Hunting Tactics

theHunter not only features many  animals and  locations, but also requires the players to apply a variety of hunting tactics. This page lists the tactics for each  species based on the experience from the players.

## Sitka Deer

*Introduction*
Sitka Deer (not to be confused with Sika Deer) is a sub-species of the well established Blacktail Deer and made its appearance with the introduction of Whiterime Ridge. It comes with no surprise that much of hunting this species is similar to that of its before-mentioned relative.
*Spawning*
The Sitka Deer is a herd animal. The very most sightings will be groups of mixed genders. The most commonly seen group constellation is five females and two bucks, but you can also find others. If you find stray Sitkas, they could be from a group that was parted by spooking or getting stuck in certain territory or vegetation.
*Clothing*
Hunting Sitka in an arctic environment requires at least the  Basic Arctic Outfit, which are free for you to pick up at the store. It is however recommended to wear  Arctic camo clothes as the Sitkas have good eyesight.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
*Searching*
Weight does correlate somewhat with the score. Follow tracks from heavy bucks. There is a chance that one of these males will have a decent score. If you hear a call no matter what gender, lure them towards you. The bigger the group the better the chance for a high scoring male.
*Luring*
Use the Deer Bleat or the Deer Grunt to lure Sitkas. Both callers have the same luring effect, and the effect is the same for both males and females. You may use  Sitka Deer Scent Spray which lasts a lot longer than the caller, and lets you safely move into a hiding place or  stand.
*Field Judging*
When you spot Sitka bucks, look for one with large antlers with long points. Soon you will be able to field judge the antlers and tell a small score from a big one. When luring in bucks, make sure to look out for other males before taking a shot on the first spotted.
*Dealing with groups (herds, packs, flocks)*
If you fancy shooting any gender, roam around and look for their tracks or listen for their calls. If you are after the big male, leave signs of females behind and keep going until you find the according presence of males. When you encounter a group, check the map and look for a good ambushing location.  Call from a 30-50m (100-165 ft.) of your hiding spot or use  scent spray if available, then move there and wait. If the group has a big male, it can be the first animal to react to the lure just as much as the last. It is therefore important to always be patient and try to spot all animals in the group before taking a shot. Spotting all animals also has the positive side effect of increasing your  spotting skill for this species.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 *Maps** Whiterime Ridge

## Bison

*Introduction*
The Bison is the first bovine species in the game and makes its appearance with the opening of the Whiterime Ridge reserve. The bison stands its ground when you approach it, and it takes good shot placement to drop it without a long follow-up tracking. However when it is on the move, with or without peers, you have to keep on your toes to keep up. Even in the deep snow areas the bison moves very fast, similar to the Reindeer. When spooked, you will only see it for a few more seconds before it will leave your viewing range.
The fact that it takes quite a bit though for these massive animals to get frightened makes it an interesting balancing experience for you as to how close you can move to them, try to take out a few with well placed shots, and watch out so you don't get taken on the horns by one of them. There is no meeting with them half way as there is no lure available. The bison dictates where it is going to put up with you.
*Spawning*
The Bison is a herd animal, however you can also find single animals at times. The groups consist of up to six animals, of which one or two will usually be males.
*Clothing*
The clothes for going after Bison appear to be little of importance, as this clumsy animal seems to be the one that is the least frightened of them all. Even if it sees you approaching, it will not run until it feels you are really getting too close now. The  Arctic camo clothes will make a small difference and you will be fine with just the  Basic Arctic Outfit, which are free for you to pick up at the store.
*Searching*
Weight does correlate somewhat with the score. Follow tracks from heavy bulls. If you find tracks from a herd, always follow those. There is a chance that one of these males will have a decent score. If you hear a call no matter what gender, go check out the place. It could be a single Bison or a group. The bigger the group, the better the chance for a high scoring male.  Scent Eliminator and  Wind Indicator are not required for a successful hunt of this species.
*Luring*
No lure is available for Bison.
*Field Judging*
When you spot Bison, look for one with large horns. Soon you will be able to field judge the horns and tell a small score from a big one. High scoring bulls will have horns that exceed their skull. They are also thicker. You cannot distinguish males and females from the color, which is always similar no matter what gender. You can however look at the body sizes. Males will be visibly larger.
*Dealing with herds*
If you fancy shooting any gender, roam around and look for their tracks or listen for their calls. If you are after the big male, leave signs of females behind and keep going until you find the according presence of males. When you encounter a group, try to spot them and receive information about their potential size and score. Spotting all animals also has the positive side effect of increasing your  spotting skill for this species. Since there is no lure available, you will have to keep up with the fast roaming group. The spotting is difficult because you will be looking at a number of animals constantly walking, trotting and mingling.
*Aggression*
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be  hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a  First Aid Kit or fast travel to a  tent or lodge.
Carrying a strong  handgun such as the  .454 is advisable for self defense in case the Bison decides to plow over you. You can dodge an attacking bison maybe once, but barely twice.
*Shooting the animal*
A shot on Bison must be well placed, or you will be in for tracking and a follow-up shot. Avoid hasty shots. A good Spotting Skill will support you picking the right animal if there are several. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. Aim above the leg, roughly at the bottom of the reddish area on the animal's side. Another comparably safe area is the very large spine, especially behind the neck. Many a shot aimed high will end up being a spine shot, which will either kill the bison immediately (when hitting neck bones) or paralyze it (when hitting other spine bones).
Bow hunting the bison is possible, but takes patience and care. Get within 30m, or a long search will follow.
Remember that the Longbow and shotguns are *not* allowed for Bison.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Whiterime Ridge

## Alpine Ibex

*Introduction*
The Ibex presents a slightly different playing experience that for example that of deer species. It is located in the higher regions of Val-des-Bois and has outstanding climbing abilities. It can climb up very steep mountainsides, even to places where a player cannot get. Ibexes are wary and quiet animals who blend in well in their native Alpine environment. The Alpine Ibex is a skillful climbers. It can climb almost vertical cliff faces with ease, so going after them will require a great deal of knowledge of the area. Some steep surfaces may be possible to climb, others will lead to a quick drop down to harm. Wise hunters always bring a  First Aid Kit along when hunting Ibex in Val-des-Bois. When hunting Alpine Ibex, there should be a lot of planning going into every shot to avoid losing that great trophy. After all, that is what makes hunting Alpine Ibex worth it: those magnificent horns!
*Spawning*
Ibexes spawn and travel as singles or in mixed groups of up to six animals. The does always build the majority of the group, and there are not more than two bucks in a group.
*Clothing*
Val-des-Bois is a summer map, however the  Sneaky 3d Summer Forest camo only protects you against the Alpine Ibex in the very scarce forested parts in the mountainous regions. You are much better off with the  Sneaky 3d Alpine camo set which is specifically designed for this type of terrain. You may also use the  Outback Outfit and/or  Face Paint, a  Cowboy Hat or a  Flat Cap to reduce the signs of your presence.
*Searching*
Weight correlates somewhat with the score. Follow tracks from heavy bucks. It is possible to get audio clues from the Ibex but these are sparse and are never calls. The Ibex does not call like other animals. It has a rock slide sound when in the steep slopes. This sound is registered like a call on the Huntermate. Ibex fighting can also be registered with the Huntermate. The fights are usually not very long and by the time you arrive to observe them, they might have ceased fighting already. Nevertheless their fighting can give away their location. If you hear ibex activity, scan the area. If there is one, there might be more of them. Ibexes utter a recurring chirping sound when they flee, which gives away their running direction. This is similar behavior to the Roe Deer's barking when spooked. They keep chirping for quite some time even after they have stopped running. Follow that sound and often times you will see the Ibex in the distance standing still.
*Luring*
There are no attractants available for the Alpine Ibex, which makes it one of the species that require a pure spot and stalk style of hunting.
*Field Judging*
Look for long and thick horns that bend backwards. Large scoring ibexes have horns that almost tough their back (in the game).
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
*Shooting the animal*
Shooting the Alpine Ibex must be somewhat planned. Survey the land with your optical devices. It will be tempting to fire at an Alpine Ibex high up on a mountain wall but it may have unfortunate consequences. If you shoot an Ibex on a cliff-side with either an outcropping or a slope that lacks enough inclination below, the dead animal can get stuck. Wait for a better opportunity, which might however take a very long time. A shot Ibex will slide or roll down as long as the incline is steep enough. If the animal stops in a place that cannot be reached from below, try to get to the animal from above. In many cases there simply is no way to the kill. This video explains how you might still be able to retrieve your Ibex.
It is possible that the Alpine Ibex will be outside the border. You may clearly see it on a mountainside and you can aim at it, but the game will prevent you from shooting it. You have to again wait for it to return to the inside of the reserve boundaries.
A good weapon for the hunt on the Alpine Ibex is the fast reloading .30-06 Lever Action Rifle. Often times you will find a group of five to six animals. You can keep shooting with this rifle while keeping sight on them. Spooked animals tend to run in circles in front of steep walls of cliffs instead of climbing them. Wait for them to stand still for a second or two during their flight before they run off again, and you can take out a few at a time.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
Listen for the chirping sound and let the animal calm down from its trotting after fleeing for a safe shot. If you have approached them from behind a hill and all of a sudden you hear them run away for some reason (you will hear the chirping), get up and run to the top of the hill. Often times you can still pick out a few Ibexes while they are trying to find a path away from you. Cliffs and walls will again confuse them just enough to keep them within reach.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Maison du Néant

Val-des-Bois Hunting Routes
Thanks to community contributor Cireme for this map.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Val-des-Bois

## Red Kangaroo

*Introduction*
The Red Kangaroo was introduced as the new species of the Australia-inspired Bushrangers Run reserve. It is relatively easy to hunt when wandering through the eastern, grassy parts of this hunting area. The "Roo" is not among the top animals that come to mind when dealing with a hunting game and it might even be funny for some to shoot it. However the way this very interesting animal has been implemented, combined with the stunning map it lives on, kangaroo hunting is fun both in single and multiplayer mode. Its size allows for a vast range of allowed weapons, and it can be taken out from long ranges with the largest available  Rifle calibers just as nicely as from shorter ranges with  Bows,  Muzzleloaders,  Shotguns or  Handguns. Tree Stand hunting is not an option, the trees in Bushrangers Run cannot hold that device.

