The South Platte River between Fort Morgan and Sterling is known for quality whitetails. Mule deer make up less that 10% of the deer herd. There are numerous state lands that provide access to some excellent cover in a unit that is over 90% private.

The extreme floods of 2013 may have displaced many deer into Units 91 and 92, which are northeast of Unit 96, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. You must pay a trespass fee to access private land.

The South Platte River winds some 58 miles through the heart of this unit. Irrigated crops are on both sides of the river on fairly level fields. The elevation changes some 600 feet from the western edge to the eastern boundary.

River bottoms consist of Cottonwood, timbered banks and islands with willows, Russian olives and marsh grass are scattered along the length of the South Platte. Farmlands grow crops of corn, wheat and alfalfa with some prairie grasses, yucca and silver sage around the edges.

Sterling in the east and Fort Morgan in the south west have many restaurants, motels, fast food, gas, shopping and medical facilities for any hunters budget. There are many small communities that might provide gas or a small café. They are Atwood, Merino, Synder, Brush, Wiggins, Orchard and Weldona.

Interstate 76 forms the southern boundary and U.S. Highway 6, Country Road 7 and Colorado Route 114 mark the northern and western boundary. U.S. Highway 40 and Colorado Route 318 run along the southern border intersecting with County Road 21 which heads north along the Little Snake River creating the western boundary. County Road 19 heads north out of Maybell through the middle of the unit until it connects with Road 21. Wet weather turns dirt roads into deeply rutted, slippery mud trails that are almost impassable even with four-wheel-drive trucks and tire chains. ATVs are handy on primitive roads.

Much of the good habitat is private land, where ranchers and outfitters offer guided hunting trips. Private land prevents access to many public tracts. Some state lands known as the Raftopoulos Hunting Lease are controlled by a rancher/outfitter. The following state lands are open to public hunting. Locations, directions and restrictions are listed in Colorado State Recreation Lands and Colorado State Trust Lands.