Colorado's Rocky Mountains are rich with natural resources and teaming with edible animals that once sustained native people. Large game and small game roam the forested slopes, fresh water fish pack streams and large birds nest in trees and bushes. Bison, deer, trout, quail and pheasant are among the animals hunted or raised for meat in Colorado.
Elk, one of largest members of the deer family, live in the forests high in the Rocky Mountains. These vegetarians graze on native grasses and tree bark. Their meat is high in protein and low in both cholesterol and fat, but they are not commonly eaten. Elk hunting is permitted in season and with a hunting license on Colorado public land.
Rocky Mountain mule deer migrate seasonally, following their food sources through a range of altitudes to find plants and grasses. Like their relative the white-tail deer, mule deer are widely hunted for trophy and food. Venison, or deer meat, is lean with a gamy flavor.
White-tail deer, like mule deer, migrate seasonally in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. They are the state's most widely hunted game. Venison is leaner and stringier than beef, and so low in fat that oil is sometimes added to make venison burgers.
Ducky grouse live at mid-level mountain altitudes in clearings between the edge of the forest and open fields. These birds are about the size of average chicken and produce a mild flavored white meat. They migrate to higher altitudes as temperatures drop and are often hunted in early fall.
Hunters consider antelope one of the easiest animals to bag and the least appealing to eat. Herds migrate throughout the Rockies. Their meat is lean, like deer or goat meat, and is more commonly made into jerky or sausage than eaten as steak.
Quail are hunted for their meat, but there eggs are also eaten. This member of the Pheasant family is known for producing a low-fat, low-cholesterol white meat. Mountain quail are the largest of all quail species, growing to about 11 inches long.
The huge bison, once common throughout Colorado is now considered livestock, not wildlife. Wild herds were migratory, roaming everywhere from the state's eastern plains to above the tree line in the Rocky Mountains. Bison are raised for their lean meat, a now popular alternative to beef and poultry. Male bison can grow to about 2,000 pounds.