*Spawning*
The Red Kangaroo is a herd animal, but you can also find single animals. Groups can consist of up to 6 females, or less females and up to 2 males.
*Clothing*
Bushrangers Run has a specific set of clothes, the  Sneaky 3D Arid Camo which is perfect for the entire map. It is also possible to use the all-rounder set  Outback Outfit. It fits the area from a cultural style just nicely.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
*Searching and stalking*
If you fancy shooting any gender, roam around and look for their tracks. If you are after the big male, leave signs of females behind and keep going until you find the according presence of males. The score of the Red Kangaroo is the weight. Follow tracks of heavy males. Glass ahead often when the Huntermate tells you that you have come close. There is no lure available for the Red Kangaroo, but you can pick up calls with the Huntermate. If you are close to them you can also hear it walk around. Even if you walk or run into fleeing tracks, when the estimation predicts a high weight, take the time to stalk that kangaroo. When you encounter a group, look for the reddish animals in the group. Those are the males. If there are multiple males in a group, try to retrieve the spotting information in order to determine which is the heaviest among them. Slowly move closer until you have a clear line of sight for a precise shot. Spotting all animals has the positive side effect of increasing your Spotting Skill for this species.
*Luring*
There are no attractants available for the Red Kangaroo, which makes it one of the species that require a pure spot and stalk style of hunting.
*Shooting the animal*
Take your time for a precise shot. With its pear-like form, the Kangaroo is "bottom-heavy". The larger part of it is closer to the ground and often covered by rocks, plants or a slight hump on the ground. Avoid hasty shots. A good spotting skill will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until you have been able to sneak closer for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side.
*If the animal flees*
Spooked Kangaroos will not run very far after being spooked by walking, running or shooting. Crouch forward and glass often. You will either detect it among the trees and bushes, or even more likely you will hear its very distinct foot stomping. The kangaroos do this constantly when in nervous state and the stomping can be nicely heard from far.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Bushrangers Run

## Polar Bear

*Introduction*
When introduced to the Evergreen Hunting Reserve, the Polar Bear was a protected species with only few time windows when hunters would be allowed to shoot this massive bear. Over time this limitation was lifted and the Polar Bear is now huntable at all times just like any other creature in the EHR. It separates itself from the other bear species in that in can be tricky or even impossible to get to, when it marches along the ice floes on the ocean. Also it attacks much faster and from further away, making its habitat areas more dangerous to roam for any hunter. Also as opposed to other bears, it cannot be baited.
*Spawning*
All Polar Bears travel alone. You might see several of them at once when on the ice floes, but along the snowy shores of Whiterime Ridge multiples of these bears in one place will be seldom. The Polar Bears can spawn both on the ice masses as well as on the main land.
*Clothing*
Camo clothes can help to approach the Polar Bear without spooking it. Males tend to run away from further away than females. You can get really close to some bears to the point that they attack.
*Searching*
Around the northern half of Whiterime Ridge there are many ice floes on the ocean near the land. Roaming the shores and spotting these ice masses can help finding the Polar Bears. They will stay on the ice for the most part and only sometimes swim or walk to the shore. They can however also be found on the main land. These will rarely travel out onto the floes, but it can happen. If Polar Bears swim to the floes it can be difficult or impossible to follow them. Note that if playing the game with "Scene Complexity" set to "Low", there will be a lot less floes, and also there will be no bridges to enter the ice masses. The bears are then even less likely to travel between ice and main land.
Polar Bear make calls that your HunterMate can identify. In areas with few other animals, receiving calls from the Polar Bear is quite common. This is the easiest way to locate them. Constant spotting ahead on the main land can also prove useful, the massive animal has a yellowish color that is pretty different from the snow that will let you see it in the open.
*Luring*
There is no  caller or  scent spray available for the Polar Bear and  baiting is also not possible.
*Field Judging*
After you have been watching them for a while you should be able to tell a heavy Polar Bear from a light one. However the score is calculated from the dimensions of the skull. It is not possible to tell a larger skull from a smaller one.
*Aggression*
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be  hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a  First Aid Kit or fast travel to a  tent or lodge.
The Polar Bear is among the most aggressive animals in the game. Running up to it will only in few cases scare it away. In most cases the bear will attack you. It attacks from further away than the other bear species. The attacking pose is obvious and the growling loud enough not to oversee and overhear.
*Shooting the animal*
The Polar Bear is not hard to hit as it rarely spooks but mostly walks and stands sill. You can almost walk up to it, just beware from being overrun. Make sure to bring the largest caliber rifle from your gun rack though. Even with a powerful  rifle or a  muzzleloader you still need to place the shot well. A good spot to aim for is the area above and a bit in front of the front leg. In theory all  permitted weapons can be used with ease, however some of them will not kill a Polar Bear in one shot.
If a missed bear runs away, most of the times it will return to walking and you can easily catch up. If you hit it badly however it will continue fleeing at top speed, and even running will not let you catch up. At this point the Polar Bear proves its fine senses and can become one of the trickiest animals to follow. You will see it spook from far out time and time again. It is then advisable to crouch after it and continuously spot the area. Unlike in other reserves and with other species, you should keep going after it pretty soon as the tracks in Whiterime Ridge ridge have a shorter life span than in smaller reserves, lest you lose the trail.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Whiterime Ridge

## Brown Bear

*Introduction*
Not everything is bigger in America! The massive Brown Bear in some of the European based maps exceeds its American based  black peer by far in size and weight. It can get as heavy as 482kg and thus reach almost the weight of a Roosevelt Elk. Despite its impressive size, the Brown is rather shy though. In order to hunt it in the field you need a good camo, a good  weapon and a bit of experience. While it mainly inhabits the western parts of the winter map Hemmeldal, it roams the entire river area of Val-des-Bois. Often times even an inexperienced hunter can enjoy a long distance kill shot on one of these omnivores, at least as long as they brought a big caliber gun.
*Spawning*
All Brown Bears travel alone. You might spot several of them at once, but this will be due to some areas being very fertile soil for the spawning of these bears. You will also see accumulations near  feeders, but they all came alone to the party and will leave again without company.
*Clothing*
The Brown Bear has a decent eyesight. Consider using Sneaky 3D  Summer Camo or  Winter Camoclothes to reduce your visibility. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. Brown Bears have good senses for hearing and especially smelling. Consider additional protection with  Scent Eliminator. Also use  Face Paint or a  Ghillie Suit, but remember the loudness of this suit and reduce your movements to a minimum.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
Note that the smelling ability is the strongest of the Brown Bear's senses, so be extra careful around nearby bears.
*Searching*
The relation between weigh and score is rather strong. The very most of the top scoring Brown Bears are +420kg. Follow tracks of heavy males. The Brown Bear has a relatively high roaming speed. When you follow it you can catch up as long as you walk. When you get within reach of the bear you will naturally crouch. The problem is that the bear has almost the same speed for roaming as you have for crouching. In addition if the bear makes a turn you lose time searching for the next track. The result is that you can barely get any closer anymore and get frustrated. The circle on the Huntermate just doesn't get any smaller and the bear ahead of you just keeps going.
The solution is that you break this pattern by intentionally spooking the bear. At first it will run and gain some ground again, but then it will stop and stand around a lot. During this time you can finally catch up even while crouching. After some fleeing tracks you will find roaming tracks that show that the bear is now very close of you. Glass around a lot and try to find the bear, and keep crouching after it. In fact you will get so close that you might repeatedly spook it again, but that is not a problem. Just keep going after it, the bear won't go back to its crazy cruising speed if you keep it busy and don't let it fully calm down. Using this method you can get the bear within reach even for safe bow shots.
Note that the Brown Bear has a distinct walking sound that you can hear within about 30m (100 ft). If you can hear this sound behind a hill, lay flat and listen. Unless it is a Moose (at Hemmeldal) which has the very same walking sound, you have come really close to a Brown Bear and should be ready for a shot or for a run.
*Luring*
There is no  caller or  scent spray available for the Brown Bear.
*Baiting*
This animal can be lured with Bait, i.e. food that is presented to the animal in appropriate containers. The baiting stations have two effects. They increase the number of spawnings of the attracted species in the area, and they attract those animals that come within the attraction radius of the container. Baiting is used by many players to accumulate great numbers of animals around the stations. Consider this very effective method if you enjoy hunting the species in question. Hunting your feeders can be nicely supported by using  stands. Place yourself in a stand and shoot any number of baited animals near the feeder. Others will scatter and run away, only to return some time later. The  attractiveness of the feeder will stay at 100% for the duration of the hunting session. You can harvest a great number of animals if you spend a few hours at your baiting station.
*Field Judging*
After you have been watching them for a while you should be able to tell a heavy Brown Bear from a light one. However the score is calculated from the dimensions of the skull. It is not possible to tell a larger skull from a smaller one. It is advisable to shoot all heavy bears and spare the smaller ones in case you want stay undetected.
*Aggression*
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be  hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a  First Aid Kit or fast travel to a  tent or lodge.
*Shooting the animal*
The Brown Bear is not easy to kill in the field. Make sure to bring the largest caliber rifle from your gun rack. Even with a powerful  rifle or a  muzzleloader you still need to place the shot well. Vital organs are hard to reach when the bear is +150m (~500 ft) away from you. A good spot is right behind the front leg. Wait for the animal to make a step forward with the front leg, then shoot the spot that is now uncovered. This takes some practice though. Avoid risky shots to the head, or snap shots on a walking bear. Taking a few more seconds for a safe shot will pay off manifold if you want to avoid a long tracking of a wounded bear.
Getting very close for a  bow shot is tough. Consider a shot over 40-50m (~130-165 ft) if you get a chance, as many times it will be the only one you have in a long time before the bear walks off or spooks. An arrow will always kill the bear sooner or later when you hit.
Naturally shooting Brown Bears near a  bait barrel is utterly easy in comparison, especially when supported by a suitable  stand.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
Following spooked Brown Bears is one of the hardest challenges in the game. They encounter you from far away, now even more when they are in nervous state. It is essential to constantly glass the area. If you crouch after a high scoring bear and finally find a roaming track after many fleeing tracks, you have likely come too close already and spooked it again.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Drängstorp
 Chalet du Mont-Bleu

