Red Dead Redemption 2 Hunting Guide: Perfect Pelts Every Time

Any useful Red Dead Redemption 2 hunting guide starts in the same place: a perfect pelt requires a three-star (pristine) animal killed cleanly with the right weapon for its size. Both conditions, every time. A one-star animal cannot drop a perfect pelt no matter how good the shot is.

Check the star rating first

Pull out the binoculars, zoom on the animal and study it. The quality reads Poor, Good or Pristine in the corner. If it is not Pristine, do not waste the stalk.

Weapon by size class

• Small (squirrel, rat, songbird, snake) — bow with small game arrows.
• Moderate (rabbit, raccoon, skunk, possum, badger) — Varmint Rifle.
• Medium (fox, coyote, beaver, pig) — repeater, or bow with regular arrows.
• Large (deer, boar, wolf, cougar, pronghorn) — rifle, or bow with poison arrows.
• Massive (bear, bison, elk, moose, alligator) — scoped rifle, or bow with improved arrows.

Then place the shot

Head or vitals, one hit. Multiple body shots degrade the pelt even on a pristine animal. Approach downwind, crouch, and use cover scent lotion if the animal keeps bolting before you are in range.

After the kill

Skin immediately, then get it home — carcasses rot on the horse and your mount only carries one large pelt at a time. Trapper for outfits and unique gear, butcher for cash. Legendary animal pelts go to the Trapper only, and they cannot be ruined, so do not agonise over the shot on those.