3 star hides?

[YodaMan 3D]

So I always use dead eye while hunting, I always take just one headshot, I always take in consideration the size of my prey before shooting.  Yet, except for Legendary prey, I never get perfect hides.    It really taking the fun out of hunting if the the only way is to shoot 1 million critters, especially after capturing the Legendary beast on the 1st try with the same techniques.  So any suggestions for the perfect hides?

[Kormath]

11 minutes ago, YodaMan 3D said:

So I always use dead eye while hunting, I always take just one headshot, I always take in consideration the size of my prey before shooting.  Yet, except for Legendary prey, I never get perfect hides.    It really taking the fun out of hunting if the the only way is to shoot 1 million critters, especially after capturing the Legendary beast on the 1st try with the same techniques.  So any suggestions for the perfect hides?

Headshots are best, they won't damage the hide unless you use the wrong weapon.  Study the animal, or if you've already studied it, press RB/R1 to show the info on it, or look in the compendium.  It will tell you what weapon(s) to use.

Legendary Buck Trinket helps also.  It has a chance to upgrade the hide.  Works almost every time on small animals, but large animals like elk and such it's not a guarantee from what I've seen.

[Kean_1]

When hunting for perfect hides, I try to find a point where I can perch over a rich hunting ground.  Then I use my binoculars to find 3 star prey and take them down with a headshot.   ......using the appropriate weapon of course.  Deer and medium sized animals, I use Express ammo and a powerful rifle with a long range scope.  .....for critters, I use a bow or varmint rifle but those are always a pain in the ass.  

[shawn]

Just try different guns and ammo. I have found that certain weapons increase the odds as does the ammo you use.

Headshots are a given and most people already know about that. 

[myopiasound@gmail.com]

I find that sometimes even with a headshot the 3 star turns into a 1 star. Damn boar pelts are impossible. 

Using long rifle. 

 

[Truth]

29 minutes ago, myopiasound@gmail.com said:

I find that sometimes even with a headshot the 3 star turns into a 1 star. Damn boar pelts are impossible. 

Using long rifle.

Make sure you're just using regular ammo. Never had a problem using that.

[BropolloCreed79]

3 minutes ago, Truth said:

Make sure you're just using regular ammo. Never had a problem using that.

You can also lasso most larger animals (with the exception of Bison) and walk them down while tied.  You get a prompt for a kill ("O" on PS4), and Arthur will knife them for a clean kill.  

On a three star animal, it works every time.  No degradation of the hide. 

[dropkickennedy]

When I hunt I only ever use the .22 (varmint rifle) and arrows. Most all animals can be killed with perfect pelts using these two weapons, you just need to know which to use. Small game arrows get small birds, snakes, squires, etc. .22 used for rabbits, muskrats, beavers, skunks, animals of that size. Regular arrows for deer, pronghorn, boar (I think). Anything larger use improved arrows.

Also, when using the .22, I never had an issue not getting a perfect belt regardless of where the animal was shot, if it falls into the appropriate category for the weapon. Just lock on and shoot. With arrows I usually have to hit them in the head.

[Kormath]

2 hours ago, dropkickennedy said:

Also, when using the .22, I never had an issue not getting a perfect belt regardless of where the animal was shot, if it falls into the appropriate category for the weapon. Just lock on and shoot. With arrows I usually have to hit them in the head.

Not true.  Shoot a perfect rabbit in the side with the varmint rifle, you get a 2 star hide, done this hundreds of times.  If you have the Legendary Buck trinket, then you can shoot them wherever with the recommended weapon, and 2 star may be perfect.  

I have had animals that did not get upgraded by the trinket though, so that's not a guarantee.  I've shot 2 star ducks, rabbits, etc. in the head with the varmint rifle and they were not upgraded to 3 star.  Glitch maybe?

Only animals that don't matter what gun/ammo you use are the Legendary. 

Edited November 28, 2018 by Kormath

[dropkickennedy]

41 minutes ago, Kormath said:

Not true.  Shoot a perfect rabbit in the side with the varmint rifle, you get a 2 star hide, done this hundreds of times.  If you have the Legendary Buck trinket, then you can shoot them wherever with the recommended weapon, and 2 star may be perfect.  

I have had animals that did not get upgraded by the trinket though, so that's not a guarantee.  I've shot 2 star ducks, rabbits, etc. in the head with the varmint rifle and they were not upgraded to 3 star.  Glitch maybe?

Only animals that don't matter what gun/ammo you use are the Legendary. 