Video Guide

 *Maps** Hemmeldal
* Val-des-Bois

## Black Bear

*Introduction*
If you enjoy hunting Black Bears you are best off roaming the northern most parts of Redfeather Falls. There is an abundance of them, sharing the environment with Blacktail Deer and the occasional Moose and  Elk. The Black Bear is not easy to follow and can be a good training partner to sharpen your tracking and hunting senses. The variation of five different  fur types adds to the enjoyment of Black Bear hunting.
*Spawning*
All Black Bears travel alone. You might spot several of them at once, but this will be due to some areas being very fertile soil for the spawning of these bears. You will also see accumulations near  feeders, but they all came alone to the party and will leave again without company.
*Clothing*
The Black Bear has a decent eyesight. Consider using Sneaky 3D  Summer Camo clothes to reduce your visibility. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. Black Bears have very good senses for hearing and especially smelling. Consider additional protection with  Scent Eliminator. Also use  Face Paint or a  Ghillie Suit, but remember the loudness of this suit and reduce your movements to a minimum.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
Note that the smelling ability is the strongest of the Black Bear's senses, so be extra careful around nearby bears.
*Searching*
The relation between weigh and score is rather strong. The very most of the top scoring Black Bears are +240kg. Follow tracks of heavy males and glass often. Especially the common (black) variant is somewhat hard to see in the woods. Others like the blonde variation however stick out like a sore thumb. Check the river and sea shores for them. If you see a dark object that looks like a rock but is moving, it might be a Black Bear.
Note that the Black Bear has a distinct walking sound similar to the Brown Bear that you can hear within about 30m (100 ft). If you can hear this sound behind a hill, lay flat and listen. You have come really close to a Black Bear and should be ready for a shot or for a run.
*Luring*
There is no  caller or  scent spray available for the Black Bear.
*Baiting*
This animal can be lured with Bait, i.e. food that is presented to the animal in appropriate containers. The baiting stations have two effects. They increase the number of spawnings of the attracted species in the area, and they attract those animals that come within the attraction radius of the container. Baiting is used by many players to accumulate great numbers of animals around the stations. Consider this very effective method if you enjoy hunting the species in question. Hunting your feeders can be nicely supported by using  stands. Place yourself in a stand and shoot any number of baited animals near the feeder. Others will scatter and run away, only to return some time later. The  attractiveness of the feeder will stay at 100% for the duration of the hunting session. You can harvest a great number of animals if you spend a few hours at your baiting station.
*Field Judging*
After you have been watching them for a while you should be able to tell a heavy Black Bear from a light one. However the score is calculated from the dimensions of the skull. It is not possible to tell a larger skull from a smaller one. It is advisable to shoot all heavy bears and spare the smaller ones in case you want stay undetected.
*Aggression*
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be  hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a  First Aid Kit or fast travel to a  tent or lodge.
*Shooting the animal*
Make sure to bring a large caliber rifle when you fancy shooting Black Bears in the field. Even with a powerful  rifle or a  muzzleloader you still need to place the shot well. Vital organs are hard to reach when the bear is +180m (~600 ft) away from you. A good spot is right behind the front leg. Wait for the animal to make a step forward with the front leg, then shoot the spot that is now uncovered. This takes some practice though. Avoid risky shots to the head, or snap shots on a walking bear. Taking a few more seconds for a safe shot will pay off manifold if you want to avoid a long tracking of a wounded bear.
Getting very close for a  bow shot is tough. Consider a shot over 40-50m (~130-165 ft) if you get a chance, as many times it will be the only one you have in a long time before the bear walks off or spooks. An arrow will always kill the bear sooner or later when you hit.
Naturally shooting Black Bears near a  bait barrel is utterly easy in comparison, especially when supported by a suitable  stand.
There is one tactic for shooting Black Bears that only exists for this species. Maybe a game design flaw, it is actually possible to catch up and keep up with a running bear. Some players take advantage of this for bow shooting the Black Bears. This video explains the tactics.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
Following spooked Black Bears is a tough challenge. They encounter you from far away, now even more when they are in nervous state. It is essential to constantly glass the area. If you crouch after a high scoring bear and finally find a roaming track after many fleeing tracks, you have likely come too close already and spooked it again.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Whispering Woods

Video Guide

 *Maps** Settler Creeks
* Redfeather Falls
* Rougarou Bayou

## Wild Boar

*Introduction*
If you have a  tent to spare, place it in the northern most tip of Hirschfelden to start your Wild Boar hunting sessions. Many tips in the **Hunting Tactics** section will send you to places where you can find your animal of desire a bit more exclusively, but the stating position at this tent is different. You will surely find the Wild Boars, but you will also see many Roe Deer,  Pheasants and  Foxes there which makes it a very busy place. Because some Wild Boar sounders (groups) can get quite big, the change for hearing a call from them is rather high. You will also find many tracks that may lead you away from the open fields into thick autumn-colored vegetation. Once there, you will know if you have built up some stalking skills if you can deal with a bunch of pigs trotting ostensibly disorganized through the woodwork.
*Spawning*
Wild Boars spawn as singles in rare cases or in mixed groups of up to seven hogs. Similar to the  Feral Hogs, a common pattern is two males and three females and a sounder.
*Clothing*
The Wild Boar's senses are average compared to some other animals. The boars are more aware than the deer species though. Consider using Sneaky 3D  Fall Camo clothes to reduce your visibility. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. In an area with a lot of Wild Boar activity such as the northern parts of Hirschfelden you may also use a  Ghillie Suit, but you will likely be more successful roaming and scanning the open fields of this reserve.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
The smelling sense is the Wild Boar's most developed one and is even stronger than that of the Feral Hog of the same family. Pay extra attention to the according protection and the wind.
*Searching*
The scores of Wild Boars and  Feral Hogs are based on their weight and their tusk sizes. Both values are added to make the total score. If the weight part of the score is bigger, then the final score gets a "W" added. If the tusk part is bigger, the final score gets a "T" added. The weight to score relation is rather high. The heaviest boars usually have the most impressive tusks. Follow tracks of heavy males, ideally heavier than 210kg. The maximum weight is 240kg for males.
Following a big scoring boar or a sounder with many pigs in the thick vegetation of Hirschfelden can be a really good test for your stalking, spotting and shooting skills. The darkish Wild Boars seem to roam the land totally unorganized at times. They alternatively walk and trot and can be far and apart one minute and back close together the next. The Wild Boars have a special feeding (or "rooting") track like their  smaller family pears, tracks that you will not see for any other species. When the boars dig for roots preferably in the early mornings or late evenings they leave a patch of dirt on the ground. Be careful when you find these tracks, you don't know how much time they have spent there and how much this has slowed them down. In the thick woods you will also find yourself running into sleeping Wild Boars or groups thereof. Their hearing is not as good as their smelling sense and your heart will jump when suddenly they get up and run right next to you. Or if they feel cornered and attack, often times out of nowhere.
*Luring*
Use the  Hog Caller or the  Hog Scent Spray for luring single or multiple animals towards you. The luring effect of the caller lasts quite long, but at the same the Wild Boar tends to approach you very slowly. If there is a group many times only one or two animals are on the move. The others will stand around a bit before making the next step. They can come really close and you have to be careful not to be attacked. The walk towards you is fairly straight. You can easily plan and execute an ambush on the Wild Boars from a  stand or an elevated ambushing position. The behavior that you learn around Wild Boars can be easily applied with the  Feral Hogs and vice versa.
*Baiting*
This animal can be lured with Bait, i.e. food that is presented to the animal in appropriate containers. The baiting stations have two effects. They increase the number of spawnings of the attracted species in the area, and they attract those animals that come within the attraction radius of the container. Baiting is used by many players to accumulate great numbers of animals around the stations. Consider this very effective method if you enjoy hunting the species in question. Hunting your feeders can be nicely supported by using  stands. Place yourself in a stand and shoot any number of baited animals near the feeder. Others will scatter and run away, only to return some time later. The  attractiveness of the feeder will stay at 100% for the duration of the hunting session. You can harvest a great number of animals if you spend a few hours at your baiting station.
*Field Judging*
When you have multiple Wild Boar males especially around feeders, a high Spotting Skill is very helpful. If you are just building up this skill, look out for males with big tusks when you are close. From further away it might be a bit more difficult to judge the tusks when a boar is not facing you or moving through vegetation. You may then look at the body size. Often times you will find a lot of males and females around a well performing baiting station, but only one or two will be "monster size" boars in the most cases. If you are not sure which of all the present males will score best, take out these big ones first.
*Aggression*
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be  hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a  First Aid Kit or fast travel to a  tent or lodge.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
The pig species in the game have a fat shield that heavier (older) males build up by fighting each other. This raises the penetration threshold slightly for organs that are protected by the shield. This promotes a tactical choice of shooting distance and caliber, depending on the size of the target. The fat shield requires the hunter to plan the shot. Bring your strongest  rifle. Avoid random shots from further away, or to the backside of these pigs, or you will need to search them for a long time. Often times you cannot even wound them enough to kill them with one bullet if the shot was placed badly. For heart shots you need to aim slightly behind the front leg, as opposed to other animals that have their heart more centered above the leg.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
Following a spooked Wild Boar is hard, even more so if it scores high. These males can encounter you from far away. It is essential to constantly glass the area. If you finally find a roaming track after many fleeing tracks, you have likely come too close already and spooked it again. Pay attention to the rivers or shores of Hirschfelden where they will turn around and detect you even sooner.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Müllerwaldhütte

