Wild rice harvesting season opens Aug. 15, 30 days later than the harvest date set in previous years. The change in law, enacted by the Legislature, is expected to have little effect on actual harvest dates, which tend to occur after Aug. 15.
Harvesters always should carefully check wild rice stands for ripeness prior to attempting harvest. It is illegal to harvest wild rice that is not ripe.
Several popular wild rice harvesting waters will be closed to harvest until posted open. Opening dates for these waters will be posted here approximately 48 hours before harvest opens. Information on harvest dates for the water bodies listed below also is available from the DNR information center at 888.646.6367.
Click the water body name to display its location
| Water Body | County | Rice Harvest Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flowage Lake | Aitkin | 9 a.m. Sat., Aug. 29 | |
| Lower Dean Lake | Crow Wing | 9 a.m. Sat., Aug. 29 | |
| Mallard Lake | Aitkin | 9 a.m. Thu., Aug. 27 | |
| Upper Rice Lake | Clearwater | 9 a.m. Fri., Sept. 4 | |
| Castle Creek | Itasca | 9 a.m. Thu., Sept. 3 | |
| Natures Lake | Itasca | 9 a.m. Sat., Aug 29 Closed Sun., Aug. 30 Open 9 a.m. Mon., Aug. 31 |
|
| Rice Lake | Itasca | 9 a.m. Sat., Aug 29 Closed Sun., Aug. 30 Open 9 a.m. Mon., Aug. 31 |
|
| Big Rice Lake | 9 a.m. Fri., Sept. 4 | ||
| Vermilion River | St. Louis | 9 a.m. Fri., Sept. 4 |
© 2010
MN Department of Natural Resources