Idk man, that has not been my experience at all. Aim and shoot a 3 star rabbit with a 3 star pelt and it remained 3 stars. Never had one issue with it. What you're referring to there is the carcass, not the pelt. You can shoot a 2 star bird or rabbit, but still walk away with a perfect carcass. The pelt will be the same or worse. Cannot go higher than what was shown. This is helpful later in the a game when doing a certain fetch side mission.

[dropkickennedy]

@Kormath This video also shows you can shot them anywhere (this case in the rabbit's butt at .55) and still maintain the 3 stars. They just need to die one shot. 

 

[Kormath]

2 hours ago, dropkickennedy said:

Idk man, that has not been my experience at all. Aim and shoot a 3 star rabbit with a 3 star pelt and it remained 3 stars. Never had one issue with it. What you're referring to there is the carcass, not the pelt. You can shoot a 2 star bird or rabbit, but still walk away with a perfect carcass. The pelt will be the same or worse. Cannot go higher than what was shown. This is helpful later in the a game when doing a certain fetch side mission.

Do you have the Legendary Buck trinket?  That upgrades the hide/carcass a star.  so a 2 star should be a 3 star.  I've seen it not upgrade, so maybe it's a percentage or something for the trinket?

I've been doing the hunting requests for the art exhibit, shooting rats, squirrels, rabbits, possum, etc. with the specified weapon, if i didn't do a headshot, or a vital organ shot, it would drop the rating. 

Maybe your body shot hit a vital organ?  I've done that with Deer and such when i can't get a headshot, and how i know a body shot will drop the rating even with the specified weapon.

and that's why i love the trinket.  You can shoot the small birds with the varmint rifle, and still end up with a perfect carcass, i have yet to see it not upgrade a songbird carcass.

[HIGHHorse]

Isn't there and odds drop that comes in to play here? Like if you get the headshot, use the best ammo, and the best gun for the job you are only like 10% likely to get one? 

[gigemaggs99]

I've been lucky in the 3 star pelts, I do like the others have suggested, look at the animal(s) first to find the 3 star, then I use the appropriate weapon and go for the headshot. I'd say it's a 90% success rate and the times it's not are because I miss the shot and have to shoot them twice or something I did wrong on my end.

For trapping and selling I keep 2 & 3 star pelts. The 1 star are the ones I cook for personal consumption.

[Dubya75]

On 11/26/2018 at 4:44 PM, YodaMan 3D said:

So I always use dead eye while hunting, I always take just one headshot, I always take in consideration the size of my prey before shooting.  Yet, except for Legendary prey, I never get perfect hides.    It really taking the fun out of hunting if the the only way is to shoot 1 million critters, especially after capturing the Legendary beast on the 1st try with the same techniques.  So any suggestions for the perfect hides?

Firstly, you can only ever get a perfect pelt if the animal has a 3-star pelt BEFORE you kill it.

Secondly, aside from making sure you get a headshot, you also need to consider the calibre of rifle you use. If you use a rifle that does too much damage, you will damage the pelt even with a straight head shot. 

However, for any type of deer you can use up to a Rolling Block rifle and still get a perfect pelt. Smaller animals, you may need to use a Varmint rifle or a bow.

You also need to consider the type of ammo you use. You can't be shooting everything with split-point bullets and expect to get perfect pelts.

Edited November 29, 2018 by Dubya75

[YodaMan 3D]

50 minutes ago, Dubya75 said:

Firstly, you can only ever get a perfect pelt if the animal has a 3-star pelt BEFORE you kill it.

Secondly, aside from making sure you get a headshot, you also need to consider the calibre of rifle you use. If you use a rifle that does too much damage, you will damage the pelt even with a straight head shot. 

However, for any type of deer you can use up to a Rolling Block rifle and still get a perfect pelt. Smaller animals, you may need to use a Varmint rifle or a bow.

You also need to consider the type of ammo you use. You can't be shooting everything with split-point bullets and expect to get perfect pelts.

A headshot should give you a perfect pelt as long as it was a perfect pelt to begin with.

[Dubya75]

15 minutes ago, YodaMan 3D said:

A headshot should give you a perfect pelt as long as it was a perfect pelt to begin with.

Depends on the size of the animal.

[BropolloCreed79]

2 hours ago, Dubya75 said:

Firstly, you can only ever get a perfect pelt if the animal has a 3-star pelt BEFORE you kill it.

With the trinket from one of the legendary animals (I believe it's the one crafted from the legendary deer), I have received perfect pelts from both one and two-star animals (beavers in particular on the one-star pelts), so there are, in fact, ways around the 3-star pre-kill requisite. 

