Large Game Animals found in Texas

Physical Characteristics White tail Brown/grayish skin Antlers Hooves split in two Hollow hair

Habitat and Distribution The whitetail’s amazing adaptability allows it to live in virtually every region and climate of North American. Deer behavior differs slightly from region to region. Swamps, Pine Tree Plantations, Woodlots and Ridges and Plains. The white-tailed deer is the most abundant and most widely distributed big game animal in North America. It is the most common species in the Eastern half of Nebraska and is more abundant than mule deer even on some of the westernmost stream courses.

Interesting Facts Strict game-management measures have helped restore the white- tailed deer population. They use speed and agility to outrun predators, sprinting up to 30 miles per hour and leaping as high as 10 feet. Female deer give birth to one to three young at a time, usually in May or June and after a gestation period of seven months.

Laws and Regulations Hunting license needed Have to hunt in season Need to tag and report every deer you kill

Desert Mule Deer

Physical Characteristics Large ear 4-6 1/2 feet in length. Antlers 2 tines, spread up to 4 feet. Gray, brownish, white patch on the rump. Black tipped tail.

Habitat and Distribution Desert and Semi-arid regions

Pronghorn Antelope

Physical Characteristics Upper body and outer legs are tan or brown The chest and parts of the face are white The males have a black snout Have a horn coming out of the skull

Habitat and Distribution Live in grasslands, brush lands, sagebrush and deserts Range throughout all 4 deserts of the American Southwest

Unusual Characteristics Can run long distances They chew cud (partially digested food) Is the second fastest land mammal in the world

Interesting Facts Some animals have horns more than a foot long When startled raise the hair on their rumps to show a white warning patch Average life span is 11 years

Feeding and Natural Foods Eat grasses, sedges, silver sagebrush, and pasture sagwort

Hunting Techniques Active at all hours so you can hunt all day Their hearing and sense of smell are very good so be quite and make sure you get rid of your scent before you try to hunt.

Coyote

Physical Characteristics Looks like a small German shepherd Is typically 1 ½ to 2 feet tall and 20 to 50 pounds Colors are gray or a brownish rust-colored

Laws and Regulation There is no set hunting season so the coyote can be hunted year round with no limit

Feeding and Natural Foods Their main food source is mice and other rodents but also eat fruits, grasses, and vegetables They are not to picky so they will eat road kill and other dead animals

Bobcat

Physical Characteristics Long legs and large paws They are brown with a white underbelly and a short black-tipped tail

Habitat and Distribution There are between 725,000 and 1,000,000 bobcats living in the US Can be found in most parts of America but mostly the northern parts

Interesting Facts Get their name from their bobbed tail The bobcat is the most abundant wildcat in the U.S. Can leap over 10 feet

Feeding and Natural Foods They eat rabbits, mice, birds squirrels, and other small game Are able to kill and eat animals much larger than themselves

Records Largest bobcat on record weighed 48.9 pounds

Laws and Regulations All pelts sold and bought in Texas must have a pelt tag There is no closed season so they can be hunted at all times A hunting license is still required

Desert Big Horn Sheep

Physical Characteristics Has massive curling horns They are brown with a white rump patch Horns are present on both sexes

Habitat and Distribution Live in rocky, mountainous areas Mostly found in the rocky mountains and the Sierra Nevada

Unusual Characteristics The big horns are a sign of a males status and used to battle other rams Horns can weigh up to 30 pounds

Interesting Facts When fighting with each other they can ram into each other at 20 mph They birth their lambs on mountain sides to protect them from predators

Feeding and Natural Foods Graze on grasses and shrubs Get minerals through natural salt licks

Economic Impact and Eating Qualities Seen as a very desirable game animal by many hunters Not a very good eating animal Horns are seen as very valuable

Hunting Techniques Live in mountainous regions so you need to be prepared to hike through treacherous territories Very skittish so hunt them at a distance

Records World record scored a 208 3/8

Laws and Regulation Can only hunt in season which varies from state to state Since endangered have a very small tag limit

Mountain Lion

Physical Characteristics Slender Smallish head Noticeably long tail Light, tawny brown color fur

Habitat and Distribution Found in remote mountains Canyon lands Hilly areas are good with cover They are the wildest distribution of any wild cat, from Canada to South America.

Unusual Characteristics Dangerous predator around your home, pets, livestock and small children are particularly vulnerable

Interesting facts Sightings and evidence of cougars have been documented back to 1852 Mountain lions are most active at night and may travel as far as 25 miles in a single night in search of deer.

Economic Importance/Eating Qualities The pelt had little economic value, but was prized more as a trophy

Laws and Regulations Valid hunting license and required except in the case of depredation. Possession of a live mountain lion is illegal without required holding permits.

Feeding and Natural foods Ground squirrel Beaver Skunk Eastern cottontail Moose Elk

Records No. 2 Idaho scoring 16 3/16 inches. No. 3 Wyoming scoring 16 1/16. No inch Utah. a 16-inch.

Hunting Techniques Best technique is right after a snow storm using a well trained pack of hounds.

Collared Peccary

Physical Characteristics Large heads Long snout Thick coats of dark gray bristly hair Band of white hair (collar) Males weigh between lbs.

Habitat South and Central America Inhabits tropical rainforest. Occur in semi-desert canyons.

Unusual Characteristics Good hearing Territories are defended by the rubbing of the rump oil gland against rocks, tree trunks and stumps.

Interesting facts Poor eyesight You may smell a peccary before you see it. Only wild, native, pig-like animal found in the United States

Economic Importance Economic income due to their skins and as hunting trophies. Among the most important big game species in Arizona.

Laws and Regulations The species is managed as a game animal outside national parks and reserves may be hunted with permits under a quota system operated by state authorities.

Feeding and Natural foods Agaves and prickly pears Roots Insects Reptiles

Records No reported record

Hunting techniques After being spotted a stalk can be planned Keep the wind in your favor. Be extremely quiet in order to get within an desired shooting distance.

Feral Hogs

Physical characteristics Small ears Long snouts Straight tails Tufted at the tip Hair brown to black Hind legs shorter than front

Habitat A very versatile and live in most of North America Prefer to live in dense cover

Unusual Characteristics Weight of feral dog is determined by the domestic breed line of the animal

Interesting facts National population estimated 4 million Very intelligent in the woods

Economic Importance Hog farmers brand/mark them and release them into the open woods to breed and grow. No longer considered desirable food. Carry many diseases but are good to eat when cooked and cleaned properly.

Laws and Regulations Obtain Texas hunting license No bag limit on feral hogs No closed season, provided you are hunting on private property. Hunt wherever you want.

Feeding Plants and Animals

Records Unofficial world record 1051 pounds

Hunting Hunt with dogs Can hunt with any weapon Can trap hogs

North American Elk

Physical Characteristics With antlers can get to 9 feet tall and weigh up to 1,100 pounds Antlers can get up to 4 feet long

Habitat and Distribution Live mostly in remote aeas due to over hunting In summer they migrate to high mountain grazing areas Mostly found in the Rocky Mountains and north east America

Unusual Characteristics Lose their antlers in the spring Calves can stand within 20 min of their birth Males with biggest antlers usually dominate small herds

Interesting facts Are related to deer They are called wapiti which means light colored deer Their group name is a gang

Foods In the summer they graze in pastures eating different grasses and shrubs In winter have dig through snow to find these grasses and shrubs

Economic Importance and Eating Qualities Elk antlers are used for different goods and are hunted a lot for their mounts Their meat is good to eat and can be prepared in many different ways

Hunting Techniques Live in remote areas so much trekking is necessary Hunted a lot like other deer from stands or blinds

Records World record typical 442 5/8 World record non-typical 478 5/8

Laws and regulation Must be hunted in season All kills must tagged and recorded Can not kill over the limit

Rio Grande Turkey Most abundant wild turkey in Texas Popular Spring Hunting Gobblers have beards and spurs

Eastern Turkey Found in most of eastern US Native to our area, but now only a few re- stocked ones around in East Texas.

Bobwhite Quail Most popular quail in Texas. Found in our area and most of eastern 2/3 of Texas

Blue/Scaled Quail Found in Western 1/3 of Texas Prefer a more arid region Will prefer to run instead of fly

Mourning Dove Most popular dove hunted in Texas First legal hunt of the Fall.

Expanding habitat in Texas Originally found in Citrus Groves of the Valley region of Texas, but now large populations in San Antonio and even some more eastern areas.

Work Cited Thedeer-hunting Guide.com Myoan.net Holoweb.com Nationalgeographic.com Trophybuckshoot.com Tpwd.com Wildernessclassroom.com Kingsoutdoorworld.com Southerneasternoutdoors.com Scirecordbook.org Whitetaileddeer.ca Desertusa.com Helium.org Bpzoo.org