Moose - not finding any.

[Wuulfe]

So playing SP and still on chapter 1, trying to find _any_ moose at all. Been to suggested locations like Cairn lake and Isabella lake. The O lake too where one is supposedly swimming and chased by a wolf….

But literally nada has spawned. Tried camping, saving, dropping potent herb bait. Still nada. I keep getting horses, deer, elk, rams or other such crap but absolutely no Moose.

What’s the deal here, Are they really that low a RNG? Or is the spawn bugged? I was at this for 12 hours today just trying to find a moose and found absolutely none at all

[JuiceWSA]

Chapter 1? Coulter? Really?

Just in case you really mean Chapter 2 - you could probably find one easier in Chapter 1.

Camping and Saving and Sleeping is all BullS&#t. A total waste of time.
A simple 'Load' rebuilds a Brand New Game around your general location with animals appearing randomly - some more randomly than others, obviously.

The Trick to finding a Moose is not needing one - then you'll be trampled senseless by a 3* Bull Moose in no time:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2839192617

That's in Tall Trees - Online - but they're just as rare in either Mode - if you need one.

Oh, yes - I hear all the stories of how easy it is to find one at Lake Isabella - in 3000 hours I've NEVER SEEN ONE there. NEVER! I did see one for split second at Barrow Lagoon once. I've seen them swimming in Owanjilla Lake, often see them at Ocreagh's Run basically in 'The Veteran's Side Lawn. I had a 3* Moose walk into Dewberry Creekbed with the rattlesnakes one night when I dropped a herbivore bait there so could drop a few poor deer as Opossum bait - turned around a Bullwinkle was standing there. Nearly S&*t myself, but of course I didn't need one then.

I have dropped more Bulls here than anywhere else in the game - and even when I needed one:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2674035840

The last time I absolutely had to have a Moose in Story Mode I fired up the Trainer and dropped a dozen of them on Heartland Overflow and they looked so Natural there... blasted one and called it a day - I wasn't in the mood for Moose Disappointment Syndrome....lol

Basically, stop looking for a Moose and suddenly you'll see one... or it sure seems that way, but I do often get one to show up using 'The Mooser's Trick':
Empty an area of animals by riding around and chasing them off - then ride back to the middle of that area and drop a standard herbivore bait. Ride away from it for 50 to 75 yards, then turn back to look at it. A moose might be standing on the bait. Try that in several 'moosey looking places' - you never know.

Using this map: https://jeanropke.github.io/RDOMap/
Highlight and check all the Moose areas on it. The Map is for Online, but the spawns 'should' be the same. What have you got to lose at this point, right?

[Wuulfe]

I gave up about an hour ago. It was utterly ridiculous. I actually stumbled across a white Arabian horse. Was so angry with the ten/eleven hours I failed in finding a moose it shot the horse with a scoped rifle. Got up close, waited for it to self-die then unloaded about 3 reloads of shotgun shells into it.
Was so pissed by the whole day’s failings I somehow managed to get the horse corpse onto a cart set it on fire and pushed it over a cliff with a few sticks of dynamite…

That sort of pacified my anger issues for the day but sadly still got me any moose.

[JuiceWSA]

The perfect end to ANY Arabian in my opinion, but not even I - the Spokesperson for "The Arabian's Suck Society" - could ever shoot one (on purpose, at least).

One day you'll see your Moose.
Maybe.

But do feel free to blast that Stupid Arabian again...
He spawns there and every Knob that ever played this game can't wait to get there and spend the rest of the game flying through the air when a Woodpecker gets too close...

;)

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Why do you even want the Moose so early. Do what needs to be done and move to Chapter 2 first.

[ChasingCoyote]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Why do you even want the Moose so early. Do what needs to be done and move to Chapter 2 first.

He obviously IS in chapter 2, and completed Hosea's mission: "Exit Persued By a Bruised Ego", or else that Arabian would not have spawned! (It will only spawn after the stables have been unlocked.)

Originally posted by JuiceWSA:

...But do feel free to blast that Stupid Arabian again...
He spawns there and every Knob that ever played this game can't wait to get there and spend the rest of the game flying through the air when a Woodpecker gets too close...

