Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area
Explore the Mason Valley WMA through photos, videos, and interactive maps
About Mason Valley WMA
Conserving Nevada's Wildlife
The Nevada Department of Wildlife owns or has long-term leases on more than 155,000 acres of land incorporated into wildlife management areas (WMAs) across the state of Nevada. The primary conservation goal on WMAs is the protection of wetlands and waterfowl, including the use of WMAs for recreational hunting.
Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area
Location of Mason Valley WMA
Geographic Description
The Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA) is located in Mason Valley, Lyon County, Nevada. The area is located about 70 miles southeast of Reno via Interstate 80, USA Parkway and U.S. Alternate 95. The main entrance to the area is about seven miles north of Yerington.
Virtual Map Tour
Click on any point in the map to learn about the location, or select a topic and scroll down to explore the Mason Valley WMA. To view the map legend, click the right hand arrow next to the the display image.
Habitat
Waterbodies
Birds
Fish
Mammals
Reptiles
Public Use
Habitat
From desert shrub lands to wet meadows and riparian corridors, the habitats of Mason Valley WMA support an abundance of fish and wildlife that contribute significantly to the biological diversity of western Nevada. The Walker River floodplain meanders through Mason Valley WMA, providing food, cover and water for a vast array of wildlife. Numerous wet meadows and ponds dot the landscape, attracting ducks, geese, swan, songbirds and wading birds. The deep-water habitat of the newly constructed North Pond reservoir is home to fish, osprey and pelicans. Alkali desert scrub, an upland plant community, covers an extensive area on the WMA and gives shelter to many mammals including raccoon and mule deer.
Waterbodies
Mason Valley WMA contains several waterbodies including;
Bass Pond, Crappie Pond, North Pond, Lower Gadwall Pond, Upper Gadwall Pond, Swan Lake, Widgeon Pond, Greenwing Pond, Greenhead Pond, Honker Lake, Upper Pintail Pond, Lower Pintail Pond, Mallard Pond, Diver Pond, Shoveler Pond, Hinkson Slough, Redhead Pond, Canvasback Pond, Cinnamon Pond, Scaup Pond, Bufflehead Pond, Goldeneye Pond, Ringneck Pond, Ruddy Pond, Buterrball Pond, Perk Slough, Humboldt Lake, Toulon Lake, and the Walker River
Birds
Raptors: great horned owl, short-eared owl, Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, Swainson’s hawk, northern harrier, osprey, golden eagle, prairie falcon, peregrine falcon, merlin, bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, rough-legged hawks
Songbirds: yellowthroats, horned larks, marsh wrens, red-winged blackbirds, Savannah sparrows, song sparrows, blue grosbeak, ash-throated flycatcher, black phoebe, Western bluebird
Non-game: great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, egrets, bitt erns, white-faced ibis, avocets, black-necked stilts, common snipe, sandpipers, yellowlegs, dowitchers, plovers, phalaropes, grebes, pied-billed grebes, Forster’s terns, Virginia rails, soras, American bitt erns, least bitt erns
Upland Game: California quail, Rio Grande turkeys, mourning doves
Waterfowl: mallard duck, gadwall duck, northern pintail duck, green-winged teal duck, redhead duck, ruddy duck, ring-necked duck, canvasback duck
Fish
Largemouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, bowcutt fish, tiger trout, channel catfish, bullhead catfish, bluegill, common carp, sterile grass carp, tui chub, Lahontan redside shiner, Tahoe sucker
Mammals
Bobcat, coyote, spotted skunk, striped skunk, long-tailed weasel, badger, kit fox, mule deer, black-tailed jackrabbit, desert cottontail, occasional mountain lion
Reptiles
Zebratail Lizard, Long-nosed Leopard Lizard, Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard, Great Basin Fence Lizard, Norhtern Sagebrush Lizard, Side-blotched Lizard, Northern Desert Horned Lizard, Western Skink, Great Basin Whiptail, Roucky Mounatin Rubber Boa, Western Yellow-bellied Racer, Red Coachwhip, Mojave Patch-nosed Snake, Great Basin Gopher Snake, California Kingsnake, Wandering Garter Snake, Western Ground Snake, Night Snake, Great Basin Rattlesnake, Bullfrog
Public Use
Camping/Campfires: There are two Primitive campgrounds on the Mason Valley WMA. The Sandridge campground is located west of the hatchery and there is one located west of North Pond. There is no fee for camping on the area. Camping is allowed at the sites for up to eight days. Campfires are permitted in those sites designated for camping.
Hunting Blind: A hunting blind must be constructed of native vegetation, removable fabric, or a synthetic material that is of a temporary nature. (Refer to NAC 504.160)
Public Uses
Entry Restrictions and Trespass
Between February 15 and August 15 a person shall not enter, occupy, use or be upon the following eastern portion of the main developed area, as posted.
Vehicular Travel
Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, it is prohibited, within a wildlife management area, to operate a motor vehicle:
- Off an interior road or trail that is designated for vehicular travel; or
- On an interior road or trail that is marked as closed to vehicular travel. (Refer to NAC 504.115)
Use of Vessels
All vessels are prohibited from Feb. 15 through Aug. 15 each year, except on Hinkson Slough, Bass, Crappie, and North Ponds, Beaver Slough and the Walker River. Vessels must be operated at a speed that leaves a flat wake, but in no case may exceed 5 nautical miles per hour.
Hunting
Hunting is allowed every day for wildlife species upon which there is an established open season.
Deer may be hunted only on the following days during the season set for the hunting of deer: Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays; Nevada Day, as observed, pursuant to NRS 236.015; November 11, Veteran’s Day as observed; Thanksgiving Day; and Family Day, as declared pursuant to NRS 236.015. Deer may be hunted only with bow and arrow during the season set for the archery hunt for deer. Mule Deer: Nov 5 - Nov 3.
Special Restrictions
Discharging of a rifle or pistol is prohibited. Deer may be hunted only by persons using:
- Shotguns (no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge) and rifled shotgun slugs or shotgun rounds with sabots that contain a single expanding projectile; or
- Bows and arrows.
A shotgun that is used to hunt deer pursuant to this subsection may be equipped with a smoothbore barrel that is partially or fully rifled. The use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-size T is prohibited. The use of shotguns capable of holding more than three shells is prohibited on all wildlife management areas owned or managed by this State unless the shotgun is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so that the total capacity of the shotgun does not exceed three shells. The use or possession of shotgun rounds with sabots that contain other than rifled slugs of conventional design is prohibited on all wildlife management areas owned or managed by this State. (Refer to NAC 504.135)
Printable Map
Want to print a map before your visit? Free to download here: Mason Valley PDF Map
