Texas Animal List: Full Roster

Plan your Texas hunt with the full 18-species Hunting Simulator 3 animal list, grouped by big game, predators, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl.

Texas Animal List at a Glance

Texas is one of the two launch reserves in Hunting Simulator 3, and its 18-species roster is the main reason to pack for the Lone Star State. If you want the complete Hunting Simulator 3 animal list for Texas in one place, this guide lays out every confirmed species, groups them by hunting style, and shows how the map fits beside Colorado. The full Hunting Simulator 3 animal list matters because target choice shapes your gear, route, and session length before you ever raise the rifle. Use this breakdown to plan a focused hunt instead of wandering the reserve and hoping something crosses your scope.

#SpeciesGroupField Note
1American pronghornHoofed big gameOpen-plains icon and a headline Texas target
2Collared peccaryHoofed big gameJavelina with a bright chest band; arid-country animal
3AoudadHoofed big gameBighorn-like sheep with longer front hair and less curl
4Texas bobcatPredatorCompact, fierce cat
5Texas plains coyotePredatorClassic plains predator
6NilgaiHoofed big gameLarge imported antelope with short horns
7Scimitar-horned oryxHoofed big gameImported antelope with blade-like horns
8Desert bighorn sheepHoofed big gameFull-curl sheep in desert terrain
9Black-tailed prairie dogSmall gameTiny colony target and a natural small-caliber pick
10Desert cottontailSmall gameBasic rabbit; also appears on the Colorado map
11Rio Grande turkeyUpland birdTexas turkey and an American-map staple
12PheasantUpland birdFamiliar upland bird that returns in the roster
13Montezuma quailUpland birdQuail option for upland bird sessions
14Texas white-tailed deerHoofed big gameIconic deer and a classic Texas hunt
15Feral pigHoofed big gameWild hog; the second pig option on the map
16Desert mule deerHoofed big gameDesert deer and a strong alternative to whitetail
17Northern pintailWaterfowlDuck species in the Texas bird block
18BuffleheadWaterfowlCompact duck with a big-headed profile

Eighteen species is a substantial roster for a single reserve, and it covers far more than deer. You get open-plains pronghorn, imported hoofed animals, two predators, two small mammals, three upland birds, and two waterfowl options. That range is why the Texas map feels different from a straightforward big-game reserve. This Hunting Simulator 3 animal list is a roster guide, not a spawn map. It tells you what is confirmed on the Texas map; it does not promise that every species is equally common or easy to find. The reserve is one of two base-game maps at launch, alongside Colorado.

How the 18 Species Break Down

Using broad hunting categories, the Texas roster divides cleanly into five groups. The balance is unusually broad for one map, and it gives you a reason to change weapons and pace instead of repeating the same stalk.

GroupCountSpecies ExamplesWhat It Means for Your Hunt
Hoofed or large-bodied9Pronghorn, peccary, aoudad, nilgai, oryx, bighorn, whitetail, feral pig, mule deerHalf the roster supports traditional big-game play
Predators2Texas bobcat, Texas plains coyoteDedicated predator sessions are viable
Small game2Black-tailed prairie dog, desert cottontailLightweight sessions and small-caliber practice
Upland birds3Rio Grande turkey, pheasant, Montezuma quailA full bird trip is possible without leaving Texas
Waterfowl2Northern pintail, buffleheadDuck-focused hunts round out the bird block

Nine of the 18 species are hoofed or large-bodied targets, so half the roster supports traditional big-game play. The other half is split between predators, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl, which gives you a reason to vary your approach. Five of the 18 are birds, with three upland species and two waterfowl species, so bird hunting is not a side note on this map.

The Hunting Simulator 3 animal list also shows where the map’s identity comes from. Texas is not just a deer reserve; the imported nilgai and scimitar-horned oryx sit beside aoudad and desert bighorn, while prairie dogs and cottontails cover the small-game end. That mix rewards hunters who like to swap between careful big-game approaches and quick, lightweight sessions.

Texas vs. Colorado: Reading the Two Launch Rosters

Texas carries 18 species, while Colorado’s 19-species reserve carries one more, and the two maps are not interchangeable. Colorado is where you go for its confirmed exclusive trio: elk, gray wolf, and bison are Colorado-exclusive, so no amount of Texas scouting will produce them. Texas is the confirmed home of the American pronghorn in this launch pair, and it carries the imported hoofed species that define its roster.