Video Guide

 *Maps** Hirschfelden

## Feral Hog

*Introduction*
You can find many groups of Feral Hogs scattered over the maps of Logger's Point and Settler Creeks. Their vivid movements seems to spread them wide and it is hard to pinpoint a hot spot in these reserves. In Rougarou Bayou it seems a lot easier to find many of them quickly if you are specifically after these pigs. The more south you are, the more dominant they will be. No other animal will compete for your attention there except the seemingly omnipresent Whitetail Deer.
*Spawning*
Feral Hogs travel alone or in mixed groups of up to five animals. A very common constellation is two males and three females.
*Clothing*
The Feral Hog's senses are average compared to some other animals. The ferals are more aware than the deer species though. Consider using Sneaky 3D  Summer Camo clothes to reduce your visibility. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. In an area with a lot of Feral Hog activity such as the southern parts of Rougarou Bayou you may also use a  Ghillie Suit. Many pigs will enter your influence radius where you can lure them towards you if you see or hear them.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
The smelling sense is the Feral Hog's most developed one, so pay extra attention to the according protection and the wind.
*Searching*
You will find hunting Feral Hogs rather easy as long as you call any group that you locate, but once you start tracking them they can be a good test for your stalking skills. Often times you think you are still far away from them based on the track information given to you by the Huntermate, but then realize they have been sleeping or feeding and are actually very close to you, or they have changed their roaming direction. The Feral Hog and the Wild Boar have a special feeding (or "rooting") track that you will not see for other animals. When these pigs dig for roots they leave a large patch of nuzzled up dirt. This happens for example in the early mornings. Be careful when you find these tracks, you don't know how much time they have spent there.
The scores of Feral Hogs and  Wild Boars are based on their weight and their tusk sizes. Both values are added to make the total score. If the weight part of the score is bigger, then the final score gets a "W" added. If the tusk part is bigger, the final score gets a "T" added. The weight to score relation is rather high. The heaviest boars usually have the most impressive tusks. Follow tracks of heavy males, ideally heavier than 190kg. The maximum weight is 204kg for males.
*Luring*
Use the  Hog Caller or the  Hog Scent Spray for luring single or multiple hogs towards you. The luring effect of the caller lasts quite long, but at the same the Feral Hogs tend to approach you very slowly. If there is a group, many times only one or two animals are on the move. The others will stand around a bit before making the next step. Be careful when they are very close or you could be attacked, see Aggression below. Their walk towards you is fairly straight. You can easily plan and execute an ambush on the hogs from a  stand or an elevated position with an open line of sight. The behavior that you learn around Feral Hogs can be easily applied on the  Wild Boars and vice versa.
*Baiting*
This animal can be lured with Bait, i.e. food that is presented to the animal in appropriate containers. The baiting stations have two effects. They increase the number of spawnings of the attracted species in the area, and they attract those animals that come within the attraction radius of the container. Baiting is used by many players to accumulate great numbers of animals around the stations. Consider this very effective method if you enjoy hunting the species in question. Hunting your feeders can be nicely supported by using  stands. Place yourself in a stand and shoot any number of baited animals near the feeder. Others will scatter and run away, only to return some time later. The  attractiveness of the feeder will stay at 100% for the duration of the hunting session. You can harvest a great number of animals if you spend a few hours at your baiting station.
*Field Judging*
When you have multiple Feral Hog males especially around feeders, a high Spotting Skill is of course very helpful. If you are just building up this skill, look out for males with big tusks when you are close. From further away it might be a bit more difficult to judge the tusks when the hog is not facing you or moving through vegetation. You may then look at the body size. Often times you will find a lot of males and females around a well performing baiting station, but only one or two will be "monster size" males in the most cases. If you are not sure which of all the present hogs will score best, take out these big ones first.
*Aggression*
This species is one of those that can attack you. This happens if you shoot at it or when you got really close to it. The animal will start an aggression animation and look fiercely at you. It can also makes growls that you wouldn't normally hear. If you see the animal doing this you have a chance to run away or get ready for a shot. Sometimes the animal will abort the attack and flee. It can also happen that an animal will start fleeing but then stop and turn around for an attack. If you are very close to a species capable of attacking, have a firearm ready for your defense, or back out. You can also be completely blindsided by an animal that you did not realize it was there. When attacked, you will be  hurt and will need to either heal yourself with a  First Aid Kit or fast travel to a  tent or lodge.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
The pig species in the game have a fat shield that heavier (older) males build up by fighting each other. This raises the penetration threshold slightly for organs that are protected by the shield. It promotes a tactical choice of shooting distance and caliber, depending on the size of the target. The Feral Hog is not very large, but this shield requires the hunter to plan the shot. Bring your strongest  rifle. A good weapon is the fast reloading .30-06 Lever Action Rifle, especially near a feeder. You can keep shooting with this rifle while keeping sight on them. For heart shots you need to aim slightly behind the front leg, as opposed to other animals that have their heart more centered above the leg.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Highland
 L'île du Canard Noir
 Walkabout Creek

Video Guide

 *Maps** Logger's Point
* Settler Creeks
* Rougarou Bayou
* Bushrangers Run
* Piccabeen Bay

## Coyote

*Introduction*
The Coyote is one of the early animals of the game. It appears very large compared to the real animal, yet that doesn't reduce the fun hunting them. The southern island of Whitehart Island is an ideal spot. Start at the Southcliff Lodge and walk north. Plenty of  Whitetails and some  Elks will not be able to hide the elusive Coyotes from you. When this animal was initially introduced in the game, there was no caller available. The addition of a caller later on has made the hunt much easier. Nevertheless a few things are good to know before hitting the woods in the pursuit of finding the big dog.
*Spawning*
Coyotes can spawn alone in some cases. Mostly they travel in mixed groups of any number up to eight. There are usually more females than males in these groups. Often times when you find a single coyote, it might have been separated from its band through spooking or getting stuck in a solid object.
*Clothing*
The Coyote has a good eyesight and can see you from far. You may consider using  Sneaky 3D Summer Camo clothes to reduce your visibility. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. Coyotes have very good senses for hearing and especially smelling. Consider additional protection with  Scent Eliminator. Also use  Face Paint or a  Ghillie Suit, but remember the loudness of this suit and reduce your movements to a minimum.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
Coyotes have among the best smelling abilities in the game. When around coyotes you should always apply scent eliminator even if not necessarily upwind. The situation and track path can change quickly before you find yourself ending up in the wind upstream of the animal(s) you are tracking.
*Searching*
The score of the coyote is its weight. Carefully follow tracks of a "band" (or "pack") that includes heavy males. If you Tracking Skill is not high enough yet to judge the animal weights, follow all groups. Most bands will have a good size dog in them. The skill will build up quickly when tracking entire packs. Glass ahead often when the Huntermate tells you that you have come close. Due to its bright fur coyotes can be seen a bit better then the other animals. Many times when you come in reach you will get a call from one of the coyotes in the group. The chance that the next call is from an coyote in the tracked group increases with every additional animal in the group. If you walk or run into fleeing tracks and the estimation predicts a high weight, take the time to stalk that dog.
*Luring*
Once you are aware of coyotes in the area, use the  Predator "Jackrabbit" Caller to lure them to you. They tend to come in a straight line to your call, one after the other. Move backwards and lay down so they cannot detect you. It will not take very long until they arrive, so don't waste any time in the calling location. Coyotes trot to the call. When they arrive, they circle the spot you called from. In that process, one or several of the coyotes can come closer to you than you expected before returning to where they are supposed to end up. Make sure to back up at least 30-35m if you can. If you keep this distance, you can maneuver with your weapons and also get up from a prone position for a  bow shot without being detected. Once you are up, don't waste too much time for the shot. Don't rush the shot, but be quick. It can take some practice until you have a good feeling for what is a safe distance for staying undetected while still being able to place a deadly shot.
*Field Judging*
If your Spotting Skill for this species is high enough, you will get a weight and score estimation. Always check out as many as you can, but don't waste too much time doing this. Check out the visually largest dogs, and then shoot the one with the highest score estimation in the pack.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
Remember the 30-35m safety distance. A band of coyotes can build a very tight cluster around the calling location, so it is not always easy to hit the correct coyote, especially if you need to identify them one by one. If you cannot get information on all of them, shoot the one animal that appears the largest. You may also consider using  Buckshot ammo and hit multiple coyotes at once when they pile up in front of you.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
A spooked single Coyote or a band thereof won't run that far. Coyotes are less scary than the  Red Foxes and following them is a bit easier. The safest method to regain a lost dog is to wait a while, then slowly follow and hope for a call from it. You can then know it has calmed down again and can be lured back to you. Be aware though that low scoring animals such as females might be closer to you than the big dog you are tracking down, and they could see you again and cause another flush wave. Glassing around is therefore important also in this case. Also if you call an animal back to you after it has returned to normal state, be aware that now many of the previously scattered coyotes will also come in stages back at you. Use a  bow to eliminate them one by one, or try to hide until the one of your desire shows up. Coyotes that have arrived sooner at the calling location bear a risk of detecting you so keep a safe distance.