2 hours ago, Dubya75 said:

Secondly, aside from making sure you get a headshot, you also need to consider the calibre of rifle you use. If you use a rifle that does too much damage, you will damage the pelt even with a straight head shot. 

Simply depressing the right shoulder button on the controller (RB for XB, L1 for PS4) will bring up the hunting tips, including the proper weapon for increasing the chance of a perfect pelt.  The tool tips are VERY specific, citing specific weapons and ammo options for optimal hunting results, usually involving choices with both bow & arrow combinations as well as firearm options.

2 hours ago, Dubya75 said:

However, for any type of deer you can use up to a Rolling Block rifle and still get a perfect pelt. Smaller animals, you may need to use a Varmint rifle or a bow.

You also need to consider the type of ammo you use. You can't be shooting everything with split-point bullets and expect to get perfect pelts.

As I've said before, if you want to maintain pelt integrity on anything larger than a coyote, but smaller than a buffalo/grizzly, you can always lasso the animal, walk it down, and use the "kill" prompt when close enough ("O" on PS4).  This will ALWAYS maintain pelt integrity from what it is when first viewed, and if the deer trinket is equipped, will more often than not elevate a 2-star pelt to a perfect pelt.

1 hour ago, Dubya75 said:

Depends on the size of the animal.

Incorrect.  As long as the proper hunting tools are being used, a headshot that strikes true and is a one-shot kill will always maintain pelt integrity.  Animal size is not the sole determining factor.

14 hours ago, HIGHHorse said:

Isn't there and odds drop that comes in to play here? Like if you get the headshot, use the best ammo, and the best gun for the job you are only like 10% likely to get one? 

No.  A headshot that is a killshot with the proper weapons from the tooltip will always maintain (note, "maintain" not produce--the pelt must already be a 3-star pelt, unless you've equipped the deer trinket) a perfect animal pelt.  I always line up a broadside shot when possible and aim for the head using deadeye and target painting, place the cursor on the eye, and shoot.   Unless the animal randomly moves, it's a guaranteed kill provided I'm within the reasonable tolerance for the weapon's range--you can't use a varmit rifle to shoot a rabbit in the head at 1000 feet, for example.

[YodaMan 3D]

6 hours ago, Dubya75 said:

Depends on the size of the animal.

Ok, different approach.  I blow an animals head off.  It shouldn't damage the rest of the pelt.  That should be common sense.  Not saying that is the mechanics behind the game, just saying a headshot shouldn't change the rest of the hide regardless of it's current state.

[dIV4r]

This may not have anything to do with it but I noticed something. When I shoot the animal in the back of the head, it seems to up the odds of a perfect pelt. Have you tried that? 

[Kormath]

32 minutes ago, dIV4r said:

This may not have anything to do with it but I noticed something. When I shoot the animal in the back of the head, it seems to up the odds of a perfect pelt. Have you tried that? 

Only ups the pelt if you have the trinket.  Headshots (back, side, between the eyes, etc.) are the best way to get the perfect pelts.

[Pew Pew Le Pew]

On 11/28/2018 at 8:28 AM, myopiasound@gmail.com said:

I find that sometimes even with a headshot the 3 star turns into a 1 star. Damn boar pelts are impossible. 

Using long rifle. 

 

No Doubt about those Boar Pelts. I swear I have killed them with Call-->Dead Eye-->HeadShot  so many times just to have the 3 drop to a two. One time I used a Springfield, and then a repeater and both dropped to a two LOL!

Thank God for that Buck Trinket or I would be light years behind on my trapper equipment.

[riptide87]

What animals can you realistically kill with a knife? I have found that I get the most perfect hides/pelts when I use my lasso and knife. 

[Kormath]

On 12/1/2018 at 12:30 PM, riptide87 said:

What animals can you realistically kill with a knife? I have found that I get the most perfect hides/pelts when I use my lasso and knife. 

Did you read the previous posts?  @BropolloCreed79 has it pretty narrowed down.

On 11/29/2018 at 7:48 AM, BropolloCreed79 said:

if you want to maintain pelt integrity on anything larger than a coyote, but smaller than a buffalo/grizzly, you can always lasso the animal, walk it down, and use the "kill" prompt when close enough ("O" on PS4).  This will ALWAYS maintain pelt integrity from what it is when first viewed, and if the deer trinket is equipped, will more often than not elevate a 2-star pelt to a perfect pelt.