Wild Rice Harvest in Wisconsin

Wild rice is an annual aquatic grass that produces seed that is a delicious and nutritious source of food for wildlife and people.

The seed matures in August and September with the ripe seed dropping into the sediment, unless harvested by humans or wildlife.  Seeds on a single stalk reach maturity over a 10-14 day period, with the highest seeds maturing first.

Only Wisconsin residents may harvest wild rice in the state.

Wild Rice Harvest License

Every resident over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 who wants to harvest wild rice must purchase a DNR wild rice harvester license.  Harvester licenses cost $8.25 and can be purchased at any DNR Automated License Issuance Sales (ALIS) outlets.  The "immediate family" (includes husband and wife and minor children who live with the parent or legal guardian) of someone who purchases a wild rice harvester license may harvest wild rice without a separate license.  The DNR will issue a wild rice identification card to each member of a licensee's immediate family. No wild rice license is required of people who participate only in helping with shore operations.

Wild Rice Harvest Season

Because wild rice ripens at a gradual, uneven rate, rice can be harvested repeatedly during the season, which may extend for up to two to three weeks on a particular lake. Different water bodies will also ripen at slightly different times, so the harvest season may last four to five weeks overall, if fair weather holds. Ripening is also affected by sediment type, water depth, and other factors. An acre of good rice beds can yield over 500 pounds of seed, but hand harvesting will only capture about 10 to 15 percent of this amount.

It is illegal to harvest or gather wild rice in any area of the state of Wisconsin between sunset and 10 a.m. On lakes not subject to a specific wild rice season and on all flowages, rivers and streams, rice may be harvested whenever it ripens. However, on many of the prime wild rice waters throughout northern Wisconsin rice may only be harvested during the open season. DNR staff and representatives of area Chippewa Indian Tribes cooperate to determine when rice on specific navigable lakes is ripe. The department with rice chiefs from the respective Chippewa tribes will then determine when the season is open for harvesting or gathering wild rice on a specific lake. Notices of when lakes are open are posted on the lakeshores at places of public access at least 24 hours before the beginning of the season.

Information regarding which lakes are open in northwestern Wisconsin is also available from the Spooner DNR Service Center at (715) 635-2101 and for lakes in northcentral at the Woodruff DNR Service Center at (715)356-5211. Information on which lakes is open is also posted on the Great Lake Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission website. (Exit DNR).

Wild Rice Harvest Rules

Wild rice may only be harvested from any navigable waters:

• in boats that are no longer than 17 feet, or greater than 38 inches wide;
• in boats that are only propelled by muscle power using a push-pole or canoe paddle;
• with smooth, rounded, wooden rods or sticks that are not longer than 38 inches. The sticks must be operated by hand.

It is illegal to use any mechanical device in any water of the state for harvesting or gathering wild rice.

Waters Subject to Rice Harvest Season

Lakes and stream subject to wild rice harvest seasons include:

• Barron County: Bear lake, Beaver Dam lake and Red Cedar lake.
• Bayfield County: Totogatic lake.
• Burnett County: Bashaw lake, Big Clam lake, Big Sand lake, Briggs lake, Gaslyn lake, Long lake, Mud lake, town of Oakland, Mud lake, town of Swiss, Mud Hen lake, Spencer lake and Trade lake.
• Douglas County: In Allouez Bay in the city of Superior and Mulligan lake.
• Forest County: Atkins lake, Riley lake, and Wabigon lake.
• Marinette County: Noquebay lake.
• Oneida County: Atkins lake, Big lake and Big lake thoroughfare, Gary lake, Little Rice lake, Rice lake and Spur lake.
• Polk County: Balsam Branch, Big Round lake, East lake, Glenton lake, Little Butternut lake, Nye lake, Rice lake and White Ash lake.
• Sawyer County: Musky Bay located in sections 10 and 11, T39N, R9W, on Big Lac Court Oreilles lake.
• Vilas County: Allequash lake, Little Rice lake, Nixon lake, Irving lake, Aurora lake, West Plum lake, Devine lake, West Ellerson lake, Micheys Mud lake, Frost lake, Rice lake, Sand lake and Sugar Bush Chain.
• Washburn County: Bear lake, Gilmore lake, Little Mud lake, Long lake, Mud lake, Nancy lake, Rice lake, Spring lake and Tranus lake.

Wild Rice Dealer License

A wild rice dealer license is required of:

• anyone who buys wild rice within the state for resale to anyone except consumers;
• to sell wild rice imported from outside of the state to anyone within the state except consumers;
• to process wild rice not harvested by the processor himself or herself for resale by the processor to any other person.

Wild rice dealer's license fees vary based on the quantity of wild rice the license applicant intends to purchase.  Wild rice dealers have to keep records of all wild rice bought, sold or processed during the period covered by their license.  The records must include the date of each transaction, the names and addresses of all other parties to the transaction, and the amount of wild rice involved, whether raw or processed.

Questions for Wildlife Management