Hunting Simulator 3 Animal List: All 37 Species in Both Reserves

The complete Hunting Simulator 3 animal list features 37 confirmed species across Colorado and Texas, including big game, predators, and waterfowl.

The complete Hunting Simulator 3 animal list includes 37 huntable wildlife species split across two launch reserves: Colorado with 19 species and Texas with 18 species. Developed by Nacon Studio Ghent and published by Nacon, the game features big game, apex predators, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl governed by an ecosystem simulation engine known as SimFauna.

Both maps showcase a distinct lineup of native and exotic game, ranging from Rocky Mountain elk and Great Plains bison in the alpine drainages of Colorado to nilgai and scimitar-horned oryx across the arid scrublands of Texas.

Colorado Reserve Animal List (19 Species)

The Colorado map spans rugged mountains, forested valleys, and river plains. Official announcements and early access playtests confirm 19 distinct species roaming this reserve.

Species	Wildlife Class	Notable In-Game Observations
Rocky Mountain Elk	Big Game	Travel in herds; bulls feature branching antlers and responded to elk calls in testing
Great Plains Bison	Big Game	Massive body sizes; harvested cleanly with heavy calibers such as .300 Win Mag
Rocky Mountain Mule Deer	Big Game	Found around hills and lookouts; bucks display asymmetric antler variations
White-tailed Deer	Big Game	Responsive to deer calls; alerts quickly when running
Bighorn Sheep	Big Game	Inhabit steep mountain drainages; distinct horn curl and body scale differences between rams and ewes
American Black Bear	Large Predator	Can charge aggressively when startled; .243 is classified as unethical, requiring heavier calibers like .308
North American Cougar / Mountain Lion	Predator	Capable of stalking and charging hunters; tags can be purchased in advance
Gray Wolf	Predator	Hunts in packs; will attack if surprised; taking down aggressive wolves requires careful shot placement
Bobcat	Small Predator	Elusive, compact predator found across western habitats
Red Fox	Small Predator	Agile small carnivore spotted navigating open clearings
Black-tailed Jackrabbit	Small Game	Fast-moving quarry with long ears and hind legs
Cottontail Rabbit	Small Game	Burrows into holes when startled; huntable with bows, small calibers, or shotguns
Canada Goose	Waterfowl	Visits static water zones; licenses observed allowing up to 10 harvests per tag bundle
American Black Duck	Waterfowl	Flocks near lakes and ponds; retrievable by trained hunting dogs
Green-winged Teal	Waterfowl	Small, colorful duck found on ponds and small waterways
Common Pheasant	Upland Bird	Roams brush and open meadows; standard upland target
Chukar Partridge	Upland Bird	Vocal game bird inhabiting rocky hillsides and camp peripheries
Scaled Quail	Upland Bird	Features a prominent head tuft; frequents dry brush areas
Mourning Dove	Bird	Produces distinct early-morning calls across field areas

Texas Reserve Animal List (18 Species)

The Texas reserve shifts focus to arid outback plains, canyons, and ranches. It introduces unique imported exotics alongside classic southwestern game across 18 confirmed species.

Species	Wildlife Class	Notable In-Game Observations
American Pronghorn	Big Game	High-speed ungulates grazing open grasslands and plains
Desert Bighorn Sheep	Big Game	Adapted to rocky canyons; mature rams carry heavy spiraled horns
Desert Mule Deer	Big Game	Distinct desert ecotype with large, heat-dissipating ears
Texas White-tailed Deer	Big Game	Common game animal found throughout brushlands and oak savannas
Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)	Big Game / Exotic	Caprine species with backwards-curving horns and long throat hair
Nilgai	Big Game / Exotic	Large, dark blue-gray antelope with stocky builds and short horns
Scimitar-Horned Oryx	Big Game / Exotic	Large desert antelope sporting long, curved, sword-like horns
Collared Peccary (Javelina)	Small Game / Pig	Omnivorous herd animals identified by a pale collar around the neck
Feral Pig / Texas Hog	Medium Game	Common wild hog inhabiting wetland fringes, swamps, and brush
Texas Plains Coyote	Predator	Vocal predator roaming open prairies and canyon flats
Texas Bobcat	Small Predator	Carnivorous ambush hunter pursuing rodents and rabbits
Black-tailed Prairie Dog	Small Game	Colonial rodents that emit sharp alarm barks; targetable with small calibers
Desert Cottontail	Small Game	Compact rabbit species adapted to arid terrain
Rio Grande Turkey	Upland Bird	Iconic game bird sporting bronze highlights and long legs
Texas Pheasant (Plain Chachalaca)	Upland Bird	Slender game bird with rounded wings and a elongated tail
Montezuma Quail	Upland Bird	Ground-dwelling bird featuring striking black-and-white facial markings
Northern Pintail	Waterfowl	Large migratory duck featuring a pointed tail and white neck stripe
Bufflehead	Waterfowl	Diving waterfowl identified by a bright white head patch and blue bill

How SimFauna and Herd Management Work

Wildlife in Hunting Simulator 3 does not follow static, scripted spawn patterns. The developer-designed SimFauna system tracks each animal as an active component of an evolving population.

Need Zones and Daily Routines: Animals cycle between feeding zones, bedding grounds, and water sources. Locating these zones allows hunters to intercept herds during specific times of day.
Age and Genetics: Every individual animal possesses genetic potential ratings (low, medium, or high) alongside tracked ages, ranging from 1-year-old spikes to 10-year-old mature males.
Selective Culling: Harvesting low-potential or older animals removes weaker genetics from the local population. According to developer showcases, maintaining balanced ecosystems encourages future generations to produce higher trophy scores.
Rare Fur Variations: Population pools can spawn rare visual variations. Pre-release materials and gameplay captures have demonstrated albino white-tailed deer, albino black bears, albino wolves, and melanistic wolves.

Hunting Licenses, Caliber Ethics, and Harvest Scores

Hunting legally in both reserves requires purchasing species-specific licenses and tags before heading into the field.

Tag Quotas: Licenses establish harvest limits. In gameplay demonstrations, licenses permitted specific harvest counts, such as 4 tags for bison, 6 tags for black bear, 8 tags for bighorn sheep, and 10 tags for Canada geese.
Caliber Matching: Using an improper weapon triggers an unethical caliber penalty or score reduction. Early access tests show that small calibers like the .243 Winchester are ethical for mule deer and wolves, but classified as unethical for large game like black bears, which require rounds like the .308 or .300 Win Mag.
Scoring Tiers: Harvested animals receive two distinct evaluations: an Animal Score based on anatomical measurements, horns, or weight, and a Hunter Score based on shot accuracy, distance, and ethical weapon usage. Ratings scale across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers.
Butcher Objectives: The local butcher shop provides commercial contracts. Players can turn in clean kills with minimal meat damage (such as keeping meat damage below 70%) to receive payout rewards and hunting credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many total animals are in Hunting Simulator 3?

The game features 37 confirmed animal species at launch, divided into 19 species on the Colorado map and 18 species on the Texas map.

Are there predatory attacks from animals in the game?

Yes. Both playtests and trailers show that predators, including cougars, black bears, and gray wolves, can stalk and actively charge the player when startled or agitated.

Can dogs assist with hunting every animal?

Hunters can deploy trained hunting dogs, including Labradors, American Foxhounds, and Bluetick Hounds. Commands directed through the command wheel instruct dogs to track blood trails, locate fresh tracks, or fetch and retrieve small game and downed waterfowl.