Early Waterfowl Hunting Prohibited On L.L. Reservation Wild Rice Waters

CASS LAKE, MN- The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) Division of Resource Management issued public notice today that Manoomin (wild rice) waters within the exterior boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation will be closed to hunters participating in the MN DNR's early teal and goose seasons.

The new early teal season, which is experimental and could last up to three years, is open from September 4-8, 2021. The State's Early Goose Season also opens on September 4. These dates overlap with the traditional Manoomin harvesting season taking place throughout Northern Minnesota.

"With peak ricing season taking place now and lasting for the next few weeks, our Natural Resources Advisory Council and the LLBO Tribal Council, agreed that the safest course of action is to close the wild rice beds to hunters taking part in the experimental early waterfowl hunting season," said Ben Benoit, LLBO Environmental Director. "While these closures only affect rice beds within the Leech Lake Reservation, we encourage hunters to exercise extreme caution throughout the 1855 Treaty Territory where many of our people will be gathering rice throughout the weekend."

https://www.leechlakenews.com/2021/08/30/early-waterfowl-hunting-prohibited-on-l-l-reservation-wild-rice-waters/