Mud Lake WMA consists of 11,468 acres and surrounds Mud Lake, a 4,500 acre lake found in Jefferson County. Two deep marsh units and numerous shallow flooded wetlands contain vital stopover habitat and nesting habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. An important waterfowl nesting area of the WMA is closed to all watercraft from April 1 – July 15.

March and April are excellent times to view large numbers of Snow and Canada Geese, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, and many duck species. Franklin’s Gull, White-faced Ibis, and Double-crested Cormorant all nest colonially on the WMA. During spring and summer, common species include Western, Pied-billed, and Eared Grebes, Willet, American Coot, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Canvasback, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Cinnamon, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, Ring-billed and California Gulls, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Western WoodPewee, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, and Great Horned and Short-eared Owls. Songbird and shorebird numbers peak in May and common migrants include Wilson’s and MacGillivray’s Warblers, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Spotted, Western, Least, Baird’s, and Pectoral Sandpipers, Longbilled Dowitcher, and Wilson’s Phalarope. In winter, look for Bald and Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk, and Northern Goshawk. Greater SageGrouse and Gray Partridge can be seen year-round.

DIRECTIONS: I-15 Exit #143; W 7 mi on ID 33; R (N) at mp 51.7 on 1800 E; in 1.8 mi, the rd forks; take L fork and continue N; at 3 mi, just after crossing Camas Ck, turn (W) onto E 1800 N; travel 0.2 mi to 1775 E/N Lake Refuge Rd and turn RN; travel another mile to E 1900 N; turn (W) and travel past 1750 E to Mud Lake WMA’s east entrance.