Need Zone Mechanics

[Wormyy]

I’ve been looking into information on exactly how need zones work, and everything I’ve seen has been years old. Wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction about how to maximize my need zone / animal population in a zone. My main questions are

-will a need zone grow in population over time? I’ve seen one with only 1 female, is that zone useless to me?

-do the same animals use the same need zone everyday, or is there some variance on where animals / herds can travel?

-if I delete a need zone from my map, is it still there, just has to be rediscovered again?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers! Man this game can become quite addicting!

[Jean Roque de Lartigue]

1. I think it depends whether the need zone is used by a loner or a herd. Herds can repopulate over time, I believe.
2. I think they mostly use the same set of need zones with little variations. On Parque Fernando I had this tiny female albino axis deer that kept coming back at the same need zones with its herd, day after day.
3. The only way to properly "delete" a need zone from your map is to create too much hunting pressure on it, at which points concerned species will no longer come to it. Otherwise, you're probably talking about need zones stacking. It is quite common to find several need zones on top of each other, in which case only the latest zone will be displayed on the map – even though all previously discovered zones that are stacked under are still active!

[Findus]

This is based on my experience with the version prior to the dog update which I'm currently using and the usual caveats and cautions apply.

Originally posted by Worminator:

-will a need zone grow in population over time? I’ve seen one with only 1 female, is that zone useless to me?

Useless for the most part, although there is a low possibility that another animal will spawn into this "herd" once it's killed elsewhere. Going by your question, I assume you are talking about animals that do form herds, but technically, even another solitary animal could end up using the same need zone.
Some say you can permanently reassign animals to certain new need zones by spooking or luring them into them and (perhaps?) spotting them/their tracks when they are forced to feed/drink/bed there. I have my doubts about that as in my case animals spottet feeding/drinking/bedding far off their beaten path would still either result in a need zone being discovered in the original location (when that hadn't be discovered yet) or no new need zone (when it had been discovered earlier), but ultimately I can neither confirm nor deny that and it would be another possible way to make use of a discovered need zone with a single animal, but perhaps in an advantageous location as it signals that a need zone can be established there.

Originally posted by Worminator:

-do the same animals use the same need zone everyday, or is there some variance on where animals / herds can travel?

For the most part. Some supposedly switch it up between need zones (can neither deny nor confirm that and take into account that need zone are fairly big) and there is always the possibility of you changing their schedule by spawning in at a certain time (a minute can make a difference) as they often start to travel from their previous needzone then or possibly a set spawning location, delaying them by noise or smell or triggering a bug where they are held up/loop at spawning distance (moving a certain distance normally should take care of that). When I played Layton Lakes some while ago, I had the feeling that the coyotes switch things up from time to time, but with that many variables at play, it's hard to tell.

Originally posted by Worminator:

-if I delete a need zone from my map, is it still there, just has to be rediscovered again?

If you replace it by spotting another animal or its tracks there, it's still there. If you delete it by hunting pressure, the potential to establish a new need zone in that area later is still there, but the need zone you deleted will be reestablished somewhere in the broader vicinity outside of the hunting pressure circle (and that might be in another potential need zone ...zone). So the affected animals will establish a new need zone, and in that sense it's still there, but you'll have to go looking for it.

[Wormyy]

Thank you both for the answers!

Originally posted by Jean Roque de Lartigue:

I think they mostly use the same set of need zones with little variations. On Parque Fernando I had this tiny female albino axis deer that kept coming back at the same need zones with its herd, day after day.

Perfect! Thank you!

Originally posted by Findus:

Useless for the most part, although there is a low possibility that another animal will spawn into this "herd" once it's killed elsewhere. Going by your question, I assume you are talking about animals that do form herds, but technically, even another solitary animal could end up using the same need zone.

Yes! Herd animals. I have ran into two different drinking zones for Blacktail Deer and both times it was a single female. I guess I just have to remember that its basically useless to me?

[Mr. Ed]

There can some temporary variation in the number of animals that use a need zone but it's more likely due to some animals being temporarily spooked off of their normal pathway by yourself or by predators rather than because the need zone has "grown" more animals. Some need zones are not visited each and every day for the same reasons. While It's possible for the replacements for animals killed elsewhere to spawn into a herd or band using a different need zone, my rule of thumb is that when I only see one female deer using a need zone three days in a row I go ahead and kill it and hope the replacement need zone spawns in a location that attracts more animals.

[Findus]

Originally posted by Worminator:

Yes! Herd animals. I have ran into two different drinking zones for Blacktail Deer and both times it was a single female. I guess I just have to remember that its basically useless to me?

Yes, with the exceptions mentioned above. You also could check other times, though, to see if other animals (from the same species if they have two drink times or other species) frequent that location then.

[Cptn_Miller]

good info, ty

[Nightwalker]

Had a morning hot spot that turned cold (went from a dozen animals using it right down to 1-3 on a regular basis). I'd about given up on that zone but figured I'd best check that zone out at night before destroying it. Yep, the bulk of the animals using the zone were hitting it just after dark. Don't give up on a need zone until you've checked it out at different time frames. The zone might have some shift workers.

[Geronimo]

I've written extensively on Need Zones. There is alot of speculation and debate.

On top of that the Devs are always changing things.

I could restate many things that would help you but after years of posting here, my best advice is simple.

Find yourself a herd of cow elk and just follow them without letting them know you're there.

After a day of that unintrusive observation, you will start to realize what Need Zones actually are, and how they relate to the daily routines.

As for the more intimate dynamics, you can read through my posts and quickly realize that the only real way to understand is first hand experience.