Pronghorn

Pronghorn are a very unique species of animal and another popular big game species in Colorado. They live in wide open spaces like the eastern plains and are the fastest land animal in North America, capable of running up to 60 miles an hour. Their coat is mainly tan with white accents on their rumps, bellies, and necks. Both male and female pronghorn have horns, but the female’s horns are very small, often appearing as just small bumps on the skull. Males have horns that can reach lengths of a foot or more, and they fork or prong at the end which is what gives these animals their name.

Horns vs. Antlers

All the animals we’ve spoken about previously—elk, moose, and deer—have antlers, while pronghorn have horns.

People often confuse horns with antlers or use the terms interchangeably. The key thing to remember is that deer, elk, and moose will lose their antlers every year as well as completely regrow their antlers every year. Pronghorn will shed the outer part of their horns every year, leaving a bony core at the center—the outer part of their horns will regrow each year. Bighorn sheep and mountain goat horns will continually grow every single year. Typically, horns appear on both males and females, with the male horns being more prominent, while antlers tend to appear only on the male of the species.