Building shotgun and handgun scores.

[HoopleheadGolf]

So I have the game along with a handful of DLC but after reaching around level 22 I find myself hunting the same animals (blacktail, elk and moose) with the same weapons (270 and 30-06) in Layton.

I skipped the missions and have just been doing my own thing laying tents and tripods in hotspots I come across. I want to use the shotgun more, but have nothing unlocked except buckshot. What animals in Layton should I be hunting with the beginner shotgun using buckshot and no scope? Is there a weapon pack that has a better shotgun? I also have the .22 handgun from the 3rd weapon pack that I'd like to use...did I hear someone say mallards?

Happy hunting everyone.

[Sleepy Neko]

In Layton I find running after rabbits and hitting them with birdshot a easy way to level your shotgun score, same as handgun with the 22LR.

Even with only buckshot you can still blast them you just won't get the integrity bonus. If you want to hunt something bigger then you need to lure them closer with calls and hide in dense bushes or anywhere you can get max "stealth"

[Ryzky]

Most of the shotguns are pretty similar. Unfortunately buckshot is fairly lackluster due to penetration issues and the large spread leading to higher chances of hitting trophy organ/skull. They aren't bad for birds and large game with the slugs though. I just think that most people prefer bows for close ranged kills over the shotguns. I would recommend to use one that can use the scope, i know the new 10g one that came with the muzzle loader cannot use a scope.

For leveling purposes:

Shotguns- I would suggest geese on Hirsh. Pretty much any field with 20 decoys and a blind should work. Look up some videos on YT for hotspots if needed. Geese are insane cash ($900+) and good xp.

Handguns- If you have the .22 pistol you can hunt geese as well, just know the zeroing at 25m is broken and is actually like 200m. Another option is find a map with smaller game, I prefer class 3 animals like Roe deer/Blackbuck/Axis and such. Go find some need zones and put a stand within caller distance and call things to you. Without having the scope you will typically want to have them within 50m to get good shots so being able to call them in is crucial. Also using a blind will cut your hunting pressure down and keep you from clearing the need zone.

Just a couple thoughts, hopefully they help.

[HoopleheadGolf]

Hey Spudz, thanks for the info. Although I have blinds and treestands I rarely use them. Perhaps, I am missing out by not using the blinds at least. Also need to make better use of my callers and not rely so heavily on the tripods. Thanks again.

[Mondyrocks]

By far the fastest way to level shotguns, and this way is REALLY fast, is to get the weapon dlc that includes the colt handgun. This weapon has .410 birdshot and holds 6 rounds.
Now, to make this work effectively you also need the duck dlc on Layton Lakes.

If you already have these two dlc's then you're golden.
Just set up half a dozen decoy spreads (make sure you walk around and find a duck need zone though, don't just set em up anywhere) then you can rotate between them and using your handgun, with birdshot, your shotgun skill will fly up.

You'll open up the whole tree in a few sessions.
You'll also get a ton of money and levels.

Remember that hunting pressure doesn't apply to birds, hunting pressure is marked on the map when they are harvested but it doesn't apply to them and they keep coming back :))

Good hunting :)

[Jumbled Hokum]

Originally posted by Mondyrocks:

By far the fastest way to level shotguns, and this way is REALLY fast, is to get the weapon dlc that includes the colt handgun. This weapon has .410 birdshot and holds 6 rounds.
Now, to make this work effectively you also need the duck dlc on Layton Lakes.

If you already have these two dlc's then you're golden.
Just set up half a dozen decoy spreads (make sure you walk around and find a duck need zone though, don't just set em up anywhere) then you can rotate between them and using your handgun, with birdshot, your shotgun skill will fly up.

The Grelck Drilling is also in the pack with the 45/410 pistol(weapons pack 2). The Drilling is a good gun it is a 16ga shotgun with a 9.3X74mm Rifle attached to it. Just something to remember If you get a weapons pack with a shotgun then you will have all of the shotgun shell types unlocked for that gauge an example is the Grelck is a 16ga so you will be able to buy all the 16ga shells types (Birdshot, Buckshot, and slugs) from the get go.

