The hunting mechanics inRed Dead Redemption 2are unrivaled, from the realistically graphic skinning animations, to the varied wildlife that can be found in their respective habitats. Animals act the way they do in real life, and die like real animals too. They fetch a good price at the butcher, and they can be cooked in camp to create consumables.
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However, hunting inRed Dead Onlineis a bit different from hunting in thesingleplayercampaign. For one, dead animals don’t decay inRed Dead Onlinealong with some other differences. Here aresome great hunting tipshunters should know inRed Dead Online.
Updated by Cole Podany on July 09, 2025:Rockstar releasedRed Dead Online over three years ago, and the game still occasionally receives updates. There are still a number of dedicated players who seek to perfect their technique, especially with hunting wild animals. Those who select the Trader role will benefit even more from finding the best pelts. Thanks to the complexity of the hunting system, Red Dead Online beginners and veteran players alike will likely learn something new from these fourteen hunting tips.
14Use The Best Weapons And Tools
Red Dead Onlineoffers a wide array of weapons, so players should be careful to choose a weapon that works for their kill. A bow and arrow is a must-have for all players, since the right kind of arrows can kill almost any type of game. A varmint rifle is handy for small game, since it’s easier to aim with a gun than a bow and arrow.
Many players might not realise the value in using tools in addition to weapons; for example, a reinforced lasso can come in handy to incapictate an animal before going in for the kill, earning hunters a perfect pelt with minimal effort.
13Hunt Legendary Animals
While some players might be tempted to skip hunting for legendary animals to do other quests, hunting these elusive beasts is well worth the time investment. In fact, legendary animals are themost profitable animals in the game, allowing hunters to make a large amount of money from just one kill.
If players choose to sell their legendary animals to Gus Macmillan, they can take home a huge paycheck and a new clothing item for their player. Hunting each legendary animal, though, has some nuance to it, and it isn’t as easy as hunting normal wild animals - so hunters should ensure they equip the right weapon and take the right approach to landing the kill.
12Use The Right Type Of Bait
Like inRed Dead Redemption 2,players can loot or craft both herbivore bait and predator bait inRed Dead Online. Bait attracts animals of the specified type; herbivores seek out herbivore bait, while predators will come to predator bait. Also like in single-player mode, animals won’t just flock to the bait; players should ensure that their scent moves downwind to prevent scaring off interested animals.
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Unlike in single-player mode, though, animals despawn when the player isn’t looking at them inRed Dead Online. As such, if hunters want to make the most of their bait, they should keep a close eye on the location where they’ve set it. Also, players should note that regular predator bait and potent predator bait tend to net similar results, so players may want to save their money instead of splurging on potent predator bait.
11Use Binoculars To Scout Far-away Animals
Sometimes, the hardest part of hunting inRed Dead Onlineisn’t landing a great shot - it’s finding an animal worth hunting in the first place. Using the Refined Binoculars allows players to spot creatures with highly valuable pelts from a distance. The Refined Binoculars are alsoworth the purchase, especially for beginners, since they allow players to scout treasure andother valuable itemsfrom afar.
To purchase Refined Binoculars, players should first reach Collector rank 5. They can then purchase the Refined Binoculars from the Wheeler Rawson & Co. Catalog for 450 dollars, a small price to pay for a tool that helps players scout out such valuable items.
Hunting is more challenging inRed Dead Onlinebecause Deadeye does not produce the same slowing effect as it does in story mode. Instead, players are able to choose between six different ability cards with unique buffs.
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The Paint It Black ability card allows people to mark targets. Any target marked will be hit with 100% accuracy. The only issue with the card is that some shot will miss if an animal goes out of the character’s line of sight. It is much easier to hunt with perfect accuracy.
9Use Info For A Perfect Kill
The info feature tells players what weapon to use, as well as the quality of the animal. Using the wrong weapon willdegrade the quality of an animal pelt. When there are a few animals of the same species in a group, the info will help people determine the most desirable target of the bunch. Shooting the wrong target will not only result in a low-quality pelt, but it will also scare the 3 stars away. Before hunters memorize the correct weapons, info is a great feature that everyone should take advantage of while hunting.
8Mastering Eagle Eye
Eagle Eye allows the hunter to track animal movement over pretty large distances. For larger skittish animals, Eagle Eye is a must. Using the horse to run over and hunt small animals is a viable strategy, but larger animals spook easily. The only way to get a clean shot is to observe the animal from some distance and track its movement. Far too many people forget to utilize Eagle Eye while out on the hunt.
7Utilize Methods Of Concealment
There are a number of ways to conceal oneself while hunting. The most common is blending tonic. This item will allow gamers to approach deer, buffalo, and even bears without being spotted from afar. Blending tonic makes it possible to get close enough for a critical shot. At that point, players can call the animal to get the headshot and collect a perfect pelt.
6Change Horse Cargo Access Settings
InRed Dead Online,players by default have access to other players' horse cargo. This allows them to take a hunter’s hunted carcass from his horse’s back. In order to prevent a well-deserved perfect condition carcass from being stolen by other players, a good hunting rule is to set horse cargo accessibility to ‘Only Me’.
That way, the carcass is safe from theft, and an exchange of bullets can be prevented. Having this option toggled will let the hunter can go about his business peacefully.
5Aim for The Head
Headshotting doesn’t just work onhuman enemies or in PvP- it also works on animals. Aiming for the head lessens the risk of the animal running away alive. If an animal takes more than one projectile before dying, then his carcass is ruined.
Aiming for the head ensures that the hunted animal dies within one flick of the bow, or one flick of the trigger. This also works against predatory animals that try to pounce on the hunter. This technique is effective in killing animals, and also preserves their carcass to maximize resources.
