A pronghorn antelope pauses in a rocky grassland area. Known for its speed and keen eyesight, the pronghorn is a native species often seen roaming open plains and sagebrush regions across the western United States.
Antelope Horns Shorter Than Ears
Adult female antelope have ears about 5 to 5 ½ inches long
Female horns (if present) are usually less than 4 inches long
Female antelope do not have a black patch on cheek
Female antelope do not have black band from eyes to nose
Juvenile males may be legally harvested (horns must not be longer than ears)
Typically yearling bucks and fawn bucks have black cheek patch
A male pronghorn antelope stands watch in a sunlit grassland. Recognizable by its striking white markings and black horns, the pronghorn is North America’s fastest land animal and a symbol of the open western plains.
Antelope Horns Longer Than Ears
Adult male antelope have ears about 5 ½ to 6 inches long
Mature males have horns from 12 to 19 inches long
Presence of black patch of hair on cheek
Adult males typically have a black band on face from eyes down to the nose
A bull elk with impressive antlers and a cow elk in their natural habitats. Bull elk are easily recognized by their large antlers and deep bugling calls, while cow elk are smaller and lack antlers, often seen grazing in open meadows.
Elk
Smaller than moose
Size: 4-5 ft at the shoulder, females weigh 400-500 lbs, males weigh 700-800 lbs
Body is light brown in color with long, dark brown hair on neck and a distinct light tan rump patch
Males have branched antlers with each antler point originating from a main beam
A bull moose and a cow moose in their natural habitats. The bull moose, shown with wide, flattened antlers, is larger and darker in color, while the cow moose is smaller and antlerless, often seen browsing shrubs and wetland vegetation.
Moose
Larger than elk with a noticeable hump on the shoulders
Size: 5-7 ft at the shoulder, females weigh 600-800 lbs, males weigh 850-1,100 lbs
Body is uniformly brown to black in color. Lower legs can be light tan or white
Long nose, overhanging upper lip, and a prominent dewlap (flap of skin) hanging from the neck
Males have palmate antlers with each tine originating from a broad, flat surface
Bighorn Ram
A bighorn sheep stands proudly among desert rocks. Known for their massive curved horns and agility on steep terrain, these iconic animals are a symbol of the rugged mountain landscapes of the American West.
Mature rams weigh 175–300 lbs, with Rocky Mountain bighorn the heaviest and desert bighorn the lightest
Mature rams have ¾ to full (circle) curl horns that are 28-40 inches long with base circumference of 13-16 inches
Horns are a heavy hard sheath that grow on top of a bony core that angle back from the skull about 15 inches
Entire body pelage color is light tan for deserts to dark brown for Rocky Mountain except for white muzzle and rump patch
Have prominent visible testicles
A female bighorn sheep, or ewe, grazes among rocky slopes in a desert mountain habitat. Unlike rams, ewes have shorter, slender horns and are often seen traveling in small herds across rugged terrain.
Ewe
Narrow, sickle shaped horns with base same width as eye
Ears are 4-41/2 inches in length
Relatively wide space between base of horns
Squat to urinate
No testicles
A bighorn sheep lamb and yearling shown for comparison. Lambs have short, stubby horns and smaller bodies, while yearlings begin to develop longer, curved horns as they mature.
Ram Lambs and Yearling Ram (Illegal to Harvest)
Wide, triangular-shaped horn bases twice the width of eye
Desert ram lambs in the fall-horn base wider than eye and 5- to 6-inch horn with little curve if any and gray horns vs. tan curved ewe horns
Wider, pronounced forehead
Narrow spacing between horn bases
Stretch rear legs during urination
Testicles visible, especially from rear
Belly spot or penis seen from side view
Mountain Goat
A mountain goat climbs across rugged, snowy cliffs. These sure-footed animals are built for life in high alpine environments, using their strong legs and specialized hooves to balance on steep, rocky slopes.
Fur is long, coarse, dense hair with off-white color over entire body with a beard
Adults stand about 31/2 feet tall with stocky front torso and pronounced hump between front shoulders
Legs are relatively short but with proportionally large hooves for sure-footedness along vertical cliffs
Both sexes have narrow sharply pointed black horns that flare back and to the side above the ears less than 12 inches long
Billies (males) urinate by stretching while standing and Nannies (females) urinate by squatting their rear legs
A gray wolf stands in the snow, showcasing its thick winter coat. Known for their intelligence and teamwork, gray wolves are apex predators that play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Wolf (Illegal to Harvest)
Nose is broad and blocky
Ears are more rounded and relatively short
Weighs 50-90 pounds
Legs are longer
Fur color is similar to coyotes; gray, black, rust, or buff
Moves more fluidly
Resembles a German shepherd with longer legs and larger feet
Coyote
A coyote stands alert in a grassy field. Recognizable by its pointed ears and bushy tail, the coyote is a highly adaptable predator found across North America’s deserts, forests, and urban areas.
Nose is slender and pointed
Ears are prominent, pointed and relatively long
Weighs 20-35 pounds
Legs and feet are smaller
Fur color is similar to wolves: grizzled gray, rust, or buff; rarely white or black
Moves in a manner that appears to be hopping or bouncing