I don't really recommend the ducks pack as i have a hard time to get them to come in and I've seen them turn away because of the duck call so i just have to sit and wait with the decoys. I think the Wild Goose Chase Gear pack is the best but you can only use it on hirsh. Both packs come with a 20ga the goose Pack has the side by side (2 shots) and the duck pack has a semi auto (3 shots) and you will have the different 20ga shotshell types that you can buy.

I'm going to recommend the weapons pack 2 because you get a good pistol (45 colt) and you also get a good shotgun/rifle (16ga and 9.3). The pack also comes with a scope (Falcon scope) for the Grelck so you can use it with the 16ga slugs and 9.3 rifle. The 45 colt is good for class 2-5 game and has the same in game stats are the same as the 44 mag (in game numbers aren't always right) and the 16ga is really just the 12ga with different looking shells but the 12ga slug animal class is 4-8 while the 16ga is 4-7.

I personally don't recommend the .22 pistol as it can be tough to hit things with the open sights as the front sight is rounded and it will take a while until you can get the scope.

[Mondyrocks]

I NEVER use the duck caller.
I just make sure the decoys are set up in need zones.
If I go to a set of decoys and no ducks are present I don't waste any time there, I just move on to the next set.
A lot of the set ups will be along the river and quite often you'll get a chance to take a pot shot at deer, elk or moose across the river.
Something to think about if no ducks are present.

As far as geese go, you can also make a mint in Hirschfelden with canada goose set ups, but, in my opinion, they are not as lucrative as ducks.

Also, the reason I suggested the colt handgun is the ability to have 6 shells loaded, rather than one or two.
Having 6 shells means more kills and by using this method you'll soon unlock the pump action shotgun, which is by far the best shotgun in the game, because it has a capacity of 6 shells, instead of 1, 2 or 3.
More shells means more money, faster skill and faster levelling.

As much as I like the new 10 gauge shotgun, it's not as good as the pump action for the reasons stated above.
I have no interest at all in using slugs, I use a rifle and only use shotguns with birdshot :)

The thing I like about this game is the way different players do things differently.
My method is great for me but might not be as good for someone else.
It's all about having fun so no method is wrong :)

Good hunting all :)

[eagle74]

You have a lot of good advice from the above posts. I leveled (b4 WP2) shotguns with the 20 gauge SA from the duck dlc. To date, I don't own the starter shotgun from the base game & don't want or need it.

Back then, the only option for leveling handguns was the 357 with the hp ammo. I leveled it with roe deer on Hirsch, & it was a pain until you unlocked the hc ammo.

If I ever decide to level again, I probably would still use the 20 gauge SA for shotgun. But for handgun, the colt 45 from WP2 would be my clear choice.

It is worth mentioning that the duck dlc comes with the waterfowl blinds, & these are the best ground blinds in the game. I use them all the time for hunting other animals, not just ducks.

[HoopleheadGolf]

Thanks again everyone for all of the wonderful information. I hope that it helps some others who have ignored these other weapon types like I have done.

So there are different blinds included with the ducks pack? It looks like I need to pick up the duck and 2nd weapon pack DLCs asap. ;)

[eagle74]

As already mentioned, if you get a dlc shotgun, you can use the corresponding bird shot or slugs to level up. Either one is a whole lot better than using the buckshot.

[Jumbled Hokum]

Originally posted by Mondyrocks:

Also, the reason I suggested the colt handgun is the ability to have 6 shells loaded, rather than one or two.
Having 6 shells means more kills and by using this method you'll soon unlock the pump action shotgun, which is by far the best shotgun in the game, because it has a capacity of 6 shells, instead of 1, 2 or 3.
More shells means more money, faster skill and faster levelling.

As much as I like the new 10 gauge shotgun, it's not as good as the pump action for the reasons stated above.
I have no interest at all in using slugs, I use a rifle and only use shotguns with birdshot :)

The 45 colt is a way better then the 357 that is why i use it when i want a pistol hunt (don't like pistols much). I haven't used the 410 shells that much because i have the all the other shotguns but it is good as you have the 45 for deer, pigs and the 410 for small game.

