Rockstar Has Explained How Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Works in Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar has detailed the wildlife in Red Dead Redemption 2 and the way players, through Arthur Morgan, will be able to interact with it.

Unlike Red Dead Redemption, which saw its fair share of wildlife, Red Dead Redemption 2 will feature around 200 species of animals ranging from different mammals such as wolves, to birds like bald eagles and fish like sturgeon. Each of these species will behave and respond to the environment in a unique way.

“Deer, bison and pronghorn traverse the plains in large herds, scavengers quickly sniff out carrion , sockeye salmon leap upstream, wolves attack in packs surrounding their prey, geese fly in fixed formations, possums play dead, rodent scamper into tree hollows, grizzly bears bluff charge when threatened, and birds of prey soar on thermals,” the Red Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar website page reads. “They all form part of a complex ecosystem and must continually fight for their place on the food chain. The wilderness is at once a bountiful and perilous place, for both man and beast, and any predator can quickly turn prey.”

Naturally, Arthur Morgan can hunt these animals and fish, with both activities providing the cowboy with food, materials to craft with and a steady source of income. When fishing, players will have to use the right bait or lure to make the perfect catch. When hunting, players will have to track the animal, pay attention to the wind direction, stay hidden from the prey, use the correct weapon and accurately shoot the animal in the right place in order to come out victorious. Interestingly, your shot placement matters significantly in that the wrong shot could completely ruin a pelt, resulting in less money earned for the hunt.

Players can experience the hunt and reel in the catch of the day on Friday, Oct. 26, when Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on PS4 and Xbox One.