Studying & tracking PANTHERS: 100% compendium

A dummy's how-to-guide on obtaining big cat knowledge and frustration relief.

There is an easy way to study and track these elusive beasts. The difficulty only lies in being unable to track and study big cats when under attack by them, but i have a solution that requires only 5 steps and bucket-loads of faith.

The steps.

1. Ride back and forth through the dense woods east of Catfish Jackson in the southern end of Lemoyne and wait for the ominous enemy dot to appear on your radar. Unless it's a snake, it is most certainly a panther spawning out of nowhere. You will hear a growl and feel panic if that's the case.


2. Keep a steady distance riding away from the panther so your horse doesn't get spooked and kick you off (But don't let the panther get too far behind or it will give up and disappear).


3. HEAD FOR THE SHORELINE!

The panther may spook your horse on the way, but you will be safe and capable if you stay on your horse and keep going. Use your secondary horse as back-up for when your main has whimpered off in the ensuing chaos. You can't outrun the panther for long on foot, and fending it off by hand is very dangerous, so always keep yourself on horseback and at a fair distance.


4. GET INTO THE WATER and watch the panther get really angry at you for a while. It might occasionally swim, but that should be harmless and actually an advantage. Don't lose sight of it.


5. Once the panther is retreating and has turned around, bored of you; QUICKLY LOCK ON TO IT and hit your assigned STUDY and TRACK keys to document the dumb kitty into your compendium.

Extra advice

These same tactics can be used on the cougar. I studied and tracked mine thanks to a natural water barrier and some rocks. The panthers are more difficult because their habitat has low visibility due to shade, trees and other foliage, but the nearby shore will be of help.

And as if Rockstar wasn't cruel enough, there are 2 different species of panther (apart from the unique legendary panther which you kill in Master Hunter challenge #10). There is the regular Panther and the Florida Panther. They both spawn in the same location, same circumstances.

Be sure to reload an optimised save file if you fail or die. The hunting is good in early morning daylight and you are very likely to find a panther within minutes of riding back and forth like a fool. Keep your cores fortified with tonics and a good diet.


If you just want the pelts and carcasses, you should simply ride through the woods until a panther is spawned. Once it pops up; enter Dead Eye mode and try to shoot it before it knocks you off your horse. Use the rolling block rifle with express bullets and aim for the skull.

TL;DR

Get the kitties to follow you until you find a safe spot, since they can't be studied and tracked when they are in fight mode. Follow them as they retreat and be quick to study and track them.

Best of luck. You're gonna need it.

[radsaer]

https://youtu.be/DdmNYNkcwKE

[Saltee]

Good guide :>