I have no money..

[H_84]

I hate the menu system in this game. It's clunky and it never feels like it does what I want. I kept buying the wrong bullet and there is no way to sell them back. On top of that trying to find a coyote and bear... I am upset about it.

What should I do?

*So, I apologize for being incredibly whiny when I posted this. Everyone has had some good pointers here. I most certainly gained tunnel vision on this one coyote mission in cheelah and have almost forgotten that a whole map existed beyond it. Yesterday I took a break and ended up bagging a coyote, several deer and a black bear when I came back. just wanted to drop back in here and apologize.

[Psyringe]

I agree that the menu system is clunky, but buying the wrong bullets is on you. You literally see an exact description of the type of bullet in the area where you press the "Buy" button. If the issue was that you didn't _know_ which type of bullet to buy (rather than getting confused with the menu), then I recommend using the "show compatible items" button.

In the beginning, I wouldn't recommend hunting for specific animals. Doing so can be frustrating if you don't know the game yet, don't have the skills yet that reduce your noise and visibility, and haven't revealed many need zones yet.

What I usually do when I start a new map, is visit all the lookout towers (so that most of the map gets revealed), visit all the outposts (so that I have fast-travel points in all areas), and grab need zones on the way whenever I see depressed grass, carcasses, or the groups of small spots that mark drinking zones. Then, when I want to hunt a specific type of animal, I check my map for need zones of that species.

If you haven't revealed many need zones yet, a good strategy is to walk around lake shores and click on any tracks that you find. All animals have to drink, and they usually do that at a lake. Once you've discovered a need zone of the animal you're looking for, advance the time until an hour or so before they are expected, then go to a good spot near the need zone where you can hide in bushes. Then wait until the animals arrive.

[H_84]

Originally posted by Psyringe:

I agree that the menu system is clunky, but buying the wrong bullets is on you. You literally see an exact description of the type of bullet in the area where you press the "Buy" button. If the issue was that you didn't _know_ which type of bullet to buy (rather than getting confused with the menu), then I recommend using the "show compatible items" button.

In the beginning, I wouldn't recommend hunting for specific animals. Doing so can be frustrating if you don't know the game yet, don't have the skills yet that reduce your noise and visibility, and haven't revealed many need zones yet.

What I usually do when I start a new map, is visit all the lookout towers (so that most of the map gets revealed), visit all the outposts (so that I have fast-travel points in all areas), and grab need zones on the way whenever I see depressed grass, carcasses, or the groups of small spots that mark drinking zones. Then, when I want to hunt a specific type of animal, I check my map for need zones of that species.

If you haven't revealed many need zones yet, a good strategy is to walk around lake shores and click on any tracks that you find. All animals have to drink, and they usually do that at a lake. Once you've discovered a need zone of the animal you're looking for, advance the time until an hour or so before they are expected, then go to a good spot near the need zone where you can hide in bushes. Then wait until the animals arrive.

Well, I didn’t blame the menu for me buying the bullet. So, just hunt to make money for now? That seems like a good idea. I didn’t even think about hunting other stuff to level up.

[Psyringe]

Originally posted by stay-at-homie:

So, just hunt to make money for now? That seems like a good idea. I didn’t even think about hunting other stuff to level up.

When starting with the game, I'd recommend just doing what feels like fun (though the strategy that I laid out for revealing maps and need zones is a good way of laying the groundwork for having fun afterward). I wouldn't limit myself to quest objectives or explicitly grind for money.

Which map are you on, if I may ask? The two base game reserves (Layton Lake and Hirschfelden) are among the most difficult to hunt in, and have some very difficult quests.

[Leadmagnet]

Coyote and bear sounds like Layton or New England map. Looking for those two specific animals, I'd bet Layton due to the quests requiring those two animals.

I typically play like Psyringe suggested. Get all of the outposts and lookout towers first. You can collect need zones and hunt on the way to them to build up cash reserves. If you can complete a mission or quest while doing that...it's a bonus.

Remember; if you ever wind up broke and no ammo....the .243 soft point bullets are free. You'll always be able to hunt your way out.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by stay-at-homie:

I hate the menu system in this game. It's clunky and it never feels like it does what I want. I kept buying the wrong bullet and there is no way to sell them back. On top of that trying to find a coyote and bear... I am upset about it.

What should I do?

You need to learn how to use the interface. It is a little tricky but once you learn what to expect from it there will be no problem.

Make sure you understand the difference between the store window, the inventory window, and the backpack you use to carry stuff from your inventory to the field.

And do NOT purchase the larger backpack. The game will start you with your own backpack, and that's all you will need. The larger backpack that you can get to carry more items will make you noisier and more visible, and once activated cannot be taken off. A big no-no.

Understand that when you buy something in the store it is placed into your inventory storage. To actually carry it into the field with you it must be taken from inventory and placed into your backpack.

Also, you will need to take items in your backpack and position them into slots in the item selection wheel, and you will also need to place ammo and scopes into those weapons after putting them into their slots.

This might be 'clunky' but you will get used to it quickly.

[astreamuser]

Originally posted by Geronimo:

And do NOT purchase the larger backpack. The game will start you with your own backpack, and that's all you will need. The larger backpack that you can get to carry more items will make you noisier and more visible, and once activated cannot be taken off. A big no-no.

What do you mean by it cannot be taken off? Is this come kind of bug?

[Mom_Kat]

In the early stages of the game, you get cash for opening the map. Go to the places marked with binoculars. climb them , look for the notice board and 'survey' the area. Then go to the green circles with ?, to open up outposts, hunting stands / blinds (don't build them) and 'points of interest'. do missions as much as you can to earn cash. Harvested animals also earbn cas.h. I don't recommend going for the high cash animals as much as go after the plentiful ones. A well place shot from the 'free' (soft point)ammo of the starter riffle Range r 243 will take a blacktail, whitetail,(Layton Lakes) or fallow or roe deer(Hirschfelden) Less $ per animal, but far more of them.

[VictoriaHuntress]

Originally posted by Geronimo:

....
And do NOT purchase the larger backpack. The game will start you with your own backpack, and that's all you will need. The larger backpack that you can get to carry more items will make you noisier and more visible, and once activated cannot be taken off. A big no-no.

What Geronimo means regarding backpacks, above, is that you must get to your cache -> Character screen to change the backpack. That can only be done at an outpost cabin or a tent. Of course, if you are using a backpack, and decide to remove it, you'll have to go to your storage and adjust the contents of your current inventory loadout first.

I have all three sizes anyway (purchased for this on-going game on PC before loadouts) - with the new multiple loadouts feature, I rarely use the largest size at all, and can get by with no pack or the small pack most of the time, if I'm not going to carry a tent or portable hunting structures. If I'm carrying those, my objectives are exploration and/or setting up a hunting camp somewhere (far from any outpost cabins), rather than hunting.