;)

I agree most Arabians are really easily spooked by any predator, but I DO like the Warped Brindle, as I've shot a pack of wolves at my horses hooves (with arrows) and also cougars who try sneaking up on me, and never been bucked by THIS Arabian. in fairness, tho, I did wait to increase bonding and regualarly to the tricks the game teaches, (rearing, drifting, etc.) so bonding with the horse is key to having a horse like mine) granted tho it still gets spooked by gators, grizzlies and to a lesser extent, snakes!
but key thing is to build your horses TRUST in you!

[JuiceWSA]

The Warped Brindle has some of the poorest stats of the breed:
https://reddead.fandom.com/wiki/Arabian
The Black that you can steal as soon as you get to St. Denis and do the 'rescue' has some of the best, but what you end up with in any case is a SH%$&ty Arabian.

Taking ANY horse not fully Bonded into Deadly Predator territory is a foolish endeavor and if you can make it's cores Gold (you can easily with Horse Meal) it'll hang in even longer in some cases, but NO HORSE is going to stand there when a Cougar takes a swipe at it<---you'll float through the air with the greatest of ease, like the daring young man on the flying trapeze...

I ride a Turk that has never tossed me - in 3000 hours in the presence of any number of Wolves (Gold Cores always), but will toss me immediately if I let a Cougar get too close, or make him head into the bushes where a Legendary Hog Lives - right before the hog eats me.

Obviously The Turk is smarter than I am...

;)

[ChasingCoyote]

Originally posted by JuiceWSA:

but NO HORSE is going to stand there when a Cougar takes a swipe at it<---you'll float through the air with the greatest of ease, like the daring young man on the flying trapeze...

I ride a Turk that has never tossed me - in 3000 hours in the presence of any number of Wolves (Gold Cores always), but will toss me immediately if I let a Cougar get too close, or make him head into the bushes where a Legendary Hog Lives - right before the hog eats me.

Obviously The Turk is smarter than I am...

;)

I may be an isolated case, I don't know, but when all other Arabians were cowards in the face of wolves or cougars, landing me on my butt in the midst of the predators (often without a decent weapon on me) the Warped Brindle Arabian did just that: stood its ground and let me shoot them with enough surety that I got perfect pelts off the majority of them! like I said, I was sure to build the horses trust in me before attempting hunting these predators! That is with over 4073 hours of gameplay in RDR2, With the stolen Black Arabian is the first time I ever LOST a race! I don't dispute that you've got a LOT of deep knowledge of the game, but apparently stats don't tell the whole story. I would encourage anyone to try it out. Treat the horse good and it'll take care of you!

[JuiceWSA]

Originally posted by ChasingCoyote:

I don't dispute that you've got a LOT of deep knowledge of the game, but apparently stats don't tell the whole story.

...don't I know it...

I'm not riding this Dark Bay Andalusian for it's great stats ('cause they blow goats compared to the Wild Perlino at Brandywine Drop)... I'm ridiing it 'cause it's Black:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2736536558

Not long after that picture, on the way to the trapper - it tossed me to the ground like sack of taters when a couple of wolves showed up and I forgot I wasn't on The Turk.

[Raven]

Moose are some of the rarest animals in the game. The place I've had the best luck hunting for them is at Barrow Lagoon. The caveat of this spot, however, is that the way they sometimes spawn means they will run off and despawn if you don't immediately shoot them. Another good thing about this spot is that sometimes a grizzly bear will spawn and there's generally plenty of wolves, so even if you don't see a moose, you can at least bag some extra pelts to sell if you like.

Also, just as an extra general tip, when I'm planning on hunting larger animals, I bring along my temporary horse for extra storage. It cuts the amount of back and forth I have to do when gathering hides/pelts. Just remember to set them to follow and have them stay when you dismount, otherwise it'll keep following you and spook animals.

[ChasingCoyote]

Originally posted by Raven:

Also, just as an extra general tip, when I'm planning on hunting larger animals, I bring along my temporary horse for extra storage.

This is a tip I have always adhered to! I brought back to camp a 3* bull moose hide, a ram carcass and the Legendary Bison hide from Lake Isabella, because I brought a spare horse and caught the White Arabian while there, so had two pack animals with with my main horese! I'm not sure if the game will allow you to have two spares, but I rode the White and the spare and main horse followed me! after all done, Only the White remained as my spare!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Best place for Moose is up near the northern-most water-fall... North of Annesburg. That and the open plains of Big Valley