Community Guide
Check out this guide from Flanker305.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Field Lodge

Video Guide

 *Maps** Whitehart Island
* Logger's Point

## Red Fox

*Introduction*
When you see an orange spot sneak through tall grass or underwood, you might be spotting a Red Fox. This sneaky small animal a very aware of its surroundings and not easy to track down, which increases your satisfaction when finding a big dog. Some fur variations like the Cross or Gray add a bit to the challenge, because these can hardly be seen anymore as opposed to their Common peers. If you are lucky you might spot and even kill a rare albino or melanistic. You don't see very many of these apparently super rare animals reported in the public communities such as the game forum.
*Spawning*
Several foxes can spawn in the same area, however there is no group behavior. All foxes roam the areas on their own.
*Clothing*
The red fox has a very good eyesight and will detect slightest movements from far. Consider using the Sneaky 3D camo clothes for the area you are in to reduce your visibility. Val-des-Bois requires the  summer camo version. Hirschfelden requires the  fall camo version. Hemmeldal requires the  winter camo version. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. Foxes also have very good senses for smelling and hearing. Consider additional protection such as  Face Paint or a  Ghillie Suit, but remember the loudness of this suit and reduce your movements to a minimum.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
*Searching*
The score of the red fox is the weight. Carefully follow tracks of heavy males. Glass ahead often when the Huntermate tells you that you have come close. The bright fur of the Common variant can be seen quite well. Many times when you come in reach you will get a call from the fox. Even if you walk or run into fleeing tracks, when the estimation predicts a high weight, take the time to stalk that fox.
*Luring*
Use the  Predator "Jackrabbit" Caller to lure the fox to you. Many times foxes do not come in a straight line to your call. Move backwards and lay down so they cannot detect you. It can take a very long time until the fox arrives. Sometimes it even calls before it gets to the calling position. Do not change your plan in that moment. Keep waiting, it will come. It can trot or walk to the call. When it arrives, it circles the spot you called from. In that process the fox can come closer to you than you expected before returning to where it is supposed to end up. Make sure to back up at least 30-35m if you can. If you keep this distance, you can also maneuver with your weapons and also get up from a prone position for a  bow shot without being detected. Once you are up, don't waste too much time for the shot. Don't rush the shot, but be quick. It can take some practice until you have a good feeling for what is a safe distance for staying undetected while still being able to place a deadly shot.
*Field Judging*
It is possible to tell large foxes from small ones, but not easy. Behave as if every single fox you find might be a trophy. Even females can get high scores as they are not much lighter than males.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
A spooked fox is even more aware of you than it was already when in calm state. Immediately following all tracks will usually result in the red fox run again, and you will only find alternating fleeing and roaming tracks, but never the animal. After a few fleeing tracks, wait and spot. Again the bright orange color of the Common variant might give away its position. When you have a small circle on the Huntermate, you have likely come too close already and the fox will be gone. The safest method for winning this game is to wait a while, then slowly follow and hope for a call from it. You can then know it has calmed down again and can be lured back to you.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Kopparstorp
 Drängstorp
 Maison du Néant
 Copper Hills

Video Guide

 *Maps** Hirschfelden
* Hemmeldal
* Val-des-Bois
* Bushrangers Run

## Arctic Fox

*Introduction*
The Arctic Fox is a small but beautiful animal featuring a realistic looking fur, as opposed to the slightly larger Red Fox. It roams vast areas of the Whiterime Ridge reserve and is only really missing in the south. A natural protection of small animals is the high awareness of their environments, and the Arctic Fox does not stand back in this regard. Small foxes can be as heavy, or light, as large rabbits, and you need to plan your ambushes well. The Arctic Fox also blends nicely with the snowy backgrounds and you might oversee them walking around. However, they will in most cases see you before you see them.
*Spawning*
There is no group behavior. All foxes roam the areas on their own.
*Clothing*
You can hunt in Whiterime with the free  Basic Arctic Outfit, but this will a more difficult adventure than if you hunt them with the  Arctic camo clothes. Not only walking around and stalking them will be hard, but also when you call them in. With the Basic Outfit you will have to rely on longer shots. Bow hunting the small creatures will also be a challenge unless you are up in a Tree Stand or in a Ground Blind.
*Scent Eliminator and Wind Indicator*
This species has a sense of smell and will detect players around them. Especially when upwind, you will see close-by animals stick their nose into the wind, then run away. The  Scent Eliminator works against all animals with a sense of smell. Apply it when you want to get close to the animal of your choice. Also, make sure to pay attention to the wind direction by observing objects tossed around or by using  Wind Indicator. Use it and follow the smoke with your eyes to see in which direction it is blown. As a general rule of thumb, the wind will blow towards the North-East on all maps. If you are not sure about the wind conditions, apply the  Scent Eliminator just in case. It doesn't hurt to use it once too often if you want to be on the safe side and not regularly spook animals by your smell.
*Searching*
The weight of the Arctic Fox determines its score. Carefully follow tracks of heavy males. Glass ahead often when the Huntermate tells you that you have come close. Interestingly, if they are far away, they will appear as dark dots on the white background, and you might spot one from a great distance. If they are closer and you cannot clearly determine if you are looking at a fox, look for cold breath. Many times when you come in reach you will get a call from the fox. Even if you walk or run into fleeing tracks, when the estimation predicts a high weight, take the time to stalk that fox.
*Luring*
Use the  Predator "Jackrabbit" Caller to lure the fox to you. Many times foxes do not come in a straight line to your call. Move out of the wind and lay down so they cannot detect you. It can take a very long time until the fox arrives. It can trot or walk to the call. When it arrives, it circles the spot you called from. In that process the fox can come closer to you than you expected before returning to the calling location. Make sure to back up at least 32m (105ft) if you can. If you keep this distance, you can maneuver with your weapons and also get up from a prone position for a  bow shot without being detected too soon. Once you are up, don't waste time for the shot. Don't rush the shot, but be quick. It can take some practice until you have a good feeling for what is a safe distance for staying undetected while still being able to place a deadly shot. Always be aware of multiple foxes being in the area. When calling, wait a while after "your" fox has arrived, there might be more coming.
*Field Judging*
It is possible to tell large foxes from small ones. Females can also get nice scores as they are not much lighter than males, but for competitions always go after males.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off.
A spooked arctic fox is even more aware of you than it was already when in calm state. Immediately following all tracks might result in another fleeing. After a few fleeing tracks, wait and spot. Look for movements and cold breath, and listen for "barking" and walking sounds. When you have a small circle on the Huntermate, you have come too close and the fox will be on the run again. The safest method for winning this game is to wait a while, then slowly follow and hope for a call from it. You can then know it has calmed down again and can be lured back to you.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 *Maps** Whiterime Ridge

