Question about hunting perfect pelts

[Jeff]

I have been having difficulty getting 3 star pelts sometimes as a new player.

I did read a guide, watched a couple youtube tutorials.

Are you supposed to not upgrade your rifle for bonus damage to prevent damaging the pelt?

I took the lancaster repeater to hunt a buck with the express ammo but it damaged the pelt. I tried my bow to the head and it didn't kill it. They recommended the bolt-action rifle but it is locked in the shop. I probably just need to advance the story to unlock it idk.

Is there a specific "damage" level for the weapon I should be looking for or should I just try to stick to the guide better and ignore damage?

Also I was wondering why some of my weapons have a "greyed out" zone for my current damage and the apparent max damage the weapon can deal. I used gun oil but it didn't raise the damage to the top of the damage bar for the weapon, it only helped a tiny sliver.

[firestorm]

Use the springfield, which can even take many smaller animals such as fox for example.
Standard ammo types even work on the largest animal's

Bow also works for anything,
Large game need's to be improved arrows & within reasonable range..
Some smaller game 3* is only doable with the small game arrows (or throwing knives)
Either type arrow is craft able starting in chapter 2, need flight feathers for improved and shotgun shells for small game arrows.

.22 is great for smaller animals. Fantastic for getting those flight feathers you need for those improved arrows (you can take out entire flocks of geese with it.
-honor will result if ya take entire flocks though, not a big deal in chapter 2 though.


bit of a spoiler, but wont get too in depth here.
From your camp in chapter 2, go to flatneck (ignore the 2 O'Driscoll's on the way)
Head west from the train station & you'll run into a stranger with a treasure map..
Play it how ya feel, shoot/or buy the map.

Head back towards your camp on the trail used to get here..
If done right (ignoring those tempting O'Driscoll's above) you'll run into a snake bite victim very close to where the O'Driscol's were... Save this fools life..
He will score you a free gun at the valentine gun smith (springfield is an option: hint hint)

Map you stole or bought from the stranger near flatneck directs you too Caliban's seat..
Approach from the east side and make sure you have your bow ready with IMPROVED arrows. Very important, as this can happen real fast, By that I mean your death! lol
On horseback ride up the hill between the two peaks,
It will become very clear why I say have that bow with improved arrows ready before ya hit the top of that hill with another stranger yelling for help.
(not to mention the other noise)

Soon you will see why, draw that arrow & use dead eye and shoot the threat in the head (or get thrown from your horse and die, your choice lol)
Only thing you'll get from this guy is a thanks & a 3* pelt..
Can also be done going up that hill from the west, a lot quicker/easier from the east

Now that your here and alive to tell the tail, climb Caliban's seat and recover part 2 of the map for All That Glitters..

Head to the Valentines gunsmith and you'll run into that snakebite victim you saved earlier, chat with him then walk in to collect that weapon of choice free of charge
hint hint, springfield

Few other strangers around that need your help and will reward you with free guns or outfits, but I'll stop with the springfield as it's the most important hunting rifle in game..

[Ihateeverybody]

Occasionally you can meet the stranger that talkes about Trust (I find him northwest of Emerald Ranch between the North Mountains and the Eastern Forest. He usually has a couple of animals hanging in his camp. Wait until he leaves (Really leaves, like out of sight) then cut down the animals and you get a perfect pelt (or feathers, sometimes the animal is a bird type). You might get a little dishonour if he isn't quite out of sight.

[Razor Ramen]

simple fix, the type of weapon to use depends on the size of the animal.
so small animal - varmint or small game arrow
medium animals like foxes, goats, coyote, etc. -> repeaters
big animals like deer, buck, wolf -> rifles
very big animals like Moose, Elk, Cougars, Bears -> improved arrow or rifle + express ammo
one weird thing I noticed is Repeater with express ammo is okay to hunt Wolves but not for deer and buck.
best way to hunt is, use your binoculars and check the star rating then press the button to display more info, there you''ll be able to see what weapon works best.
Another way is to open the compendium and check that exact same info.

[Jeff]

thanks all

-I did do the "free gun" quest and got the varmint rifle which I have been using a lot for small game, it's one of my staples to carry into the woods. Money isn't currently an issue so I will just buy any gun I might want for hunting.

-I will try messing around with the springfield rifle more, it's probably what I should have been using for a buck. I think I was confusing repeaters for rifles since I didn't know there was a specific difference other than auto vs single shot.

-instead of binoculars I have been using a scope on my rifle for "new" game that I haven't seen before. For things I have in my compendium already I just aim at them with a gun and look in the bottom right for the star rating which is my favorite way to quickly check.

So far I did hunt a few large game like elk with a lasso/knife combo, it is sketchy but can work if you are sneaky, slow, and using anti-smell lotion and have good stamina. I'd prefer a gun though because it's faster and more consistent.

[Nico Nico Knee]

Literally every animal in the game tells you what weapon to use to get a perfect pelt after you inspect them.

[Freekneet]

Get the buck antler trinket, and use high velocity ammo with repeaters and rifles, improved arrows with the bow.