Hunting Simulator 3 Animal List: Full Wildlife Guide for Texas and Colorado

Explore the complete Hunting Simulator 3 animal list. Learn about all huntable game across Texas and Colorado, tracking tips, and ideal weapon loadouts.

Stepping out into the untamed wilderness requires careful preparation, sharp instincts, and thorough knowledge of the local fauna. Whether you are glassing high ridgelines or creeping through brush-choked canyons, having the complete Hunting Simulator 3 animal list on hand ensures you never pack the wrong rifle for your target. As the franchise evolves with dynamic ecosystems and realistic wildlife behaviors, learning the verified Hunting Simulator 3 animal list across both launch maps—Colorado and Texas—gives you an immediate edge over elusive trophy game.

From high-altitude predators to exotic rangeland game, each map delivers a unique hunting experience. Below, you will find detailed breakdowns of every confirmed species across the game's diverse biomes, complete with tactical hunting tips and gear recommendations.

Launch Overview: Biomes and Species Count

Hunting Simulator 3 launches with two massive open-world hunting reserves set in North America: the rugged highlands of Colorado and the arid rangelands of Texas. Official developer updates shared on the Hunting Simulator 3 Steam Community Hub confirm that Colorado features 19 unique wildlife species, while launch details and community previews show Texas brings 18 distinct targets to stalk.

Reserve / Region	Confirmed Species Count	Dominant Biomes	Primary Big Game Focus
Colorado	19 Species	Pine forests, alpine peaks, rocky meadows	Rocky Mountain Elk, American Black Bear
Texas	18 Species	Arid plains, desert bluffs, thornscrub	Desert Bighorn, Pronghorn, Nilgai, Oryx

Having a split of 37 total animal slots across both base maps ensures extensive variety. While a few small-game staples share turf between both reserves, the vast majority of quarry requires dedicated loadouts and distinct tactical approaches.

Complete Texas Reserve Animal List

The Texas reserve is distinguished by its blend of native North American icons and introduced exotic species that roam the open plains and rocky canyons. Based on launch roster reveals and early gameplay breakdowns, the Texas reserve features 18 huntable animals ranging from tiny varmints to massive ungulates.

Big Game & Exotic Ungulates

Texas offers an exceptional mix of classic Western hunting and African-style plains game management. Stalking free-ranging exotic ungulates like the nilgai or the scimitar-horned oryx requires heavy calibers and steady long-range marksmanship.

Animal Name	Classification	Typical Habitat	Best Weapon Class
American Pronghorn	Big Game / Plains	Open grasslands, flat plains	Medium Rifle (.243 – .270 Win)
Collared Peccary (Javelina)	Medium Game	Brush thickets, arid washes	Carbine / Small Rifle (.223 – .243)
Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)	Big Game	Steep ridges, rocky canyon walls	Medium-to-Heavy Rifle (.270 – .308)
Nilgai	Large Game / Exotic	Rangeland, dense brush edges	Heavy Magnum (.300 Win Mag / .338)
Scimitar-Horned Oryx	Large Game / Exotic	Semi-arid flats, open savannas	Heavy Rifle (.308 Win / .30-06)
Desert Bighorn Sheep	Big Game / Trophy	High bluffs, rocky outcroppings	Medium-to-Heavy Rifle (.270 – .300)
Texas White-Tailed Deer	Medium-to-Big Game	River bottoms, mesquite woodland	Standard Hunting Rifle (.270 / .308)
Feral Pig	Medium Game	Creek drainages, brush country	Rifle or Slug Shotgun (.308 / 12ga)
Desert Mule Deer	Big Game	Rolling scrubland, canyon flats	Medium-to-Heavy Rifle (.270 / .30-06)

Predators, Varmints, and Small Game

Predator hunting requires patience, scent management, and callers. The Texas brush harbors quick-footed carnivores along with varmints suitable for target practice.

Animal Name	Role / Category	Behavior Profile	Recommended Gear
Texas Bobcat	Small Predator	Solitary, stealthy, ambush hunter	Predator Call, .223 Rem / Small Caliber
Texas Plains Coyote	Medium Predator	Pack-capable, skittish, vocal	Electronic Caller, .223 – .243 Rifle
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog	Varmint	Colony dweller, keen eyesight	.22 LR / .17 HMR Rimfire
Desert Cottontail	Small Game	Ground-dwelling, quick flusher	Small Game Shotgun (.410 / 20ga) or .22 LR

Texas Bird Species

Upland bird hunting and waterfowl shooting test your reflexes with shotguns across dry flats and water holes.

