Carson Lake Pasture Wildlife Management Area: hunting rules and map
Carson Lake Pasture Wildlife Management Area is 30,185 acres in Churchill County, managed by NDOW in its Western Region and inside hunt unit 181. NDOW lists hunting on the area, with this rule first: persons 16 years of age and older are required to purchase a CLP permit to hunt on the area.
Data updated October 2026. Area rules: NDOW's public land page, read 2026-10-18. Boundary and acres: NDOW GIS. Land around it: BLM.
BLMBureau of ReclamationMilitary and Energy DepartmentTribal landCarson Lake Pasture WMAHunt unit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 30,185 acres (mapped) |
|---|---|
| County | Churchill County |
| NDOW region | Western Region |
| Hunt units | 181 |
| Status in NDOW's map | Pending; Pending transfer from BOR |
| Camping | Not permitted |
| Nearest towns | Fallon Station (3 mi), Fallon (8 mi) and Schurz (21 mi) |
What is Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
Carson Lake WMA is comprised of 30,040 acres in Churchill County, Nevada and is centered on Carson Lake, which is the natural terminus of the Carson River. Located approximately 8 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada and 70 miles east of Reno, Nevada.
In NDOW's words, from NDOW's public land page.
What are the rules on Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
| Topic | NDOW's rule |
|---|---|
| Hunting | Persons 16 years of age and older are required to purchase a CLP permit to hunt on the area. The use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-sized T is prohibited. |
| Camping | Not permitted |
| Campfires | Not permitted |
| Trespass and travel | Travel permitted on designated roads only. Travel is not permitted around seasonally closed gates |
| Boats | No restrictions |
| Trapping | Permitted on a first come, first serve basis and may contain designation of specific trapping areas, dates or other restrictions to ensure compatibility with other public activities. |
| Bodies of water | Sprig, Big Water, Rice, York, Grimes, Sump unit(s) |
Source: NDOW, Your Public Land. Big game seasons on the area follow the hunt unit's regulations.
Which big game unit groups take in Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
NDOW draws big game tags by unit group. The groups that include unit 181, with NDOW's 2025 figures for the whole group, not the WMA alone:
| Species and group | Tags issued, 2025 | Successful hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn antelope, 181 - 184 | 91 | 78 |
| Mule deer, 181 - 184 | 237 | 92 |
| Desert bighorn sheep, 181 (East, West) | 7 | 6 |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
What land surrounds Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
Inside the WMA boundary, BLM's surface management map shows Bureau of Reclamation 7,419 acres and BLM 24 acres. NDOW's WMA map records its status as pending (Pending transfer from BOR). Highways within 8 miles: US 95, US 50, NV 120, NV 118 and NV 115. Nearest towns: Fallon Station (3 miles), Fallon (8 miles), Schurz (21 miles) and Silver Springs (23 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
Yes. NDOW's rule for hunting on the area: Persons 16 years of age and older are required to purchase a CLP permit to hunt on the area. The use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-sized T is prohibited.
Can you camp on Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
No. NDOW lists camping as: Not permitted
Which hunt unit is Carson Lake Pasture WMA in?
All of it is in NDOW hunt unit 181.
Where is Carson Lake Pasture WMA?
Carson Lake WMA is comprised of 30,040 acres in Churchill County, Nevada and is centered on Carson Lake, which is the natural terminus of the Carson River. The nearest town by the census map is Fallon Station, 3 miles away.
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Where these facts come from
- Description and rules: NDOW, Your Public Land.
- Boundary, acres and status: NDOW wildlife management areas. Surrounding land: BLM Surface Management Agency map (national, limited scale).
- Unit group figures: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
FilledTag is not part of the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Nevada hunting Western Region Pronghorn antelope 181 - 184 Mule deer 181 - 184 Desert bighorn sheep 181 (East, West)