Red Dead Redemption 2: Best Hunting Weapons

The American plains of Red Dead Redemption 2 are beautiful to witness, and bountiful for the game that they hold. There are so many animals to be hunted in Red Dead Redemption 2, that it becomes essential for players looking to immerse in the hunt of animals of all sizes to bring the best weapons along for the ride to maximize profits and trophies.

Whether it’s an effort to get perfect pelts or simply to defend from hostile predators like cougars and panthers, the weapons listed below will be the most effective for obtaining the perfect kill without destroying the precious pelt and resources that each animal provides.

7

Lasso

Hold Animals in Place for a Clean Kill

• How to Get: Automatically acquired (cannot be removed).

The Lasso is an interesting tool used for hunting, as with animals like doe, bucks, and deer, it can be thrown over their necks so that they are stuck in place while Arthur slowly makes his way towards them. With the lasso gripped tightly, players can get close to animals and then use their knives for a clean kill.

Doing this isn’t exactly the safest method, and doesn’t work on every animal, but it does show Arthur’s bravery when it comes to fighting nature, as a perfect kill can be obtained by slitting the animal’s throat via this method.

6

Poison Throwing Knife

One Quick Throw Puts Animals to Sleep

• How to Get: Find the Poison Throwing Knife Pamphlet in a wooden shack in the North East area of Saint Denis, underneath a floorboard, then craft it with x1 Throwing Knife, x2 Oleander Sage

Most larger-sized animals benefit from poisoned weapons, and the Poison Throwing Knife is certainly no exception from the rule. With the Poison Throwing Knife, players are able to have an effective weapon that’s so easy to acquire as long as they have a stack of throwing knives and the right herb.

Sure, the distance to throw isn’t the best, but throwing said weapon into an animal’s hide will startle them and see them retreat, only for them to grow weak and fall over, ready for a mercy kill or to allow them to drift to sleep forever in an effective method.

5

Buck Antler Trinket

More Lenience on Missed Shots and Provides More 3-Star Animals

• How to Get: Crafted at any Fence after acquiring the Legendary Buck Antler found in the northwest area of West Elizabeth.

So, the Buck Antler Trinket isn’t actually a weapon, but a tool – however it’s a vital tool for those focused on pure hunts. The Buck Antler Trinket will allow players to receive higher quality pelts and animal carcasses from their hunts, which means that there is more generosity for using the wrong weapon or a nicked shot.

With the Buck Antler Trinket acquired from the Legendary Buck in the northwest area of Strawberry, Big Valley, West Elizabeth, players have more lenience with their hunts since they can acquire the antler, trade it to the Fence, and acquire a tool that will provide a permanent buff to 3-star animals.

4

Varmint Rifle

The Necessary Weapon for Small-Game Animals

• How to Get: Purchased from any Gunsmith after the Chapter 1 Mission: Eastward Bound, for $72.

The Varmint Rifle is essential for hunting rodents, as it fires low-caliber bullets that will not pierce the creature and completely destroy it like a high-caliber rifle or even a shotgun would. Rodents can be useful to hunt in Red Dead Redemption 2, and the Varmint Rifle is required for a clean pelt.

Considering rodents are common across the map, a Varmint Rifle becomes essential when it comes to hunting animals like squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons, for it fires a lethal shot at animals that doesn’t damage the pelt. However, don’t use this weapon on cougars or O’Driscolls, as you’ll be dead before you can switch weapons.

3

Bow

A Versatile Stealthy Classic Weapon

• How to Get: Acquired from The Aftermath of Genesis, a Chapter 1 Mission.

The Bow is extremely useful for multiple hunts and is very versatile when it comes to a variety of animals, big or small. The default arrows for the Bow are useful against animals, but they can be made even better for larger animals with Improved Arrows and poison Arrows. However, it’s also an essential weapon for birds with Small Game Arrows.

With Small Game Arrows, players can kill birds without exploding them as a stronger weapon would do, so put the revolver down and try out the Bow – a classic weapon that benefits from hunting in forests via stealth, and also has a multitude of arrow types for different situations – just don’t try the Dynamite Arrow against a poor deer, as that pelt will be no good for Ms. L. Hobbs.

2

Bolt-Action Rifle

A Reliable Rifle for One-Shotting Most Large Animals

• How to Get: Acquired during the Preaching Forgiveness as He Wants mission in Chapter 3, or purchased from any Gunsmith for $180 after said mission.

The Bolt-Action Rifle is going to be the main weapon that players are going to want to use when it comes to taking out larger animals and predators. With its stopping power, deadly damage, and 5 ammo capacity, it can be used to take out a multitude of large beasts and stop cougars as well as panthers from charging at players and killing them.

The Bolt-Action Rifle is also a great weapon to headshot and instantly kill large moose, bison, and even alligators, ensuring that players have a clean ride and a clean kill with every animal that they aim this weapon at.

1

Rolling Block Rifle

The One-Shot One-Kill Sniper Rifle

• How to Get: Purchased for $0 at the Valentine Gunsmith during the Chapter 2 mission: The Sheep and the Goats. Alternatively acquired from any gunsmith for $187 after said mission.

The Rolling Block Rifle doesn’t have more than 1 ammo in the chamber, but it’s usually all players will need. Even without High-Velocity rounds or Express bullets, the Rolling Block Rifle is a great tool for taking out larger beasts, especially when tracking and hunting legendary animals.

The Rolling Block Rifle is perfect for when players are hunting a single target, as the scope and the power of the gun itself will help to easily take out the creature that they seek, and it also makes players more cautious and aware of their surroundings when in grizzly bear territory.