## Turkey

*Introduction*
If you like turkey hunting, every gobble or clucking in the woods raises your hopes. If you don't like these black feather balls, the calls will only be disturbing. Turkeys are a very vocal kind. Every hunter should give turkey hunting a chance. They present a unique experience in many ways. Once you pick up a tom with a long beard and a score close to 70 points, your heart will pound just as much as if you were positioning a nice rack from a trophy deer for the picture.
*Spawning*
Turkey toms travel alone, in male groups of up to five, or in mixed groups of up to eight birds. Females can spawn in groups of up to five of them, but many times will be part of a mixed group. If you find a single hen, it was probably separated from a group through spooking or getting stuck in the environment. A group of up to five toms naturally increases your chances for finding a nice score. These flocks need to be handled with the utmost care, especially when following them with the aim to catching up and calling them in to you.
*Clothing*
The turkey has a very good eyesight and will detect you walking around. Consider using  Sneaky 3D Summer Camo to reduce your visibility. Sneaky 3D camo clothes provide no scent or sound reduction though. Turkeys have no sense of smelling, which means that scent reduction is not a factor when hunting them. You may also consider items that provide protection independent of the environment you are in, such as  Face Paint, a  Cowboy Hat or a  Flat Cap.
*Searching*
Only the turkey males have a score. The weight to score relation is not very strong. Heavy birds can score low and mid size turkeys can score very high. When you detect turkey tracks, follow them if some belong to males. Try to catch up with them by walking. You can in most cases safely walk until you have a solid circle on the Huntermate. From there crouch forward until you find a good spot to lure them towards you. Males and females have a different call, and both genders are very vocal. An easy way for finding turkeys is to simply walk around until you hear a call from them.
*Luring*
Turkey hunting is supported by a number of devices. The  Turkey Locator Caller to detect male turkeys. They will respond in a fair amount of times, but not always. The locator can be used to find new flocks, but also to keep track of how close they have come to you when luring them with the  Turkey Box Caller. The box caller has a long effect on the turkeys and they keep strolling rather quick towards you. Make sure to keep enough distance to an approaching bird, or even more if there is an entire flock. The gobblers won't come in a straight line to you, many times they build a front and you need to be very careful to keep all birds in view. Once one of them detects you it will stand still and stare at you, and in most cases run away unless you can crawl behind a nearby solid object. Running or flying turkeys are the cause for many animal spookings that the player cannot explain. The rather small animal cannot be heard when it runs except from very close.
With the addition of the  Turkey Decoy you have another possibility for attracting the gobblers. They will however not detect the decoys from very far and you still need to bring them into eyesight reach before they stroll towards the dummies. The decoys will keep the turkeys interested for a short while only.
*Field Judging*
Even though the weight is part of the score, the length of the beard is a much stronger argument. Always shoot the bird out of a flock that has the visually longest beard. In case you are in doubt which beard is the longest, and for some reason don't think you can shoot multiples of them, pick the heaviest bird. A third factor in the scoring are the spurs on their legs just above the feet. These however cannot be seen and play no role in your judging for which bird might be the best. Some turkey have a double beard. In an earlier version of the game, both of these counted and made for a really good score. Nowadays only the longer of the two counts. Doubled bearded birds never score high, so better ignore them.
*Senses*
Turkeys have no sense of smelling.  Scent Eliminator will not make a difference so don't waste any on them. Their eyesight however is as sharp as that of  Pheasants, and they will detect you from far. The same goes for hearing, which is again exceptionally good.
*Shooting the animal*
The shot must be well prepared. Search a good place where you can stay undetected. Avoid hasty shots. A good  spotting skill  will support you picking the right animal if there are severals. Wait until the animal of your choice has come close enough for a good shot, or until you can safely hit a vital from the side. It is not always possible to set up an ambush, or to move away on time. Stay alert for other animals (e.g. from a group) that might have come very close to your lure, and make sure to go for a shot before one of these could spook and flush everything around them.
It is best to shoot turkey in the head or neck. This will always lead to an instant kill. Otherwise if you hit they can run a few meters before dying, which can cause a flushing effect on bystanders of any species. Turkeys can survive long range shots unless you hit it with a  .223 Rifle.
An experienced hunter can take out many turkeys, sometimes even multiple flocks at once, if shooting them one by one with a bow. The  Parker Python bow with its  Rangefinder Bow Sight is the ideal silent weapon against the turkeys. You may also use other bows, but they are all louder and harder to shoot. The silence of the Parker can be an important factor when detecting a turkey that has come closer than 20m and you need to quickly take it out before the others can see you. Make sure to keep the flock at a distance (25-30m) and check left and right of their last known position, as they can go unusual paths to approach you. If you keep shooting the closest, you reduce the risk of the entire flock being flushed by a nearby hen or tom that you didn't know of.
After shooting a turkey, use the  Box Caller again to keep them on the move to you. Even if you think you are done, stay silent and alert for a while and keep looking for more company from them. You may also use the  Locator Caller to check if there is a male close by.
If you use  Turkey Decoys note that they will keep the turkeys interested for a short while only. Shoot as many as you can within that time.
*If the animal flees*
Spooked turkeys almost always run in a straight way forward unless blocked by solid objects or shores. Many times they take off and fly a certain distance. If you follow it and can't find the next fleeing track right away, keep following the last known track, exactly in the middle of the cone on the Huntermate, and you will likely find the next track. You can also listen for wing flapping that the turkey will start once calmed down. If you cannot find spooked birds or simply if you want to do it the easy way, keep sounding the  Box Caller. This takes a bit longer, but many times they will return while announcing it with calls. The turkeys do not leave the rendering range when they spook. If you spook a Turkey, you can even stay where you are. At some point it will react to your calling and come back.
*Weapons*
 Shotguns with  Birdshot are the most commonly used weapons for hunting turkeys. Birds on the ground can be shot with  Bows and help you practice bow shooting. Shooting them airborne however takes a lot of practice. You can easily take out close-by turkeys with the .22 Pistol. Unless you hit head or neck which is hard, they will run a few meters before dying, but not far. For longer ranges one of the available  .223 Rifle types can be used.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Highland
 Homestead

Video Guide

 *Maps** Whitehart Island
* Settler Creeks

## Pheasant

*Introduction*
The challenge of hunting this bird is not the tracking, stalking and ambushing like for so many other animals in the game. Approaching them is relatively easy as you will see below. The real deal is about shooting long-feathered roosters in the air.
*Spawning*
Pheasants will always  spawn in groups of up to nine birds. If you find single birds, they will be from a flock that was parted by spooking or by getting stuck in terrain or vegetation. Unlike  waterfowl, pheasants only fly when spooked. Otherwise they walk across the meadows and fields and you can find them feeding.
*Clothing*
The pheasant has a very good eyesight and will detect you walking around. You can consider using  Sneaky 3D Summer Camo at Logger's Point or  Sneaky 3D Fall Camo at Hirschfelden to reduce your visibility, however hunting the pheasant is not about stalking. Better adjust your clothing to the other animals in the reserve.
*Searching*
The relation between weight and score is quite strong. It is worth increasing your  tracking skill for pheasants and following tracks of heavy males. Any track that suggests a weight above 2.6kg can result in a nice big bird.
*Luring*
It is not possible to lure a pheasant towards you. Using the  Locator Caller will provoke responses from males. Male pheasants can also cry on their own, which gives away their position. Females do not have a vocal sound.
*Field Judging*
When spotting them in the field, look for long tail feathers. The spurs are too small to be judged from the bare eye.
*Senses*
The pheasants have no sense of smelling.  Scent Eliminator will not make a difference so don't waste any on them. Their eyesight however is as sharp as that of  Turkeys, and they will detect you from far. The same goes for hearing, which is again exceptionally good.
*Ducking / fleeing behavior*
You can either approach a flock crouching, or you can just run to them. If you crouch they will not detect you until you are very close. If you run, they will duck right where they are and stay immobile in an open field. In dense vegetation they will not dodge but run away and fly at the earliest opportunity. Sometimes in open fields you can see females or particularly large males flying away instead of ducking with the rest when scared. Hidden pheasants are not easy to detect in high grass. They are easier to detect from further away where the grass around them is not rendered anymore. If you are very close and cannot see the hidden birds, use a magnification device to scan the grass. If you are looking at a hidden pheasant, a white outline will give away their position. As long as you stay very close to them or are in movement, the pheasants will remain hidden. Use this time to spot all birds to level up your Spotting Skill for this animal, but also to make sure you find the largest bird. Any bird you come too close to during this process, i.e. about 1m / 3ft. will fly away without scaring other birds. Spooked pheasants will alarm and spook other animals though when seen, whether they run or fly.
*Shooting the animal*
Approach the flock and look at all males and pick the one you feel is the largest. Shooting multiple birds is well possible for an experienced shooter. Use the Whistle key (default: "F") to flush them off the ground. You can also walk or run close, and close-by birds will fly up in the air. Always shoot pheasants in the air. Ground shots will not count for competitions and leaderboards. A pheasant will in most cases rise and fly straight ahead, unless the terrain makes it turn. It is worth paying attention to the direction the bird is facing before you flush it. Make sure it is facing open fields and not forests. In case you miss the shot, you will easier find the bird in open areas. Pheasants cannot fly over rivers. They will turn around, or land and run into a different direction, or land and run over a water crossing. It is not possible to flush pheasants in certain terrains, most noticeably in the forests. A spooked bird will just run, but you can run after it. Keep your  shotgun ready for when it eventually takes off.
You can erase an entire flock of pheasants on the ground within a 1-2 minutes with a  Bow, the .22 Air Rifle or the .22 Pistol. Observe the birds which all should be ducked. Wait until they get up and start walking. Shoot one and they will all duck again. Wait until they get up again, shoot the next and wait. Repeat this until the entire flock is wiped out. Sometimes a single bird will not play along and flee during this process, just let it go.
*If the animal flees*
If you spook the animal of your desire, follow the tracks crouching. Use your optics and try to spot it, and also look for tracks or vocal signs. Do not go too fast. The animal can stop fleeing abruptly and return to roaming, and the roaming can be in any direction including coming right back at you. If you end up bumping into the animal it will flee again. Take your time. If the animal is worth it, a few more minutes will pay off. Spooked pheasants calm down rather quickly. Listen for their call or use the lure to trigger a call. Do not pick up any other tracks when searching a particular pheasant. It should remain your currently tracked animal. When you hear a call, identify it with the HunterMate. If the call is immediately identified, you know that this is your bird. If it says this is the call from another bird and requires your confirmation to switch to the new animal, cancel the identification in order not to lose your current pheasant. If other pheasants keep calling and you cannot find your bird, consider chasing them away or shooting them with a silent weapon. Do not shoot at other animals, or your trophy bird might just fly further away into a direction you have no idea of.
*Weapons*
 Shotguns with  Birdshot are the most commonly used weapons for hunting pheasants. Practice shooting at the  Single Rise Clay shooting range at the Causeway Lodge of Whitehart Island or at the  Double Rise Clay shooting range at the  Field Lodge of Logger's Point. Challenge a friend a see who can hit more clay pigeons.
Birds on the ground can be shot with  Bows and help you practice bow shooting. Shooting them airborne however takes a lot of practice. Lead the shot and aim for the head, and you will find yourself succeed sooner.
If you want to shoot pheasants with a  pistol, go behind them and flush them. Let them reach a steady gliding before you shoot. Rising birds tend to make unpredictable changes in height, which is a recipe for missing.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Müllerwaldhütte

