U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Yellowthroat

Wildlife Management Area

This goose, designed

by J.N. “Ding” Darling,

is the symbol of the 

National Wildlife 

Refuge System.

About the Wildlife Management Area

Yellowthroat Wildlife Management Area 

(WMA) is managed as part of the National

Wildlife Refuge System by the Fort 

Niobrara / Valentine National Wildlife 

Refuges complex staff. Yellowthroat 

WMA is a 480-acre area managed for 

migratory birds. Our goal is to restore 

this former cropland to native prairie by 

using management techniques such as 

prescribed burning, grazing, weed 

control, water level 

manipulations, 

and planting native 

grasses. A variety of 

wildlife can be seen in 

the wetlands and 

grasslands, including the 

yellow-throated warbler for 

which the place is named.

General Regulations

State of Nebraska hunting and fishing 

regulations, seasons, bag limits, and 

license requirements apply. Additional 

wildlife management area specific 

regulations are outlined in this leaflet. 

Hours

Hunting hours are the same as those set 

in State regulations. Fishing and wildlife 

observation are permitted from 1⁄2-hour 

before sunrise to 1⁄2-hour after sunset. 

Access

Motor vehicles are permitted only on

access trails as shown on the map. 

Driving on the ice or off-road is 

prohibited.

Camping and Fires

Both camping and fires are prohibited on 

the WMA.

Regulations 

Boats

The use of internal combustion boat 

motors is prohibited. Boats propelled 

with oars, paddles, or electric motors 

may be used.

Bait

The use of live or dead minnows and 

the possession of any fish not taken 

from Yellowthroat WMA waters is 

prohibited. Frozen or dead smelt may 

be used as bait.

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing is permitted on all waters 

of the WMA. 

Open Water Fishing

Open water fishing is permitted on 

Yellowthroat Lake only. Yellowthroat 

Marsh is closed to open water fishing 

to protect nesting and migrating birds. 

Turtles, Frogs, and Minnows

Turtles, frogs, and minnows may not be 

taken except for bullfrogs.

Hunting Regulations

Non-toxic Shot

Steel or other non-toxic shot is required 

for all bird hunting on the WMA. 

Possession of lead shot in the field 

is prohibited. 

Firearms

Persons possessing, 

transporting, or 

carrying firearms 

on National Wildlife 

Refuge System lands 

must comply with all 

provisions of State and 

local law. Persons may 

only use (discharge) 

firearms in accordance 

with refuge regulations 

(50 CFR 27.42 and 

specific refuge 

regulations in 50 CFR 

Part 32).

Other Permitted Activities

Wildlife Observation 

During spring and fall migrations, large 

numbers of waterfowl are sometimes 

present. Bald eagles and prairie falcons 

have been seen here and prairie chickens 

are common. Bring binoculars, and come 

early in the morning or in the evening for 

the best viewing.

Wildlife Photography

There are no photography blinds 

on the area, but natural vegetation 

can be used for concealment to get 

good photos, especially of marsh and 

water birds. Portable blinds are 

permitted if removed each day. 

Accessibility

Equal opportunity to participate in and 

benefit from programs and activities 

of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is 

available to all individuals regardless 

of physical or mental ability. Dial 711 

for a free connection to the State relay 

service for TTY and voice calls to and 

from the speech and hearing impaired. 

For more information or to address 

accessibility needs, please contact 

the Refuge staff at 402 / 376 3789, or 

the U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C 

Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Miles

0 .25 .5

0 .25 .5

Kilometers

Access Road and Trail

To Hwy 7

N

Yellowthroat

Lake

Yellowthroat

Wildlife Management Area

Yellowthroat WMA boundary

Wetland Boat ramp

Yellowthroat

Marsh

83

20

183

97

12

7

Fort

Niobrara

NWR

Valentine

NWR

Valentine

Ainsworth

Johnstown

Wood

Lake

Long

Pine

Brownlee

Brown

County

Cherry

County

Yellowthroat

WMA

Elsmere

Niobrara Nat’l Scenic Riverway

SOUTH DAKOTA

NEBRASKA Crookston

Not to Scale

Boundary Sign

This sign marks the boundary of 

the Yellowthroat WMA. Consult 

with the Refuge Manager for 

specific regulations.

For Further Information: 

Fort Niobrara and Valentine 

National Wildlife Refuges 

39983 Refuge Road 

Valentine, NE 69201

402 / 376 3789

402 / 376 1889

fortniobrara@fws.gov 

http://www.fws.gov/fortniobrara

For State relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information 

1 800 / 344 WILD

August 2011