With Wisconsin’s waterfowl hunting and wild rice harvesting seasons both underway, state conservation officials are urging outdoor enthusiasts to protect fragile wild rice beds and safely share the water.

Waterfowl hunters and wild rice harvesters both utilize Wisconsin’s native wild rice beds from late August through September. To prevent conflicts, state officials emphasize the importance of mutual respect and situational awareness.

“Waterfowl hunters and wild rice harvesters both enjoy Wisconsin’s native wild rice beds,” said Jason Fleener, a wetland habitat specialist with the Wisconsin DNR. “As you head out, remember to give each other plenty of space, be aware of your surroundings and respect one another.”

The two activities operate on different timetables. Wild rice harvesting is permitted daily from 10 a.m. to sunset. Meanwhile, the waterfowl hunting season opened Sept. 1 with early teal, which has shooting hours from sunrise to sunset. For all other waterfowl seasons, shooting hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and close at sunset.

State officials say everyone can do their part to protect the state’s wild rice beds, particularly from early summer through early fall when the plants are most vulnerable.

To increase visibility, wild rice harvesters are encouraged to wear bright colors and display an elevated flag on their canoe or push pole. Waterfowl hunters should raise a flag on their boats when traveling to and from hunting sites and remain alert to nearby harvesters. Hunters are also urged to limit the use of outboard motors in shallow waters to avoid disrupting the fragile rice beds.

Boaters should avoid driving through wild rice beds entirely. If traveling through a bed is unavoidable, boaters should minimize propulsion, use the same path when entering and exiting, and avoid turning the boat around inside the bed. Additionally, boaters and canoers should use push poles designed to minimize damage to the plants.

To help plan their trips, boaters can use the DNR’s online Surface Water Data Viewer to identify lakes, rivers, or flowages where wild rice has been documented.

Some waters closed to harvest

Many of the most popular wild rice waters in northern Wisconsin have date-regulated harvest seasons, meaning gathering is prohibited until the waters are officially posted as open. Opening and closing notices are published on the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) website and posted at public access points 24 hours before a date-regulated water opens.

The DNR announced that several waters are closed to wild rice harvesting for the 2026 season. The closures include Allequash, Little Rice, Nixon, Irving, Aurora, and West Plum lakes in Vilas County; Big Lake and Spur Lake in Oneida County; and Wabikon Lake in Forest County. Authorities may determine additional closures as the season progresses.

Wild rice is an annual aquatic grass that produces seeds serving as a nutritious food source for both humans and wildlife. The seeds mature progressively from the top of the stalk downward over a 10- to 14-day period in August and September. Ripe seeds drop into the sediment to propagate the next year’s crop unless harvested.

The plant has specific habitat needs, growing best in water depths between 6 inches and 3 feet, particularly in gently flowing waters with mucky or organic bottoms, often near lake inlets or outlets.

Found only in the upper Midwest and parts of Canada, wild rice was once abundant across northern Wisconsin. The plant holds a timeless cultural, historical, and spiritual significance for many of the state’s tribal nations. However, wild rice populations have declined significantly over the past several decades due to climate change, which has brought rising temperatures and more frequent, severe storms.

Restoration and protection efforts are managed through a partnership among the DNR, GLIFWC, tribal governments, and local conservation partners. These projects are funded in part by waterfowl hunters and wild rice harvesters through the purchase of state and federal waterfowl stamps and wild rice harvesting licenses.

More information on regulations, dates, and shooting hours can be found on the DNR’s Wild Rice Harvesting webpage and in the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations.