Goshen Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Goshen Wildlife Area is 523 acres of public hunting land in Lucas County, 2 miles from Derby, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,660 deer in Lucas County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landGoshen Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 523 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lucas County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Chariton River Bottom |
| DNR contact | Rathbun Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Derby (2 mi), Lucas (5 mi) and Woodburn (6 mi) |
What is Goshen Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as chariton river bottom.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Goshen Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and quail for Goshen Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Goshen Wildlife Area?
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around Goshen Wildlife Area?
Goshen Wildlife Area lies in Lucas County. Hunters reported 1,660 deer in Lucas County in 2025, against 1,761 in 2024.
| County | Goshen Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas County | 523 | 1,660 | 1,761 | 1,845 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Goshen Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Derby (2 miles), Lucas (5 miles), Woodburn (6 miles) and Humeston (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 65 and US 34.
What other public land is near Goshen Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Stephens State Forest - Whitebreast Unit: 3,669 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Lucas Unit: 1,208 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Woodburn Unit: 2,120 acres, 2 miles away
- Barber Woods: 35 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Cinder Marsh: 59 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Wolf Hollow Wildlife Area: 40 acres, 6.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Goshen Wildlife Area
Counting Goshen Wildlife Area itself, 4,844 of the 29,787 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 4,753 |
| County conservation board and city land | 77 |
| Other DNR land | 14 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Goshen Wildlife Area?
In Lucas County, 2 miles from Derby.
What can you hunt on Goshen Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and quail.
How much public land is around Goshen Wildlife Area?
4,844 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Goshen Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Stephens State Forest - Whitebreast Unit (0.5 miles).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.