Most wildlife in this game isn’t a threat to Lara. She can hunt them for Hides and Feathers and then use these items to improve her equipment. However, a few of the animals in the wilderness are aggressive, so it’s useful to learn more about them!
All animals show up when you use your Survival Instincts, and there are special skills that make it even easier to track and kill these targets. You can loot the bodies of larger wildlife even if they were killed by heavier weapons, so you don’t always need to rely on your Bow. That said, the Bow is deadly, quiet, and does high damage. It’s a very good hunting weapon.
Rabbits, wolves, and boars have exotic versions which always yield exotic resources. While it is possible to get exotic resources from the regular variety of animals, the chance is very low.
Rabbits
Skin Them For: Hides
These common animals are seen all over Siberia. A single shot with any weapon can kill them, and a lucky melee strike even succeeds from time to time.
Deer
Skin Them For: Hides and Antlers (Requires Exotic Deer)
Deer are very common too, though only rare members of their herds have Antlers that you can loot. Because Deer are larger, you might not score a one-shot kill unless you hit them in the head or heart. Move quietly, use concealment, and choose weapons that deal high damage per shot to kill Deer.
Birds
Skin Them For: Feathers
Birds have Feathers and don’t take any major damage to kill. They’re hard targets to hit, so fast weapons or weapons with some spread work well for killing them.
Rats
Skin Them For: Nothing
Rats have nothing to give you (beyond a little XP). They’re rats.
Boars
Skin Them For: Hides and Fat
Boars aren’t seen as often as many of the other animals. They’re easiest to find in The Lost City and in Geothermal Valley. They sometimes take multiple hits to kill, so try to aim for their heads or hearts.
Wolves
Skin Them For: Hides and Exotic Hides
Wolf packs are amazingly good for getting a supply of Hides. The only downside of wolf hunting is that there are often quite a few wolves ready to fight you, and they’re tough. Explosives and fast weapons are both useful for killing wolf packs. Look for these enemies in caves, and listen for their howls when you’re out hunting. If they get close, maybe you’ve mistaken who is the hunter and who is the prey.
Hunting Cats
Skin Them For: Exotic Hides
You only find hunting cats in a couple of select spots. They’re found in Geothermal Valley, and you’re more likely to stumble into them at night. Hunting cats do fairly high damage, attack relentlessly once you get close to them, and can easily kill you if you make any mistakes.
Bears
Skin Them For: Bear Hides
Bear Hides are specifically required for a number of major upgrades to your equipment. These large predators are only found in a few caves. One is in the eastern side of Siberian Wilderness. Another is on the eastern side of The Lost City.
It’s tough to kill bears. Poison Arrows are the most effective weapon at your disposal. They stun the bear and do substantial damage in the process. Use that stun time to do extreme damage with your other weapons and then use another Poison Arrow if the bear recovers before you kill it.