Video Guide

 *Maps** Logger's Point
* Hirschfelden

## Canada Goose

*Introduction*
Hunting waterfowl is quite different in that regard, and the right equipment is more important here than for animals you can track down or lure out of the woods. The Canada Goose is, unlike many other species, not really tracked and spotted. When starting a hunt, some geese can sit on ground near you, but mostly they appear in groups on the sky and are to be lured down so they can be shot. The Canada Goose leaves track on the ground when roaming around, but the tracking skill is not of much benefit as most of these birds will be shot by luring from the sky, not by tracking in the field. As opposed to the Mallard Duck, geese can sleep on the ground.
*Field judging*
It is not possible to field judge geese. Males and females cannot be differentiated. Heavier birds will be a bit larger, but the difference is not recognizable by the player. Shoot all birds in reach.
*Spawning*
Waterfowl spawns outside the map and flies over the reserve. After leaving the reserve, the same birds can reappear again in another flock later on. You may recognize this yourself when you spot a rare bird such as a  Black Hybrid Mallard multiple times. Waterfowl flocks are always mixed groups of males and females. Duck flocks can also be a mix of different species, especially as your hunt progresses to an hour or more.
*Preparing the hunt*
Find an area where you can often see high flying flocks. Birds will only land if the landing target is big enough for them to land on, so you want to position yourself very close to big water places (ducks) or fields (geese). Consider placing a  tent right in this area. This way you can start your hunts right where the action happens! Now make your position attractive! Your goal is to get them to break from high flying flocks and land near you. The birds are attracted to Decoys of their kind as well as the callers mimicking their own sounds. Using both at the same time has the best effect. The decoys imitate birds sitting on the water surface or corn field. When you now add their typical sound with the callers, the illusion is perfect for them and they pay you a visit. Set out the decoys a few meters apart from each other. 24 decoys have the best attraction effect. Setting up more in the same area does not increase the attraction of the area any further. Learn more about the mixing of different duck decoys  here.
Waterfowl can see your movements from far away. You can lie flat on the ground, or you can consider setting up a Waterfowl Blind. Three people can wait in such a blind for the birds to approach. In the blind, you don't have to lay on the ground but can crouch. The blind nicely protects your movements from being spotted by the approaching birds, but also against other species that might be roaming the area.
*Luring*
Ducks and Geese can spawn on the ground or come flying in groups about 60m up. Scan the skies for incoming flocks. You will hear a quacking or honking of approaching flocks. Once you spot a flock, start calling with the appropriate  long range caller. The birds are hard to predict how they will behave when they spot decoys or hear calls. In the worst case an entire flock might just pass without taking notice. However in most cases you will see some birds detaching themselves from the group and starting to glide into your area. They can come flying right to your call, or they can seek a feeding place further away from you.
Some birds might have been successfully lured away from their flock, but they decided to land outside your shotgun range. With the species specific  short range caller you can now imitate their feeding sound. This will lure birds to where you are. So combine the callers! The long range caller increases the chance of them breaking off from the large flock and beginning to circle the area where the call originated. However without using the short range caller there is no guarantee that they will fly or land close enough to your location for a shoot. In this case they will choose a random location where there is enough space on water or land. They can land next to you or quite a bit further away. Using the short range caller basically increases the chance of you getting a shot at them.
Difference in luring geese vs. ducks:
In multiplayer mode you can lure more geese when one player uses the  Long Range Caller and another uses the  Flag Lure. This type of luring effect increase is not possible when hunting ducks.
*Shooting Waterfowl*
The constant movements of swimming ducks or walking geese can make shots with a bow or crossbow a nice challenge. Shooting birds with bows further out will not spook nearby fellows. The real deal however is to shoot the birds in the air! Whistle with the "Make sound" key (default: F; see Controls) to flush the birds just as you do with the  pheasants. You will receive a score for birds shot on the water ("G" score), but only birds shot in the air ("A" score) will count for competitions, leaderboards and  missions. So make good use of your shotguns! The constant supply of new flocks will need you to be equipped with plenty of Birdshot ammunition! Shot waterfowl will drop dead to the ground or water surface. In water they might float to the other side of a river or lake, but you should always be able to retrieve them. Consider using a  retriever dog for collecting shot birds.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Hirschfelden

## Ducks

*Introduction*
Ducks are, unlike other species, not really tracked and spotted. When starting a hunt, some ducks can sit on water near your, but mostly they appear in groups on the sky and are to be lured down so they can be shot. Hunting waterfowl is quite different in that regard, and the right equipment is more important here than for animals you can track down or lure out of the woods.
*Field judging*
Male ducks are larger than female ducks. The drakes differ in color from the hens. It is very hard to field judge the scores of ducks. When the spotting information appears, the duck might be leaving again. Shoot all the males in reach first.
*Spawning*
Waterfowl spawns outside the map and flies over the reserve. After leaving the reserve, the same birds can reappear again in another flock later on. You may recognize this yourself when you spot a rare bird such as a  Black Hybrid Mallard multiple times. Waterfowl flocks are always mixed groups of males and females. Duck flocks can also be a mix of different species, especially as your hunt progresses to an hour or more.
*Preparing the hunt*
Find an area where you can often see high flying flocks. Birds will only land if the landing target is big enough for them to land on, so you want to position yourself very close to big water places (ducks) or fields (geese). Consider placing a  tent right in this area. This way you can start your hunts right where the action happens! Now make your position attractive! Your goal is to get them to break from high flying flocks and land near you. The birds are attracted to Decoys of their kind as well as the callers mimicking their own sounds. Using both at the same time has the best effect. The decoys imitate birds sitting on the water surface or corn field. When you now add their typical sound with the callers, the illusion is perfect for them and they pay you a visit. Set out the decoys a few meters apart from each other. 24 decoys have the best attraction effect. Setting up more in the same area does not increase the attraction of the area any further. Learn more about the mixing of different duck decoys  here.
Waterfowl can see your movements from far away. You can lie flat on the ground, or you can consider setting up a Waterfowl Blind. Three people can wait in such a blind for the birds to approach. In the blind, you don't have to lay on the ground but can crouch. The blind nicely protects your movements from being spotted by the approaching birds, but also against other species that might be roaming the area.
*Luring*
Ducks and Geese can spawn on the ground or come flying in groups about 60m up. Scan the skies for incoming flocks. You will hear a quacking or honking of approaching flocks. Once you spot a flock, start calling with the appropriate  long range caller. The birds are hard to predict how they will behave when they spot decoys or hear calls. In the worst case an entire flock might just pass without taking notice. However in most cases you will see some birds detaching themselves from the group and starting to glide into your area. They can come flying right to your call, or they can seek a feeding place further away from you.
Some birds might have been successfully lured away from their flock, but they decided to land outside your shotgun range. With the species specific  short range caller you can now imitate their feeding sound. This will lure birds to where you are. So combine the callers! The long range caller increases the chance of them breaking off from the large flock and beginning to circle the area where the call originated. However without using the short range caller there is no guarantee that they will fly or land close enough to your location for a shoot. In this case they will choose a random location where there is enough space on water or land. They can land next to you or quite a bit further away. Using the short range caller basically increases the chance of you getting a shot at them.
Difference in luring geese vs. ducks:
In multiplayer mode you can lure more geese when one player uses the  Long Range Caller and another uses the  Flag Lure. This type of luring effect increase is not possible when hunting ducks.
*Shooting Waterfowl*
The constant movements of swimming ducks or walking geese can make shots with a bow or crossbow a nice challenge. Shooting birds with bows further out will not spook nearby fellows. The real deal however is to shoot the birds in the air! Whistle with the "Make sound" key (default: F; see Controls) to flush the birds just as you do with the  pheasants. You will receive a score for birds shot on the water ("G" score), but only birds shot in the air ("A" score) will count for competitions, leaderboards and  missions. So make good use of your shotguns! The constant supply of new flocks will need you to be equipped with plenty of Birdshot ammunition! Shot waterfowl will drop dead to the ground or water surface. In water they might float to the other side of a river or lake, but you should always be able to retrieve them. Consider using a  retriever dog for collecting shot birds.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Rougarou Bayou

