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 now totals 17,551 acres.
From desert shrub lands to wet meadows, the habitats of MVWMA support an abundance of fish and wildlife that contribute significantly to the biological diversity of western Nevada. The Walker River floodplain meanders through MVWMA, 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 MVWMA and gives shelter to many mammals including raccoon and mule deer.
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. Hunters with a valid turkey tag for the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area may hunt each day of the established turkey season. 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 guage 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: 1) Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays 2) Nevada Day as observed 3) November 11, Veteran's Day 4) Thanksgiving Day 5) Family Day (day after Thanksgiving).
The use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-sized T is prohibited.
The use of shotguns capable of holding more than three shells is prohibited unless it is plugged with a one piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun so its total capacity does not exceed three shells.
