Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area: hunting rules and map
Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area is 17,550 acres in Lyon County, managed by NDOW in its Western Region and inside hunt unit 203. NDOW lists hunting on the area, with this rule first: the use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-sized T is prohibited.
Data updated October 2026. Area rules: NDOW's public land page, read 2026-10-18. Boundary and acres: NDOW GIS. Land around it: BLM.
BLMState landTribal landMason Valley WMAHunt unit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 17,550 acres (mapped) |
|---|---|
| County | Lyon County |
| NDOW region | Western Region |
| Hunt units | 203 |
| Status in NDOW's map | Designated |
| Camping | Permitted at sites designated by the Department |
| Nearest towns | Yerington (5 mi), Schurz (13 mi) and Silver Springs (17 mi) |
What is Mason Valley WMA?
The Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA) is located in Mason Valley in Lyon County, about 75 miles southeast of Reno via Interstate 80 and U. S. Alternate 95. The WMA area totals 17,742 acres.
In NDOW's words, from NDOW's public land page.
What are the rules on Mason Valley WMA?
| Topic | NDOW's rule |
|---|---|
| Hunting | The use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-sized T is prohibited. During the waterfowl season, hunting is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays and the following legal State holidays: Nevada Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Family Day (day after Thanksgiving), Christmas, New Years Day, and Martin Luther King Day. Before or after the waterfowl season, hunting is allowed every day for wildlife species upon which there is an established open season Deer may be hunted only with a shotgun no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge using rifled slugs; or shotgun rounds with sabots that contain rifled slugs, or a single expanding projectile, or a bow and arrow. A shotgun that is used to hunt deer may be equipped with a smoothbore barrel or a barrel that is partially or fully rifled. Deer may be hunted only with bow and arrow during the season set for the archery hunt for deer. During the waterfowl 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 November 11, Veteran’s Day Thanksgiving Day Family Day (day after Thanksgiving). |
| Camping | Permitted at sites designated by the Department |
| Campfires | Permitted in those sites designated for camping |
| Trespass and travel | Trespass prohibited from Feb. 15 through Aug. 15 in the eastern portion of the main developed pond area, as posted |
| Boats | All vessels are prohibited from Feb. 15 through Aug. 15 each year, except on Hinkson Slough, Bass, Crappie, and North Ponds 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 |
| Trapping | Permitted on a first come, first serve basis and may contain designations of specific trapping areas, dates or other restrictions to ensure compatibility with other public activities |
| Bodies of water | Note: All fishable waters (listed below) at the Mason Valley WMA are open for fishing beginning the second Saturday of February and ending September 30 of every year (Hinkson Slough, North Pond, Bass Pond, Crappie Pond, Walker River, Numerous other seasonally flooded ponds) Kuenli, Hatchery Outpond #1, #2, and #3 are open for fishing on the first Saturday in May, from 8 a.m. to sunset |
Source: NDOW, Your Public Land. Big game seasons on the area follow the hunt unit's regulations.
Which big game unit groups take in Mason Valley WMA?
NDOW draws big game tags by unit group. The groups that include unit 203, with NDOW's 2025 figures for the whole group, not the WMA alone:
| Species and group | Tags issued, 2025 | Successful hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn antelope, 203, 291 | 19 | 15 |
| Black bear, 192, 194 - 196, 201 - 204, 206, 291 | 42 | 12 |
| Mule deer, 203 | 56 | 21 |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
What land surrounds Mason Valley WMA?
Inside the WMA boundary, BLM's surface management map shows state land 8,995 acres and BLM 6 acres. NDOW's WMA map records its status as designated. Highways within 8 miles: US 95 Alt, NV 208, NV 339, NV 827 and NV 3. Nearest towns: Yerington (5 miles), Schurz (13 miles), Silver Springs (17 miles) and Smith Valley (20 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Mason Valley WMA?
Yes. NDOW's rule for hunting 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. During the waterfowl season, hunting is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays and the following legal State holidays: Nevada Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Family Day (day after Thanksgiving), Christmas, New Years Day, and Martin Luther King Day. Before or after the waterfowl season, hunting is allowed every day for wildlife species upon which there is an established open season Deer may be hunted only with a shotgun no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge using rifled slugs; or shotgun rounds with sabots that contain rifled slugs, or a single expanding projectile, or a bow and arrow. A shotgun that is used to hunt deer may be equipped with a smoothbore barrel or a barrel that is partially or fully rifled. Deer may be hunted only with bow and arrow during the season set for the archery hunt for deer. During the waterfowl 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 November 11, Veteran’s Day Thanksgiving Day Family Day (day after Thanksgiving).
Can you camp on Mason Valley WMA?
NDOW lists camping as: Permitted at sites designated by the Department
Which hunt unit is Mason Valley WMA in?
All of it is in NDOW hunt unit 203.
Where is Mason Valley WMA?
The Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA) is located in Mason Valley in Lyon County, about 75 miles southeast of Reno via Interstate 80 and U. S. Alternate 95. The nearest town by the census map is Yerington, 5 miles away.
Get a Nevada hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Nevada are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Nevada included.
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 203, 291 Black bear 192, 194 - 196, 201 - 204, 206, 291 Mule deer 203