## European Rabbit

*Introduction*
With the introduction of the European Rabbit, a new animal behavior was added to the game. Animal building and hiding in burrows. They will be out and about, but will run "home" quickly when danger is near. The burrow systems appear randomly on the according maps and require you to go find them, if you are after the Euro Rabbits, especially when the European Rabbit cannot be heard or detected with the HunterMate, just like its cotton-tailed peer.
*Spawning*
Finding them pretty much means finding burrow systems. You can find these system spread over the according maps. Their appearance is random.
*Luring*
There is no attractant for the European Rabbit.
*Searching'*
The European Rabbit is very territorial. They stay near to their spawn point, i.e. near their burrow. If another burrow is very close, they will use that to hide in when in danger, but tend to return to their home location. Move around and look for the tracks of this rabbit. Once you find tracks from various animals, you can be sure there will be a burrow near. This however is not always easy to find, it can be in a forest area, and the holes might be hard to see in bad light or in the tree shadows.
It is possible that when you approach a burrow without knowing of its existence, you can see a number of rabbits running in the same direction. Follow them and you will find the holes. A burrow can have somewhere between four to eight (and maybe even more) holes.
If you are after the big trophy follow tracks of heavy females (!). A high Tracking Skill for this animal is inevitable, so read all tracks you can find. Females can reach 2.5kg (2500 grams = scoring 2500) and are heavier than the males which only reach 2250 grams. The weight is the score, finding a heavy rabbit will mean finding a high score. The heavy rabbit will hide inside the burrow, and you will have to wait until it reappears at the surface so you can shoot it.
*Shooting the animal*
When you approach a burrow, you may see rabbits running for the holes. They tend to all run into the same hole. Knowing this, you can use this to your advantage. Do not run or walk, just sneak up to a burrow. If you had been walking or running, the rabbits will already be hidden inside. In that case go away for a while and return later more silently. Crouch until you are in the middle of the burrow, surrounded by several holes, then make noise. If you are lucky you will have rabbits running for the holes. Be sure to have a  Shotgun ready. Do not use a scope though or you might overlook some running rabbits. Look where the rabbits run and shoot as many as you can before they disappear in the hole. As said, they tend to all want to use the same hole in such situations.
This method makes sense when you first encounter a burrow, but then you will have to switch your tactics. Simply lay flat very near the holes, in an elevated spot where you can see as many holes as possible. After a while, the rabbits will leave their homes, come out and move around. You can hear exiting rabbits, so listen for that distinct noise. Pick them with the shotgun or the .22 Air Rifle. With air rifle shots from further away killing the animal instantly, there is a chance that you remain undetected and can shoot another one.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Copper Hills

Video Guide

 *Maps** Val-des-Bois
* Bushrangers Run

## Cottontail Rabbit

*Introduction*
The cottontail rabbit does not make sounds loud enough to be detected as clues on the HunterMate, nor does it respond to any lures. This can make rabbit hunting quite frustrating if you do not know some very specific details about its behavior. Due to its small size and the high grass in areas where it is typically found it can be very difficult to detect, and your first encounter is likely to be seeing it hopping away from you or finding a fleeing track.
Multiple tactics can be used in this situation such as staking out the area where the rabbit is believed to be hiding and picking it off with a precision weapon such as a  bow or  air rifle once it comes out or to simply stomp around in the hiding area hoping to flush the wabbit like a Pheasant, taking it with a  shotgun. There may be other tactics that EW hasn't thought of, but that will be for the players to figure out.
In contrast to other species it is not a big deal if you spook a rabbit. Once it has spooked it will hop away and search for a patch of thick vegetation (shrubs & bushes) where it can hide and it will stay there for a while before being able to be spooked again. A resourceful player can exploit this by noticing the direction where the rabbit runs and then methodically search bushes and shrubs in the area to find the rabbits hiding place. The challenge is not to avoid spooking the prey but to figure out where it's hiding before it decides to relocate. Once you've found the hiding spot it will be a simple case of "shooting a sitting duck" unless you get too close (basically stepping on it) which will make it flush out of hiding just as the pheasants do.
Rabbit make movement sounds that are at max volume within 16 meters. After that the sounds quadratically decrease to a low volume at a distance of 25 meters. The sound totally dies off at about 30-40 meters.
*Spawning*
Many Cottontail Rabbits spawn very close to each other. They will hop around but will always stay within their realm. You will not find a long trail leading away from the original spawning location unless the animal was fleeing.
*Luring*
There is no attractant for the Cottontail Rabbit.
*Searching*
The rabbit is very territorial. They stay within a 100m radius of their spawn point. They may still run out of their territory if forced to by the player, but they will always return when left alone after a while. The rabbits only run about 40m from the location of threat and then hide in the first shrub/bush they find. Be careful when you find a track that is 1 hour old. There might be another track from the same rabbit next to it that is only very recent, because of the territorial behavior.
If you are after the big trophy follow tracks of heavy females (!). A high Tracking Skill for this animal is inevitable, so read all tracks you can find. Females can reach 2kg (2000 grams = scoring 2000) and are heavier than the males which only reach 1800 grams. The weight is the score, finding a heavy rabbit will mean finding a high score. Glass the area often.
*Shooting the animal*
Rabbits tend to hide if they hear you. You can flush rabbits (default key: "F") just like  pheasants and  waterfowl. The rabbit's flush distance is 5-10 meters. It is the distance at which the rabbit decides to flee when hiding. If the rabbit finds a shrub or bush to hide in after it has been spooked, it will not leave the hiding place until it feels that it is safe to leave or the player comes very close. The best chances for hitting fleeing Cottontails is if you use a  shotgun. For "instant" kills there is a chance that the rabbit will jump into the air before dying (special kill animation unique to this animal).
The rabbit is the "best" animal in the game for run and gun tactics. By running around in dense areas and following tracks, you will find many rabbits. Run until you find "Fleeing" tracks. A rabbit will always flee first when it hears you come, so the fleeing tracks will be your sign for the animal being very close. They leave somewhere between 3 and 6 tracks before diving under. When you follow and the tracks stop, the rabbit is hiding very close to you. Sometimes it takes some time to find it, as it might have made a last sharp turn in the search for a good hiding spot. If you can't find the rabbit, keep running around and listen for a running sound which you can hear quite well, then follow it again. This video shows how it works.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

 Highland
 Homestead

Video Guide

 *Maps** Logger's Point
* Settler Creeks

## Snowshoe Hare

*Introduction*
The Snowshoe Hare is, just like the Cottontail Rabbit a very silent and inconspicuous animal. Although very lively and constantly looking for food, it does not make sounds loud enough to be detected unless you come really close to it. The  Huntermate cannot detect it, and unless you sneak through the deep snow, most of the times you will hear a snowshoe hare will be when it runs away from you. The difference to the cottontail however is that you can detect it from far away, appearing as a darker dot in the generally white environment.
*Spawning*
Snowshoe hares spawn and roam alone and do not seem to be bound to specific areas. Of course there are certain areas on the map where they will start and other where you will never find them. Check the Whiterime Ridge map for suitable hunting locations.
*Luring*
There is no attractant for the Snowshoe Hare.
*Searching*
If you are after the fat hare follow tracks of heavy females (!). A high Tracking Skill for this animal is inevitable, so read all tracks you can find. Females can reach 2kg (2000 grams = scoring 2000) and are heavier than the males which only reach 1800 grams. The weight is the score, finding a heavy hare will mean finding a high score. Glass the area often and look for movements in the distance. The white hare only appears when close by. Further away it turn into a darker dot and can be detected by mere eyesight.
It is not a big deal if you spookt a hare. It will run away and search for a hiding place, and it will stay there for a while. The challenge is not to avoid spooking the prey but to figure out where it is hiding before it decides to return to normal state. Once you have found the hiding spot it will be simple to shoot it unless you get too close which will make it run away again.
*Shooting the animal*
You can track down Snowshoe hares by running around in populated areas and following tracks. Run until you find "Fleeing" tracks. A hare will always flee first when it hears you come. The fleeing tracks will be your sign for the animal being very close. They can easily leave up to 10 tracks before hiding again. Try not to chase a hare towards a hillside. Due to the lack of hiding objects there you might have to follow it for a very long time.
When you follow and the tracks stop, the hare is hiding very close to you. Sometimes it takes some time to find it, as it might have made a last sharp turn in the search for a good hiding spot. Use your binoculars or a weapon scope and scan the area. Often times you will receive spotting information in the upper right corner of the screen before you even see the animal itself. Don't rush that moment but rather take the time to find the animal. If you are within that spotting range, the chances for the hare to to flee are small. Just when you keep moving it might end up fleeing again.
If you can't see the hare, keep running around and listen for a running sound which you can hear quite well, then follow it again. With a little practice you can shoot fleeing Snowshoes, especially if you use a  shotgun.

Quick Start Locations
Start at the following lodge(s) for quickly finding this species.

Video Guide

 *Maps** Whiterime Ridge