ReserveSpecies CountConfirmed ExamplesBest Reason to Visit
Texas18Pronghorn, nilgai, scimitar-horned oryx, Rio Grande turkeyImported hoofed animals plus a broad bird and small-game mix
Colorado19Elk, gray wolf, bison, jackrabbit, American black bearThe confirmed Colorado-exclusive large-game trio

The overlap is limited. The desert cottontail is confirmed on both maps, but you should not assume the rest of the Texas roster transfers to Colorado. Compared with the Colorado Hunting Simulator 3 animal list, Texas has a different center of gravity: pronghorn, imported hoofed species, and a clear bird block. If you want the elk-wolf-bison trio, plan time in Colorado. If you want pronghorn and the Texas hoofed mix, stay on this reserve.

Field Plan: How to Work Through the Roster

Work through the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list in blocks instead of chasing every species at once. Pick one category, plan a route around the terrain clue in the species name, and finish the session with a clear goal. The five-step plan below keeps a long roster from turning into aimless wandering.

StepActionWhy It Helps
1Choose a category before you leave campPrevents gear and route conflicts
2Read the species name for terrain clues“Desert” and “plains” narrow your search
3Give birds their own sessionFive bird species deserve focused time
4Use small game as a change of pacePrairie dogs and cottontails break up big-game stalks
5Log each species you takeTurns the roster into a clear completion plan

Target Picks by Play Style

If You EnjoyStart WithWhy It Fits
Classic deer huntingTexas white-tailed deerAn iconic deer and a clear starting point
Open-country glassingAmerican pronghornA plains icon with a distinctive profile
Exotic hoofed gameNilgai or scimitar-horned oryxImported, large-bodied, and visually distinct
Predator sessionsTexas bobcat or Texas plains coyoteTwo dedicated predator targets
Small-game plinkingBlack-tailed prairie dogTiny target and a natural small-caliber pick
Bird huntingRio Grande turkey, pheasant, Montezuma quail, pintail, buffleheadFive bird species across upland and waterfowl

The table above is a starting point, not a tier list. A target that fits one player’s pace may feel wrong for another, and the roster does not attach difficulty ratings to each species. Use the picks to choose a first session, then adjust based on what you actually find.

  • Give birds their own trip. Five of the 18 species are birds, so treating them as a side note leaves a big part of the roster untouched.
  • Use small game as a palate cleanser. Prairie dogs are tiny targets and a natural fit for small-caliber practice.
  • Save the imported hoofed animals for a focused session. Nilgai and scimitar-horned oryx are large-bodied, distinctive targets that deserve your full attention.
  • Check both deer options. Texas white-tailed deer and desert mule deer give you two different deer hunts on the same map.
  • Do not ignore the second pig. Feral pig sits alongside collared peccary, so pig hunters have two entries to work with.

What the Roster Does and Doesn’t Tell You

The Hunting Simulator 3 animal list confirms which species are present, but it does not hand you spawn zones, population density, or a guaranteed route. Treat every habitat hint as a starting clue rather than a coordinate. A desert bighorn name points you toward desert terrain; it does not tell you which ridge to glass. Likewise, the roster does not rank species by difficulty or value. You will not find a built-in order that says which animal to hunt first, so build your own progression from the categories.

That is especially useful if you want to alternate between slow big-game stalks and active bird sessions. Start with a category that matches your available time: a short session suits prairie dogs or cottontails, while a longer session gives you room to work through pronghorn, nilgai, or desert mule deer. Do not pad your expectations with assumptions about rarity. The confirmed list is the reliable part; everything else comes from time on the map.

FAQ

Is this the full Hunting Simulator 3 animal list for Texas?

Yes. The Texas reserve roster contains 18 species, from the American pronghorn to the bufflehead. This Hunting Simulator 3 animal list covers every species shown for the map, including big game, predators, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl.

Which Texas species also appear in Colorado?

Only a few cross over. The desert cottontail is one confirmed example, so do not assume the rest of the Texas roster is shared with Colorado.

What is the best first target on the Hunting Simulator 3 animal list?

For a classic start, try the Texas white-tailed deer. If you want small-game practice, the desert cottontail is a straightforward pick. For a more ambitious session, choose nilgai or scimitar-horned oryx and give that target your full attention.

Are elk, gray wolf, and bison on the Texas map?

No. Those three are confirmed Colorado-exclusive species. The Texas map has 18 species of its own, including pronghorn, nilgai, aoudad, desert bighorn sheep, and Rio Grande turkey.