Minnesota residents can purchase a license for a single day for $ 15 , or for $ 25 get licensed for the entire season , which goes from Aug . 15 to Sept . 30 . Harvesting is only allowed between 9 a . m . and 3 p . m . daily . Non-Minnesota residents are able to get licensed as well , but are only eligible for a day-long license . Cost is $ 30 .
Before heading out on the water , be sure to study the rules posted by the Department of Natural Resources online at : Dnr . state . mn . us / regulations / wildrice / index . html .
Here are the rules in a nutshell :
* Watercraft used in harvesting wild rice may not exceed 18 feet in length or 36 inches in maximum width . Any extension that increases normal capacity is prohibited .
* Push poles used to propel watercraft for harvesting wild rice must be forked at the end . The forks must be less than 12 inches in length .
* Flails used to harvest wild rice must be made of round , smooth wood no longer than 30 inches and weigh no more than one pound . Flails must be hand held and operated .
* The use of any machines to harvest wild rice is prohibited , unless the operator owns all of the property that surrounds the public water where the harvest is taking place . In addition , the following conditions must be met : the public water is less than 125 acres in size , it is within the original boundaries of any Indian reservation , and there is no public access directly or through a channel or watercourse .
You may find it interesting to know that wild rice isn ’ t actually rice at all , but an annual grass which grows naturally in more than 2,000 lakes and rivers in 64 Minnesota counties . The largest concentrations of wild rice grow in Aitkin , Cass , Crow Wing , Itasca and St . Louis counties . But harvestable stands of rice can be found from the Canadian border to the Twin Cities metro area .
APPLES
When fall arrives , if you don ’ t have a backyard apple tree to harvest , you can also find good pickings Up North . Here are a few of the orchards you can visit .
Red Barn Orchard
Grows 15 different apple varieties , including Honeycrisp , Zester , Haralson , Sweet16 , Frostbite , Prairie Magic , Goodland and a few varieties of crabapples . Open for U-pick from the end of August through the end of October .
1365 44th Street SW , Pine River , MN 56474 ( 218 ) 838-8185 www . redbarnorchard . com redbarnorchard @ yahoo . com Facebook : https :// www . facebook . com / Red-Barn- Orchard-1656447934677159
Gilby ’ s Nursery & Orchard
Grows more than a dozen varieties of apples available for U-pick , including First Kiss , Honeycrisp Premiere , Honeycrisp , SweeTango , Wealthy , Zestar , Sweet 16 , Haralson , Haralred and Frostbite . The orchard has been in business since 2003 , and partners with the University of Minnesota to serve as a testing ground for new varieties of apples . It was one of the first orchards licensed to grow and sell First Kiss apples , as well as the new Honeycrisp Premiere apples , which ripen 3 weeks earlier than traditional Honeycrisp apples .
30069 State Highway 210 , Aitkin , MN 34481 ( 218 ) 670-0561 www . gilbysorchard . com gilbysorchard @ frontier . com Facebook : https :// www . facebook . com / GilbysOrchard
Oasis Orchards
Apples are available for purchase at a roadside stand only . The public is not able to come into the orchard to pick . Available varieties include : SweeTango , Honeycrisp , Zestar , KinderKrisp and SnowSweets .
44832 County Road 21 , Staples , MN 56479 ( 218 ) 296-1254 oasisorchards @ gmail . com
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