Planting rice

[Kettle]

Was wondering if anyone has planted wild rice, own a private pond about 14 acres by mankato and has been looking at ricing it, I found a place to buy it in 50 lbs bags and know I will plant it in early october. Talked to the DNR and my pond is ideal for it. Just wondering if anyone has plated it and how long it took to grow (years)

Kettle

[fishuhalik]

Never done it myself, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing it takes a lot of seed and several years to get to a good, harvestable thickness. Not a bad project to undertake though. My dad harvests quite a bit every year. I love me some wild rice hotdish!!!!

[LandDr]

Kettle

We have planted a lot of it and have had customers plant it with very good success. You should get "fall" rice versus spring rice as it will be fresher and cheaper.

Wild rice requires 12-36 inches of water depth with a mucky bottom. It does not require flowing water...that is a myth.

Simply throw small handfuls into the air to broadcast the rice seed over the area you want to plant. It will self seed from there.

We will be harvesting wild rice in a couple weeks depending on weather and will have it available for pick up or shipping any time after that. It's great to time it with going to your pond to duck hunt...hunt in the morning and throw the seed out when you are done.

My 15 acre wild rice pond also has Sago Pondweed, Water Celery and Freshwater Shrimp in it that I have planted. Ducks LOVE the pond and it is not uncommon to see several hundred ducks a day through the pond.

[Markula]

Seeding the pond would be considered baiting. I'd wait til spring, or right before it freezes, if you plan to hunt there early this season.

[LandDr]

Planting "native" seeds and plants is allowed and\or considered normal practices...I believe it actually states that in the baiting regulations if I recall correctly. Broadcasting the wild rice seed over the water is how it is done and is normal practices. Broadcasting corn, beans or other grains over water is obviously not normal and is baiting.

If you want to wait until just before ice-over, that certainly works as well and better assures critters won't eat much of it.

[Kettle]

I work seasonal with the DNR and talked to a wildlife guy and he told me specfically to plant it in the fall and it was not bating. He told me to do it later in the season so it doesnt get eaten up. Landdr I will shoot you a PM

Kettle

[Markula]

I work seasonal with the DNR and talked to a wildlife guy and he told me specfically to plant it in the fall and it was not bating.

I never realized that. My mistake.

I always waited until just before freeze up anyways. I tried once early in the fall, and the rice disappeared in no time!

[Kettle]

Yea the ducks love that stuff!!!! That's why I'm planting it!!!! If I get a good crop in there I'm going to buy an ICE Eater so I can keep it open till seasons end!!!! The only thing is once you hunt the roost you only have a day or two till they head out! I have over 30 duck houses on the property and close to a dozen hen houses. Just like to try and make sure hunting is around for future generations as well!

Kettle

[Markula]

It's fairly easy to hunt, and not run birds out. Just make hunts quick. Don't linger and drag it out. Set up your blinds in places you can get in and get out fast. If ducks do start using it well, your biggest obstacle will be when they start feeding at night, and they most certainly will if you shoot them too much, but often they just go on the night feed for no apparent reason, and not much you can do.

[hunter322]

Can someone post or pm a link on info for buying or planting wild rice. Never thought about it untill i came upon this thread. My dad has a couple of potholes that sound like they would be perfect for this and help bring in the birds!

[LandDr]

HabitatNOW dot com

We plant a lot of ponds to wild rice and most of the time it takes...not always though. It requires 12-36 inches water (maybe a little deeper)...it will not grow deeper. It requires a mucky bottom...it will not grow in medium or sandy soils very well or not at all.

This year with the lower water levels we are seeing a lot more rice. It will be interesting how it affects the ducks. My ponds are FULL of rice this year!