Red Dead Redemption 2 – How to Get Perfect Hides

If you’ve been hunting a predator, you probably want to know how to get perfect hides in Red Dead Redemption 2. Before you manage to get your shot off while hunting, it sees you and comes charging in so you swap to your shotgun and blast it in the face, you know the pain of having a poor quality pelt. It happens whenever you don’t get a clean kill, meaning the pelt sells for much less and can’t be used in as many crafting recipes. Learning how to get the perfect hide in Red Dead Redemption 2 will take some time, but it’s worth the effort.

Obtaining perfect pelts is a key component to crafting the best gear and upgrades at the Trapper. It’s not easy, but there’s a few things you can do to maximise your chances of getting a perfect hide.

Study with Binoculars

Before you line up your shot, spend some time to whip out the ol’ binoculars and study the animal with R1/RB. That will tell you the star rating of the animal – one star means it’s a poor quality pelt, two star is good quality, while three star is perfect. This way, you know which animal is worth hunting down and which to avoid.

Use the Right Weapon

Firing multiple shotgun blasts into the side of a wolf will kill it quickly, but the pelt quality is going to be dreadful. For larger animals, you want a sniper rifle – a lethal shot to the head or heart is your best bet. A bow can also work, though you’ll need a couple of shots in quick succession.

As for smaller animals like foxes and rabbits, you definitely want to use a bow or varmint rifle. As there’s less surface area to aim for, you want something that will do less damage and not matter where it hits. Make sure you’re always studying the animals first, because the Compendium will tell you the best weapon and ammo type to take it out.

Be Patient

If the first few animals you see aren’t perfect, don’t hunt them down anyway. You’ll scare off any surrounding fauna. Instead, be patient and take your time to scour the area for the ideal target. One perfect hide is much better than a couple of poor ones.

These are just a few of the tips we’d advise when searching for a perfect pelt, especially when it comes to legendary animals. You can find all of our other guides in our Red Dead Redemption 2 game hub!