Hunting Simulator 3 features two massive open-world launch reserves: Colorado and Texas. Developed by Nacon Studio Ghent on Unreal Engine 5, each reserve spans tens of square kilometers—with retailer and community listings citing 100 square kilometers (approximately 39 square miles) per map—offering distinct ecosystems, dynamic weather conditions, and dedicated regional wildlife.
Across both launch environments, players encounter 37 confirmed base-game animal species governed by the SimFauna dynamic simulation system, which models realistic animal routines, herd health, aging, and response to hunting pressure. Moving between reserves requires utilizing the central hunting club helicopter, while on-the-ground exploration relies on foot travel and licensed off-road vehicles.
Colorado Reserve Overview, Biomes, and Wildlife
The Colorado reserve focuses on the Rocky Mountains, featuring dramatic verticality, elevation shifts, alpine streams, and dense timber. Developer updates confirm the map was reconstructed using real-world photography, satellite data, and documentary reference footage to recreate realistic western habitats.
Colorado is split into seven distinct biomes, each dictating hunting strategy and visibility:
- Alpine: Rugged, high-altitude terrain with sparse vegetation and sweeping panoramic sightlines, suited for long-range glassing.
- Turf Zones: Moist lowland wetlands rich in visible animal tracks, designed for patient stalking on foot.
- Lodgepole: Tall, narrow pine stands offering dense cover for game and severely restricted sightlines.
- Aspen: Autumnal forest zones filled with golden foliage, moderate slope inclines, and lighter ground brush.
- Grasslands: Wide open meadows featuring placed hunting blinds, ideal for long-distance rifle shots.
- Shrubland: Intermediate transition zones between meadows and heavy timber, featuring low bushes and patchy concealment.
- Spruce Forests: Dark, dense evergreen woods that provide heavy shelter for large predators and game, requiring close-quarters tracking.
The Colorado map hosts 19 confirmed animal species across big game, predators, upland birds, and waterfowl:
| Species Name | Animal Category | Primary Habitat Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bighorn Sheep | Big Game | Rocky ridges and alpine inclines |
| Rocky Mountain Elk | Big Game | Aspen forests, spruce timber, and clearings |
| Rocky Mountain Mule Deer | Big Game | Hillsides, shrubland, and forest edges |
| White-tailed Deer | Big Game | Valleys, riverbeds, and aspen groves |
| Great Plains Bison | Big Game | Open meadows and grasslands |
| American Black Bear | Big Game / Predator | Spruce timber, dense cover, and feeding clearings |
| North American Cougar | Predator | Mountain bluffs and brushy valley margins |
| Gray Wolf | Predator | Timber stands, meadows, and open valleys |
| Bobcat | Small Predator | Rocky outcrops and shrubland cover |
| Red Fox | Small Predator | Grassland edges and transition brush |
| Jackrabbit | Small Game | Open meadows and lower hillsides |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Small Game | Valley floors, burrows, and brush near water |
| Common Pheasant | Upland Bird | Grassland brush and low ground cover |
| Mourning Dove | Upland Bird | Open country and woodland margins |
| Scaled Quail | Upland Bird | Brushy terrain and dry valley flats |
| Chukar Partridge | Upland Bird | Rocky slopes and sparse brush |
| American Black Duck | Waterfowl | Lakes, marshes, and riverbanks |
| Green-winged Teal | Waterfowl | Shallow waterways and wetland pools |
| Canada Goose | Waterfowl | Open water, wetlands, and flight corridors |
Texas Reserve Overview, Regions, and Wildlife
The Texas reserve shifts focus to the American South and Southwest, blending subtropical moisture with arid plateaus. Official developer overviews establish that the Texas terrain avoids flat, repetitive layouts by dividing the reserve into three major geographic regions:
- Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes: Low-lying, humid environments fed by flowing river systems, home to dense wetland vegetation and heavy waterfowl activity.
- Blackland Prairies: Rolling stretches of dark, fertile soil carpeted seasonally with native Texas Bluebonnets, providing clear sightlines across wide fields.
- Trans-Pecos: Arid western territory bordered by the Pecos River, characterized by steep rocky plateaus, desert shrub, sharp cacti, and sparse tree clusters.
