Yerington Monday: Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area

Yerington Monday: Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area

Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA) is located in north Mason Valley in Lyon County, seven miles north of Yerington. The property was purchased by the state in 1955 to develop wetlands for waterfowl. As the wetlands expanded, ponds and sloughs were created and were ideal for warmwater fish such as large mouth bass and catfish. With the completion of the Mason Valley Hatchery in 1990, a constant supply of water was ensured and led to the expansion of the Fish Series ponds.

Birding: On May 4, 2015 the Nevada Bird Count crew got in some more practice point counts at Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area, north of Yerington.  There along the river (they didn’t go into the wetlands areas), they found 45 species.  A fun morning!

American Avocet
American Kestrel
American Robin (carrying food)
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Bewick’s Wren
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher|
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock’s Oriole|
Bushtit
California Quail
Canada Goose
Double-crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eurasian Collared-Dove
European Starling
Gadwall
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Hairy Woodpecker
House Wren
Lark Sparrow
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove|
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Pine Siskin
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Snowy Egret
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Tree Swallow (nest-building)
Turkey Vulture
Violet-green Swallow
Western Bluebird
Western Kingbird
|Western Meadowlark
Western Tanager
White-faced Ibis
Wood Duck
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-headed Blackbird

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.

A slough in the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area

The Sceirine Ranch on the Mason Valley Wildlife Road in Yerington.

Ruddy Duck - Photo by Steve Ting

Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a large wetlands area surrounded by agricultural fields about 11 miles northeast of Yerington. The area is managed for waterfowl and has numerous dikes and extensive areas of buffaloberry.

May of Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area

Departing the MVWA heading towards Miller Lane

Mason Valley Fish Hatchery

North end of Lux Lane. It is about 3 miles to the camping area from the north end and much of it is washboard

Whether you’re after bass or trout, the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area offers a top-rated opportunity to catch sizable fish with a fly rod. Located just outside Yerington, Nevada, this 13,000-acre ranch is managed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife for waterfowl, deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, bass, and trout, among other wildlife. The trout grow fast here and the bass are plentiful. There are a total of 36 ponds in the wildlife area. Only four (Hinkson Slough, Bass Pond, Crappie Pond, and North Pond) are open to fishing. The other 32 ponds are closed to all trespass to permit undisturbed waterfowl nesting and rearing during spring and summer. Type of Fish: Rainbow, brown, and cuttbow trout; largemouth bass and sunfish. This eTrail covers the "where, when, and how" to fish in this region. You'll get a full-page map and information on the known hatches, suggested equipment to bring, and the best flies to use.

Wildlife Viewing Area

The main entrance at the south end of Lux Lane