How to Hunt and Sell Perfect Pelts in Red Dead Redemption 2

In Story Mode, find a three-star animal, use the weapon and ammunition recommended for that species, and make a clean kill. Skin it and check that the result is labeled Perfect. Sell it to a butcher for cash, sell it to a Trapper for the relevant clothing recipes, or take it to Pearson if you need it for a camp upgrade.

1. Decide where the pelt should go

Check the recipe before hunting if you want to make a particular item. The Trapper and Pearson use different crafting lists. Selling the pelt to a butcher gives you cash, but it will not supply Pearson's camp crafting list. If you need a specific pelt for a satchel or outfit, keep it for the person who makes that item.

Check the required animal and quality as well. A perfect pelt from one species will not substitute for a perfect pelt from another, even when the two animals look similar. If you need several copies, note the quantities and confirm which ones you have already delivered. That prevents you from selling a spare-looking pelt that was meant for another part of the recipe.

2. Study the animal and check its stars

1. