Lists of Wild Game in the United States

The United States has a variety of wild game for hunters to choose from.

The United States is a hunter's paradise as the many and varied geographical areas offer a wide variety of wild game. The main types of animals hunted are deer, moose, bear, javelina, and various feathered game such as quail and pheasant. Each of the states has its own rules and regulations, so check the regulations in the area where you want to hunt before you begin your expedition.

Deer

You will find various species of deer in many forest and grassy regions of the United States.

Types of deer vary widely throughout the different states but the most common is the whitetail. In the early 1900's, these deer numbered approximately 500,000 but now are about 20 million strong. The main reason for this population explosion is the demise of most predators and restricted hunting by landowners. Deer hunting is essential to control the rising population as too many deer cause property damage, environmental damage and road accidents.

Moose

The moose is actually the largest member of the deer family. You will find it the colder, most northernmost states, including Alaska, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Montana. A male tips the scales at approximately 1,200 to 1,600 pounds and the female at almost 900 pounds. Only the males grow antlers which can span up to 64 inches. Although these animals appear to lumber slowly and awkwardly, a moose can actually speed up to 34 miles per hour. The weapon of choice for hunting these animals is a high-powered rifle.

Upland Birds

Pheasants are commoln in northern states, especially South Dakota.

Hunters shoot upland birds in open fields. These include dove, quail, grouse, partridge and pheasant. Hunters utilize hunting dogs in their excursions as downed birds can be difficult to locate. Bird hunting enthusiasts utilize various shotguns that may include single-shot, semi-automatic, .410 bore, and 12 gauge models. Bow hunting is also popular for bagging these birds. The Free Library article,"Bow Hunting Upland Birds" cites the particular challenges of this choice of weapon from selecting the correct arrowheads to stalk your prey.

Javelina

Hunting wild boar is a popular pastime in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The javelina -- or wild peccary -- is found in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. A typical javelina weighs 40 to 60 pounds, has very poor eyesight, is grayish black in color, and almost always travels in a herd. The two most common javelina hunting methods are with archery and rifles.

Bear

The wild bear is hunted only in certain states and most at specific times of the year.

Wild brown and black bears are increasingly being designated as an endangered species. Only 28 states allow bear hunting and 20 of those states prohibit bear hunting in the spring when cubs are still dependent on their mothers. The largest bear is the Kodiak, a member of the brown bear family. The main weapon used to fell these game animals is a high-powered rifle.

References

• Gunmen's Den: Hunting
• The Human Society: Fact Sheet on Spring Bear Hunting
• Wildlife Control Information: General Deer Population Facts
• Javelina Hunter: Is It a "Pig" or Not?
• The Free Library: Bow Hunting Upland Birds
• Big Game Hunt: Hunting the King of the Forest