Texas features 18 confirmed wildlife species, including native game, desert specialists, and introduced exotic ranch species:
| Species Name | Animal Category | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|
| American Pronghorn | Big Game | Plains runner adapted to open Blackland Prairies |
| Desert Bighorn Sheep | Big Game | Full-curled horns found across Trans-Pecos plateaus |
| Desert Mule Deer | Big Game | Arid-adapted deer suited to scrub and canyon terrain |
| Texas White-tailed Deer | Big Game | Brush-country variant of the whitetail deer |
| Nilgai | Big Game (Exotic) | Large-bodied Asian antelope established in southern range |
| Scimitar-horned Oryx | Big Game (Exotic) | Long, curved horn structure; historically ranched exotic |
| Aoudad (Barbary Sheep) | Big Game (Exotic) | Long front throat hair; inhabits rugged bluffs |
| Collared Peccary (Javelina) | Big Game / Small Hog | Banded chest marking; roams arid brush in packs |
| Feral Pig | Big Game | Destructive wild hog found in brush and low prairies |
| Texas Bobcat | Small Predator | Fierce, compact feline found in rocky brush |
| Texas Plains Coyote | Predator | Open-country canine roaming prairie borders |
| Black-tailed Prairie Dog | Small Game | Burrowing rodent found in open colony clusters |
| Desert Cottontail | Small Game | Compact rabbit found across scrub and desert brush |
| Rio Grande Turkey | Upland Bird | Popular game bird found along wooded river bottoms |
| Pheasant | Upland Bird | Upland game bird found across open prairie cover |
| Montezuma Quail | Upland Bird | Ground-dwelling bird common in arid uplands |
| Northern Pintail | Waterfowl | Distinctive duck species inhabiting marshes and waterways |
| Bufflehead | Waterfowl | Small, distinctively marked diving duck on open waters |
Comparing the Colorado and Texas Maps
Both reserves serve different hunting approaches, ranges, and tactical setups:
| Map Feature | Colorado Reserve | Texas Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Core Environment | Rocky Mountains, subalpine forests, wetlands | Prairies, marshes, and arid Trans-Pecos plateaus |
| Confirmed Sub-Biomes | 7 (Alpine, Turf, Lodgepole, Aspen, Grasslands, Shrubland, Spruce) | 3 (Gulf Coast Marshes, Blackland Prairies, Trans-Pecos) |
| Total Confirmed Species | 19 Species | 18 Species |
| Predator Threats | Cougar, Gray Wolf, Black Bear | Bobcat, Coyote (Cougar unconfirmed for Texas list) |
| Notable Exotics | None (Native North American species) | Scimitar-horned Oryx, Nilgai, Aoudad |
| Recommended Range Setup | Long-range rifle glassing and steep alpine stalking | Open prairie glassing, shotgun birding, and canyon stalks |
Navigation, Outposts, and Map Mechanics
Every hunting trip begins at the regional lodge or outpost compound. The lodge serves as your operational hub to access several critical features:
- Loadout Benches: Change primary rifles, shotguns, and compound bows, or mount suppressors, muzzle brakes, and bipods.
- Garages: Spawn licensed off-road vehicles including the Polaris Ranger EV, Kawasaki Mule Pro, Kawasaki Teryx, or Ford F-150 Raptor to travel across large distances quickly.
- Kennels: Select and manage your hunting dog, such as the Labrador Retriever (retrieves downed waterfowl and small game) or scent hounds (trail wounded blood tracks).
- Trophy Displays: Taxidermy harvested game onto customizable pedestals and plaques, tracking shot placement, organ damage, and animal weight.
- Butcher Shops: Take on specific community meat contracts that reward payouts based on clean harvests without excessive meat ruin.
Hunting regulations are enforced locally on both reserves. Before shooting an animal, hunters must purchase the appropriate regional license or species tag (such as a Colorado Cottontail or Whitetail tag) using in-game currency or earned vouchers.
To scout animals, players follow dynamic feeding, resting, and drinking need zones marked on their handheld GPS. Removing weak or low-genetics animals through selective culling directly influences the SimFauna ecosystem, improving the long-term quality of local herds and increasing the spawn rate of rare trophy specimens, such as melanistic or albino fur variants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hunting Simulator 3 Maps
How many maps are included in Hunting Simulator 3 at launch?
Hunting Simulator 3 includes two open-world maps at launch: Colorado and Texas. Players can fast travel between them via the hunting club helicopter.
How large are the maps in Hunting Simulator 3?
Official Steam documentation notes that the maps span tens of square kilometers. Store blog listings and retail technical descriptions confirm that each map covers 100 square kilometers.
Are vehicles allowed on every reserve?
Yes. Both maps feature garage access at the main lodge where you can spawn off-road vehicles like the electric Polaris Ranger UTV, Kawasaki models, and a Ford truck to quickly traverse rugged terrain.
Are there animals exclusive to specific maps?
Yes. Bighorn sheep, elk, bison, wolves, and black bears are exclusive to Colorado, while desert bighorn sheep, collared peccary, Rio Grande turkeys, and exotic game like nilgai and scimitar-horned oryx are exclusive to Texas. Only a few small game and bird species (such as pheasants and cottontails) appear across both maps.
