Wyoming Whitetail Deer

Unit 138 (Goshen Hole / South Niobrara)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Whitetail Deer

Area 138 covers the Goshen Hole area and southern Niobrara County terrain, where the Niobrara River valley broadens as it approaches Nebraska. This is agricultural whitetail country with cottonwood river bottoms, hay meadows, and dry-land wheat fields. Hunting pressure is modest, and the combination of food and cover in the valley bottom produces reliable deer concentrations.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 138

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 138

Whitetail deer in Area 138 concentrate in the Niobrara River valley bottom where cottonwood cover and agricultural fields provide ideal year-round habitat.

River Valley Bottom

The Niobrara River valley bottom is the primary deer factory in this unit. Dense cottonwood groves and willow thickets along the river banks provide bedding cover, and the adjacent hay meadows and crop fields supply consistent forage. Deer are predictable in this habitat — they bed in the timber and move to the fields at low light.

Tributary Draws

The drainages entering the Niobrara valley from the surrounding plateaus carry deer from the uplands down to the river bottom. These draws are natural travel corridors, especially during the rut when bucks range widely between doe groups in the valley.

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 138

Area 138 whitetail hunting is classic agricultural river-bottom hunting in a lightly pressured unit near the Nebraska border.

Field Edge Stands

The most consistent strategy in Area 138 is positioning stands on the downwind edge of hay or crop fields adjacent to the Niobrara River timber. Deer enter these fields reliably at low light, and the flat valley terrain provides clear shooting lanes. Set up at least an hour before last light during the pre-rut and rut.

Timber Penetration

During midday, deer retreat deep into the cottonwood timber along the river. Still-hunting through this timber is possible but challenging. A better approach is to wait on the field edges for evening feeding movement rather than pushing deer out of the timber mid-day.

Rut Cruising

November rut activity brings bucks into open areas between doe groups. Drive the county roads bordering the Niobrara valley at dawn to spot cruising bucks, then plan a stalk from the road.

Pro Members Only

Unlock tactics for Area 138

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Success rate data not yet available for this species in this unit.

Area 138 offers reliable whitetail harvest in the Niobrara River valley. Hunters with field-edge access during the October-November rifle season see the best success rates. The lightly pressured unit produces predictable deer behavior.

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	40	62	64.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Whitetail tags in Area 138 are accessible for non-residents. The remote Goshen Hole location and modest application pressure keep draw requirements low for this southeastern Wyoming whitetail unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Wyoming Area 138 in?

Area 138 is primarily in Niobrara County along the Nebraska state line, covering the Goshen Hole area and the Niobrara River valley bottom. Lusk is the nearest service town.

Is Area 138 mostly private or public land?

Mostly private agricultural and ranch land. The Niobrara River corridor has some BLM parcels, but the majority of productive whitetail habitat requires landowner permission. Contact area ranchers before the season to secure access.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Wyoming Deer Hunting — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit boundaries, Season dates, License quotas · accessed 2026-04-18
WGFD Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: License structure, Season proclamations · accessed 2026-04-18