Bird Name	Habitat	Flush / Flight Pattern	Recommended Shotgun Gauge
Rio Grande Turkey	Open oak/mesquite flats	Ground roosting, fast runner, flush flier	12 Gauge Turkey Choke
Ring-Necked Pheasant	Agricultural edges, tall grass	Explosive vertical flush	12 or 20 Gauge (#4 – #6 Shot)
Montezuma Quail	Scrub foothills, grassy slopes	Tight-holding covey flush	20 or 28 Gauge (#7.5 – #8 Shot)
Northern Pintail	Ponds, stock tanks, wetlands	Fast, streamlined waterfowl flight	12 Gauge Waterfowl Steel Shot
Bufflehead	Lakes, deep water reservoirs	Rapid wingbeat, low dipping trajectory	12 Gauge Waterfowl Load

Studying this Texas lineup on the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list shows how dynamic this map is, catering equally to small-caliber varmint plinkers and heavy-rifle trophy hunters.

Complete Colorado Reserve Animal List

The Colorado map shifts focus to mountainous terrain, pine forests, and subalpine valleys. In this environment, your target species demand physical endurance, elevated glassing positions, and cold-weather tracking gear.

According to developer previews and community reports, Colorado boasts 19 animal species designed to test your stalking mechanics in extreme topographies.

Animal Group	Highlighted Species	Key Behaviors & Tracking Strategy
Apex Predators & Bears	American Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Coyote	Scent-sensitive; requires upwind stalking, lure calls, and powerful stopping rounds.
Mountain Ungulates	Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep	Roam alpine meadows at dawn; glass from ridges before descending to stalk.
Forest & Wetland Game	Moose, White-Tailed Deer	Patrol dense timber and willow marshlands; follow fresh scrape and rubbing markers.
Small Game & Varmints	Jackrabbit, Red Fox, Mountain Cottontail	Quick flushes through timber clearings; listen for rustling underbrush.
Upland Birds & Waterfowl	Mallard, Canadian Goose, Grouse species	Scout morning feeding zones near lakes and open forest perimeters.

Hunters exploring Colorado will find that animals display vertical migration habits depending on in-game weather systems and time of day, making altitude awareness a crucial part of the hunt.

Strategic Weapon Loadouts by Animal Tier

Carrying a balanced loadout ensures you stay within game regulations while preserving trophy integrity. Reviewing the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list highlights how dramatically target sizes vary, requiring specific weapon classes.

[Tier 1: Small Game / Birds]  --> Rimfire (.22 LR / .17 HMR) & Light Shotguns
[Tier 2: Predators / Varmints] --> Small Centerfire (.223 Rem / .243 Win)
[Tier 3: Mid-Sized Ungulates]  --> Standard Rifles (.270 Win / .308 Win / .30-06)
[Tier 4: Heavy Game / Exotics] --> Magnum Rifles (.300 Win Mag / .338 Lapua)

Class Tier	Typical Targets from Animal List	Primary Caliber Choice	Ideal Shot Placement
Class 1	Prairie Dog, Cottontail, Quail, Duck	.22 LR / 20-Gauge Shotgun	Center body / aerial lead
Class 2	Bobcat, Coyote, Javelina	.223 Remington / .243 Winchester	Broadside heart-lung or neck
Class 3	White-Tail, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Aoudad	.270 Win / .308 Winchester	Double lung behind the shoulder
Class 4	Elk, Black Bear, Nilgai, Scimitar Oryx	.30-06 / .300 Win Mag / .338	Shoulder bone break & lung vitals

Player experience suggests matching your hunting dog companion to your chosen tier. Pointing dogs excel at locating covert bird species such as the Montezuma quail, while hound breeds assist with blood tracking heavy game like nilgai through thick Texas brush.

Pro Hunting Tips for the Full Roster

Navigating the extensive Hunting Simulator 3 animal list successfully requires more than just decent aim. Use these field-tested practices to fill your trophy room efficiently:

Respect the Wind Direction: Animals like the American black bear and desert bighorn sheep boast incredible scent detection cones. Always monitor your wind indicator before approaching within 150 yards.
Glass Before Moving: In the wide-open valleys of Texas and high bluffs of Colorado, running spook-checks entire herds. Set up on elevated knolls with high-magnification binoculars during early morning feeding windows.
Utilize Decoys and Callers for Predators: Texas plains coyotes and bobcats respond aggressively to distress calls. Set up near low brush to break your silhouette and wait for the animal to commit.
Track Spook Flight Patterns: Waterfowl such as northern pintails and buffleheads follow set flight lines over waterways. Position yourself in blinds along standard flight corridors during morning transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many animals are featured on the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list at launch?

The game launches with a total of 37 animal species across its two base maps—19 species in the Colorado reserve and 18 species in the Texas reserve.

Are exotic animals included in the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list?

Yes. The Texas reserve specifically features imported, free-ranging game species such as nilgai, scimitar-horned oryx, and aoudad (Barbary sheep), reflecting the authentic wildlife diversity of modern Texas hunting estates.

Do small game and varmints appear on both maps?

Yes. Both Colorado and Texas feature a rich selection of small quarry, including jackrabbits, cottontails, and black-tailed prairie dogs, alongside dedicated upland birds and waterfowl.

What is the toughest trophy to take on the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list?

Early community feedback and hunting data identify large, heavily muscled species like the bull nilgai and the Rocky Mountain elk as the toughest targets to drop cleanly, requiring accurate long-range vital shots with magnum rifle rounds.