do you need to headshot every animal for quick kill & 3 star animal pelts?

[wubbelflup]

i've been doing that but it's a pain with rabbits and other vermin.

[DargonBlak]

Smaller game doesn't always require a headshot as much as the right weapon.

Using a Varmint rifle anywhere on a rabbit will usually leave the 3* pelt intact as long as you kill it with one shot. Same with Squirrel and the small game arrow. Snake seems to be hit or miss for me, so i always try for the head.

Most important is to use the recommended weapon mentioned in the Compendium.

But unfortunately, yes, almost all animals require a headshot, or upper neck, for a 3* pelt.

I use dead eye a lot for these things. Harvest tobacco, brew the tonic, and use it.

[Ellorien]

Buck Antler trinket helps, it increases the quality of the pelt so you have a better chance to get a perfect one.
But I feel your pain. Tracking and killing small animals perfectly is not fun at all.

[inosk0pedjfk]

the legendary buck trinket is a must have and the buck itself is pretty easy to track and kill. has a high chance for 2 star to be 3 star pelts

[Man o' War]

You need the right weapon and the right type of ammunition, not just the head shot.

IE a 3* fox shot in the head with a sniper rifle with any ammo will result in a 2* pelt or less, likewise a 3* turkey shot in the head with a repeater with any type of ammo' will result in a 2* Turkey or less.

Small game arrows and varmint rifles are in the game for a reason.

[Trespasser07]

Originally posted by wubbelflup:

i've been doing that but it's a pain with rabbits and other vermin.

not necessarily. Deadeye marks the critical spots red on the animal where u can aim at and still get a 3 star pelt.

[Shrinkshooter]

Originally posted by DargonBlak:

Most important is to use the recommended weapon mentioned in the Compendium.

The compendium also lies or leaves stuff out, depending. A bow with an Improved Arrow is effectively treated like a rifle, mechanically. You can headshot pretty much anything that needs a rifle kill with it, and get a 3 star.

It might work in reverse, or be different online (I've never touched RDO), but "recommended weapon" isn't a make or break thing all the time. Same thing with "long scope rifle", it doesn't matter; as long as it's a legit rifle, you'll get the 3 star, scope or no scope.

[Pieshaman]

just killed an ox with 3 star pelt with an improved arrow in the neck. it fell down in like 3 seconds and stumbled a bit and had to finish it with knife but it still 3 star. Farmer didn't see it. Doggy only barked at me and the mule came say hello, like good riddance now I got all the space for myself.
I always go for neckshots as that seem the best way to do it. fast kills without pelts ruined.

[AbSlayer]

AAA just blast them and have fun