Deer Hunt Area 123, Yellowtail: harvest, draw results and public land
Deer Hunt Area 123 (Yellowtail) covers 38 square miles in WGFD's Cody Region and is 15.7% public land, most of it BLM (3,843 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates hunters took 15 mule deer (11.6% success for 129 mule deer hunters) and 10 white-tailed deer here. The 2026 season table lists 2 license rows here, including general license seasons.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WGFD reports for 2021 to 2025. Seasons: WGFD Commission Chapter 6, final April 2026. Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports. Land: PAD-US 4.1 and the Office of State Lands, read 2026-10-18.
BLMNational park (no general hunting)Area 123Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Cody Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Shoshone River (211); white-tailed deer: Bighorn Basin |
| Size | 38 square miles (24,511 acres) |
| Public land | 15.7% (3,843 acres) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 15 mule deer, 10 white-tailed deer |
| General license seasons, 2026 | Oct 15 to Oct 31 (Antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 7 |
| Special archery opens | September 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Lovell, Cowley and Byron |
How much public land is in Deer Area 123?
15.7% of deer Area 123 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 3,843 of 24,511 acres. The largest share is BLM, 3,843 acres or 15.7% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 123 |
|---|---|---|
| National park (no general hunting) | 6,500 | 26.5% |
| BLM | 3,843 | 15.7% |
6,500 acres are National Park Service land, where general hunting licenses are not valid.
WGFD access areas in Deer Area 123
Wildlife Habitat Management Area: Yellowtail (12,996 acres here). Hunter Management Area: Yellowtail (12,996 acres here). Walk-In Hunting: 1 area covering 286 acres of private land enrolled in WGFD's Access Yes program.
Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's hunt area boundary (WGFD deer hunt areas (2026)) from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land). Access areas: WGFD's WHMA, PAA, HMA and Walk-In boundaries. Wilderness: USFS wilderness boundaries as WGFD publishes them.
How many deer are harvested in Deer Area 123?
WGFD reports mule deer and white-tailed deer separately. Mule deer, 2025: 129 active hunters took 15 (11 bucks), 11.6% success. White-tailed deer, 2025: 148 active hunters took 10 (10 bucks), 6.8% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bucks | Does | Fawns | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 129 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 11.6% | 365 | 24.3 |
| 2024 | 122 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 9.8% | 307 | 25.6 |
| 2023 | 111 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 23.4% | 315 | 12.1 |
| 2022 | 113 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 14.2% | 284 | 17.8 |
| 2021 | 152 | 32 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 21.1% | 384 | 12.0 |
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bucks | Does | Fawns | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 148 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6.8% | 458 | 45.8 |
| 2024 | 194 | 54 | 35 | 19 | 0 | 27.8% | 856 | 15.9 |
| 2023 | 156 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 0 | 28.8% | 577 | 12.8 |
| 2022 | 167 | 40 | 32 | 8 | 0 | 24% | 662 | 16.6 |
| 2021 | 195 | 70 | 47 | 23 | 0 | 35.9% | 790 | 11.3 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 6 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 100% | 4 |
| General | not limited | 125 | 11 | 8.8% | 361 |
Source: WGFD 2025 deer harvest report, page 19 of the PDF; earlier years from 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021. An active hunter is one who hunted; the mule deer and white-tailed deer tables each count their own hunters, so they are not added together. Days per animal is worked out from WGFD's own two figures.
When is deer season in Deer Area 123 in 2026?
General license seasons: October 15 to 31 (antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer). Special archery seasons open September 1. Every row WGFD prints for Area 123:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 15 to Oct 31 | Antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer | |
| Type 7 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 15 to Nov 30 | 25 | Doe or fawn valid on private land |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 6 (final, April 2026), page 14. WGFD can change a season by emergency rule: check WGFD's regulations page before you go.
What did the 2026 draw look like in Deer Area 123?
From WGFD's 2026 initial drawing demand reports: each limited quota hunt's licenses, its first-choice applicants in each drawing, how many were drawn in the preference point drawings, and the fewest points that drew. WGFD does not publish how many drew in the random drawings. The rules for points and the deadlines are on the Wyoming draw page.
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 18 | 1 | not published | |
| Residents | 20 | 7 | not published |
Nonresidents hunt the general license here on WGFD's Region X general license. In the 2026 draw it had 134 licenses; 96 nonresidents put it first in the regular preference point drawing and 71 were drawn.
Source: WGFD 2026 deer demand report, nonresident reduced price drawing and the other 2026 demand reports on WGFD's draw results page. Applicants who miss in a nonresident preference point drawing go on to the random drawing, so one person can be counted in both.
How do you get to Deer Area 123?
Highways through the area: WY 37 (about 5 miles inside it). Nearby: Lovell (3 miles), Cowley (7 miles), Byron (9 miles) and Deaver (13 miles).
Which deer hunt areas border Area 123?
Deer Area 123 touches 3 other deer hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 52 | Crystal Creek | 152 | 76.4% | 42 (2025) |
| Area 53 | Devils Canyon | 230 | 87.5% | 70 (2025) |
| Area 122 | Shoshone River | 992 | 64.2% | 323 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Deer Area 123?
15.7% of deer Area 123 is public land: 3,843 of its 24,511 acres, the largest share BLM (3,843 acres). Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's boundary from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data.
How many deer are harvested in Deer Area 123?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 15 mule deer and 10 white-tailed deer were taken in deer Area 123. In 2024 the mule deer estimate was 12.
When does deer season open in Deer Area 123 in 2026?
The special archery season opens September 1. The earliest regular season row opens October 15 and the latest closes November 30, by WGFD Commission Chapter 6. Each license type has its own dates and limitations, listed on this page.
How many licenses were in the 2026 draw for Deer Area 123?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 1 limited quota hunt for deer Area 123. Type 7 had 38 licenses and 8 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Deer Area 123?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Lovell (3 miles), Cowley (7 miles) and Byron (9 miles).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: WGFD deer harvest reports (mule deer and white-tailed deer tables), 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 6 (final, April 2026), page 14.
- Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports; deadlines and fees on the Wyoming draw page.
- Hunt area boundary: WGFD deer hunt areas (2026). Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land). Highways and towns: Census TIGER/Line 2024 and the 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Numbers are copied from WGFD and the other agencies named, or measured by FilledTag from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag. WGFD's regulations are the final word on every rule.
Wyoming hunting Deer hunt areas Cody Region Area 52 Area 53 Area 122