Summary of Off-Reservation Manoomin (Wild Rice) Harvest Regulations


Attention Harvesters

The following waterbodies are now date-regulated in Wisconsin:
~ Chippewa Lake, Bayfield County
~ Island Lake, Vilas County
~ Minong Flowage, Douglas County
~ Pacwawong Lake, Sawyer County

*See table below for the full list of date-regulated waters.

For a full copy of your tribe's ordinance, see your tribal office.

 NOTE: click state to view summary regs.

Wisconsin

PERMITS:

A tribal Off-Reservation Natural Resource Harvesting Permit is required for off-reservation ricing. This permit is available free of charge at your tribal conservation department. You must carry your permit with you when ricing off-reservation.

RICING STICKS:

You must use smooth, rounded, cedar rods or sticks no longer than 38 inches. (Note: "binding" the rice is not permitted.)

BOATS:

Boats can be no longer than 17 feet, or wider than 38 inches. The gunwales of the boat cannot be modified to capture rice outside of the boat. Boats can only be propelled with push poles or paddles.

RICING HOURS:

10:00 a.m. until sunset on all date-regulated and non-regulated public rice waters.

DATE-REGULATED LAKES:

No ricing is allowed on the off-reservation lakes listed except for the days they have been named open by the tribal ricing authority. The dates that a date-regulated lake is open for harvesting will be posted at access points to the lake. Rice waters not listed may be harvested whenever the rice is ripe.
Minnesota

PERMITS:

A tribal Off-Reservation Natural Resource Harvesting Permit is required for off-reservation ricing.  This permit is available free of charge at your tribal conservation department.  You must carry your permit with you when ricing off-reservation.

RICING STICKS:

You must use smooth, rounded, cedar rods or sticks no longer than 32 inches in length and which are held and operated by hand.. (Note: "binding" the rice is not permitted.)

BOATS:

Boats can be no longer than 18 feet, or wider than 38 inches. The gunwales of the boat cannot be modified to capture rice outside of the boat. Boats can only be propelled with push poles or paddles.

RICING HOURS:

9:00 a.m. until sunset on all public waters.

OPEN SEASON:

No member shall harvest wild rice in any body of water except during the times(s) as such body of water is posted open by the Mille Lacs Wild Rice Authority.  Posting will be done on the shores of and at places of access to the wild rice waters.
Michigan

Unregulated

Map of Manoomin Waters*

 * Off-Reservation manoomin waters only.


 NOTE: click map icons for opening notes and aerial photos.


Open

Open dates vary

Closed

Not date-regulated, open when rice is ripe

Manoomin Waters



Rice Abundance Information for Manoomin Waters
Aerial Photos & Surveys


 NOTE: click on a column heading to sort table.


State County Waterbody Survey Results Opening Notes Notes
MNAitkinBig Sandy LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNAitkinElm Island LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNAitkinFlowage Lake (Outside 1837 ceded territory)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNAitkinLake Minnewawa (Outside 1837 ceded territory)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNAitkinMallard Lake (Outside 1837 ceded territory)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNAitkinSandy River LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNCarltonKettle LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNCarltonMoose Horn RiverNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNCarltonTamarack LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNMille LacsOgechieNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNMille LacsOnamia LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
MNMille LacsShakopeeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIAshlandKakagon Sloughs (on reservation)GoodOpening date has not been determined
WIBayfieldChippewa LakeAverageOpened on 2022-09-02
WIBayfieldTotagatic LakeAverageOpened on 2022-08-29
WIBurnettBriggs LakeGoodOpened on 2022-08-26
WIBurnettClam Lake (West side ripens before east side)GoodOpened on 2022-08-26
WIBurnettClam Lake, LowerGoodThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettGaslyn LakeNo DataOpened on 2022-08-26
WIBurnettGrettum FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettLong LakeGoodOpened on 2022-08-26
WIBurnettLoon Lake (Carter's Bridge)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettLower Hay Creek FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettMud Lake - Town of Oakland (Historic Lake)PoorClosed for the season
WIBurnettMud Lake - Town of Swiss (Limited public access)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettNorth Fork Flowage (Crex Meadows)AverageThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettPhantom FlowageAverageThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnettUnnamed Ditch (Lower L Dike Flowage)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnett, Douglas, PolkSt Croix River (Cutaway Dam)AverageThis water is not date-regulated
WIBurnett, WashburnYellow RiverNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIDouglasMulligan LakePoorClosed for the season
WIDouglasSt Croix (Gordon) FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIDouglas, WashburnMinong FlowageAverageOpened on 2022-08-31
WIForestHiles MillpondAverageThis water is not date-regulated
WIForestLittle Rice LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIForestWabikon LakeFairClosed for the season
WIIronLittle Bear FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIIronLittle Turtle FlowageGoodThis water is not date-regulated
WIOneidaBig LakeNo DataOpening date has not been determined
WIOneidaBig Lake ThoroughfareNo DataOpened on 2022-08-29
WIOneidaCuenin LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIOneidaGary Lake (Limited public access)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIOneidaRhinelander Flowage (Beware private land areas.)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIOneidaRice LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIOneidaSpur LakePoorClosed for the season
WIPriceLower Steve Creek FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIPriceSpring Creek WA FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WISawyerBilly Boy FlowageGoodThis water is not date-regulated
WISawyerPacwawong LakeGoodOpened on 2022-09-06
WISawyerPhipps FlowageGoodThis water is not date-regulated
WITaylorChequamegon Waters FlowageNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIVilasAllequash LakePoorClosed for the season
WIVilasAurora LakeFairOpening date has not been determined
WIVilasIrving LakePoorClosed for the season
WIVilasIsland LakeGoodOpened on 2022-08-29
WIVilasLittle Rice LakeNo DataClosed for the season
WIVilasNixon LakePoorClosed for the season
WIVilasRice CreekNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIVilasRound LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIVilasWest Plum LakePoorClosed for the season
WIWashburnDilly LakeAverageThis water is not date-regulated
WIWashburnLong LakeNo DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIWashburnRice Lake (Limited public access, opening info only posted online)No DataThis water is not date-regulated
WIWashburnSpring Lake (Minong Township)No DataClosed for the season
WIWashburnTranus LakeAverageOpened on 2022-08-31


General Notes: This summary report is provided as a service to harvesters. The estimates of rice abundance are compiled from air surveys in Minnesota, and both air and ground surveys in Wisconsin. Wisconsin waters are divided into date-regulated lakes and non-date regulated waters. If the water you are interested in is not on the list of date-regulated waters, you may harvest it whenever the rice is ripe. (All other ricing regulations still apply.)


For each water, the crop is listed as either Poor, Fair, Average, Good or Very Good; these relative terms compare the crop to other recent years for that individual water. A "Fair" crop on a lake that generally supports large beds may represent more rice than a "Good" crop on a smaller water. Air surveys are not yet completed; additional waters will be flown if conditions permit.


Remember, if the rice is not falling well, and still has empty hulls or milky seeds, PLEASE stop ricing and give the bed more time to mature.


It is important to note that even where rice plants appear to be relatively abundant, seed production can be poor due to disease or other factors. In addition, heavy rain events and other factors can change the status of the beds after surveys have been conducted. You are encouraged to use this information as an initial guide, and conduct your own scouting trips to the waters you are considering harvesting.


Best wishes for a great season!