The base game shotguns are really bad if you want to use open sights as the O/U has the rail for a scope always on it even if you are using open sights. The sights on the pump action are bad because it has a rear sight like a rifle (or slug gun) it's not as bad as the O/U but annoying to me that is why i like the DLC shotguns best because the sights (and the models) are what i would be using irl.

Originally posted by Mondyrocks:

The thing I like about this game is the way different players do things differently.
My method is great for me but might not be as good for someone else.
It's all about having fun so no method is wrong :)

Good hunting all :)

I recommend that everyone gives different weapons a chance as i have found that longer range shooting can be just as fun as hunting with short range weapons (I mostly hunt with short range weapons).

All that i say is an opinion just as all people posting on here and gives insight to the way i play and no one is wrong in any way and in any game(unless someone is cheating in multiplayer).

I wish everyone good day and happy hunting

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Originally posted by Mondyrocks:

By far the fastest way to level shotguns, and this way is REALLY fast, is to get the weapon dlc that includes the colt handgun. This weapon has .410 birdshot and holds 6 rounds.
Now, to make this work effectively you also need the duck dlc on Layton Lakes.

If you already have these two dlc's then you're golden.
Just set up half a dozen decoy spreads (make sure you walk around and find a duck need zone though, don't just set em up anywhere) then you can rotate between them and using your handgun, with birdshot, your shotgun skill will fly up.

You'll open up the whole tree in a few sessions.
You'll also get a ton of money and levels.

Remember that hunting pressure doesn't apply to birds, hunting pressure is marked on the map when they are harvested but it doesn't apply to them and they keep coming back :))

Good hunting :)

Ummm, Colt handgun with birdshot cartridge doesnt give shotgun score, it gives handgun score.
I used it quite a lot shooting rabbits with birdshot cartridge to get my handgun score up for Rhino.

[Kerberizer]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

Ummm, Colt handgun with birdshot cartridge doesnt give shotgun score, it gives handgun score.
I used it quite a lot shooting rabbits with birdshot cartridge to get my handgun score up for Rhino.

You are correct—it had been that way. But they changed it at some point and now the .410 does give shotgun score.

On a side note, it's always refreshing to see such an informative and polite discussion. Thank you, everyone!

[Mondyrocks]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

Originally posted by Mondyrocks:

By far the fastest way to level shotguns, and this way is REALLY fast, is to get the weapon dlc that includes the colt handgun. This weapon has .410 birdshot and holds 6 rounds.
Now, to make this work effectively you also need the duck dlc on Layton Lakes.

If you already have these two dlc's then you're golden.
Just set up half a dozen decoy spreads (make sure you walk around and find a duck need zone though, don't just set em up anywhere) then you can rotate between them and using your handgun, with birdshot, your shotgun skill will fly up.

You'll open up the whole tree in a few sessions.
You'll also get a ton of money and levels.

Remember that hunting pressure doesn't apply to birds, hunting pressure is marked on the map when they are harvested but it doesn't apply to them and they keep coming back :))

Good hunting :)

Ummm, Colt handgun with birdshot cartridge doesnt give shotgun score, it gives handgun score.
I used it quite a lot shooting rabbits with birdshot cartridge to get my handgun score up for Rhino.

Yes m8.
I loved it when the colt gave handgun score with the .410 birdshot.
I find handguns difficult to level and this made it incredibly easy to unlock the whole tree really fast.
Unfortunately the devs decided to update it and award shotgun score when using shells.
If anyone can explain how using the colt, with shells, gives shotgun score and not handgun score then could they please explain it to me, in a logical manner, cos I just can't see the sense in it personally......

Another strange decision by the devs........

[eagle74]

@Mondyrocks,
I cannot explain it bc I agree with you. Should be based on the weapon used & not the ammo. Don't know why they thought that this was a problem that needed fixing.