification must be provided to the reservation business committee or its agents by all persons applying for a permit. This permit must be carried by the harvester and displayed to authorized conservation offficers upon request. All non-tribal wild rice buyers who buy rice on the Leech Lake Reservation must have a buyers permit from the reservation business committee in addition to the. state license requirements. Wild rice is a unique and valuable resources in Minnesota. Additionally, wild rice has important sign)ficance socially, culturally, and economically to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.