NDOW Wildlife Management Areas

The State of Nevada through the 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. The primary management emphasis on WMAs is the protection of wetlands and waterfowl including the use of the areas as public hunting grounds. Hunting opportunities for sportsmen on WMAs include migratory game bird, upland game bird, furbearer and big game hunting. Below is a table of restrictions associated with each of the wildlife management areas. Please review this table and the accompanying list of hunt and use restrictions on wildlife management areas before hunting in these areas.

Restrictions on Use of Firearms and Ammunition

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, the discharging of a rifle or pistol is prohibited on the following wildlife management areas:
   1. Overton in Clark County.
   2. Key Pittman in Lincoln County.
   3. Wayne E. Kirch in Nye County.
   4. Scripps in Washoe County.
   5. Mason Valley in Lyon County.
2. Deer may be hunted on the Mason Valley and Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Areas only by persons using:
   1. Shotguns and rifled shotgun slugs or shotgun rounds with sabots that contain a single expanding projectile; or
   2. 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.

3. 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.
4. The use or possession of shells for a shotgun containing shot that is toxic or larger than standard-size T is prohibited on the following wildlife management areas:
   1. Overton in Clark County.
   2. Key Pittman in Lincoln County.
   3. Wayne E. Kirch in Nye County.
   4. Scripps in Washoe County.
   5. Mason Valley in Lyon County.
   6. Fernley in Lyon County.
   7. Alkali Lake in Lyon County.
   8. Humboldt in Churchill and Pershing Counties.
   9. Steptoe Valley in White Pine County.
   10. Franklin Lake in Elko County.
5. 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.
6. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to persons authorized by the Department to use rifles and pistols for the control of predatory animals and rodents.
7. For the purposes of this section, all shot shall be deemed toxic unless it has been approved as nontoxic by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R. § 20.134.

(Refer to NAC 504.135)

Restrictions on Entry into Certain Areas

Between February 15 and August 15 a person shall not enter, occupy, use or be upon the following portions of Wildlife Management Areas:

1. Scripps: that portion of which lies south of Little Washoe Lake, as posted.
2. Key Pittman: that portion of Nesbit Lake north of the old fence line.
3. Wayne E. Kirch: the upper portion of Adams-McGill, Cold Springs, Dacey and Haymeadow reservoirs, as posted and all of Tule reservoir.
4. Mason Valley: the eastern portion of the main developed area, as posted.

Between March 1 and August 1 a person shall no enter, occupy, use or be upon the following portions of Wildlife Management Area:

1. Overton: the Honey Bee Pond and the Center Pond.

(Refer to NAC 504.120)

Restrictions on Deer Hunting in Particular Areas; Prohibition on Use or Possession of Certain Shotgun Rounds in Particular Areas.

1. In the fenced or cultivated lands of the Smith and Mason Valleys, in the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area and in the zones within the Fort Churchill State Historic Park and the Lahontan State Recreation Area that are designated for hunting by the Administrator of the Division of State Parks of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
   1. Deer may be hunted only with:
      1. A shotgun no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge, using:
         1. Rifled slugs; or
         2. Shotgun rounds with sabots that contain rifled slugs or a single expanding projectile; or
      2. A bow and arrow.
   2. The use or possession of shotgun rounds with sabots that contain other than rifled slugs or a single expanding projectile is prohibited.
2. A shotgun that is used to hunt deer pursuant to subsection 1 may be equipped with a smoothbore barrel or a barrel that is partially or fully rifled.
3. In the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area:
   1. 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, pursuant to NRS 236.015;
      3. November 11, Veteran’s Day as observed;
      4. Thanksgiving Day; and
      5. Family Day, as declared pursuant to NRS 236.015.
   2. Deer may be hunted only with bow and arrow during the season set for the archery hunt for deer.

(Refer to NAC 503.170)

Construction and Use of Hunting Blinds; Use of Decoys

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, a person may construct a hunting blind on any wildlife management area if the Department has no obligation to protect a privately constructed blind or to arbitrate the use or priority of use of such a blind. A blind to be constructed must:
   1. Be temporary and portable;
   2. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) be constructed of lumber, screen, fabric, synthetic material or native vegetation; and
   3. In the Kirch, Steptoe Valley and Mason Valley Wildlife Management Areas, be constructed of native vegetation, removable fabric, or a synthetic material that is of a temporary nature.
2. A group of persons may construct a blind only after the supervisor of the wildlife management area has approved the plans for the blind.
3. Sunken blinds, and barrels and boxes used as sunken blinds, must be covered when not in use to prevent the entrapment of animals.
4. The use of a sink box is prohibited.
5. A blind may not be locked or reserved for the use of a particular person or group of persons.
6. The Department may:
   1. Prohibit the construction of a hunting blind if it is detrimental to a wildlife management area or portion thereof.
   2. Designate a hunting blind on a wildlife management area as intended for the use of persons with physical handicaps pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 to 12213, inclusive, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
7. A person may use decoys on a wildlife management area so long as the decoys are not left set up in the field between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

(Refer to NAC 504.160)

Control of Vehicular Travel

1. Vehicular travel within a wildlife management area may be controlled for operation of the area, for public use and to benefit the public and wildlife resources. Such control may include specifying parking areas, closing interior roads or trails to vehicular travel and prohibiting travel beyond designated points.
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, it is prohibited, within a wildlife management area, to operate a motor vehicle:
   1. Off an interior road or trail that is designated for vehicular travel; or
   2. On an interior road or trail that is marked as closed to vehicular travel.

(Refer to NAC 504.115)

Denial of Use of Area for Abuse or Littering of Area

The Department may deny further use of the management area to any person who abuses or litters the area.

(Refer to NAC 504.155)

Removal of Persons from Area: Authority; Ground

The Department or an authorized agent may remove a person from a wildlife management area for disorderly conduct, intoxication or any other conduct which endangers the area, a person, wildlife or livestock.

(Refer to NAC 504.110)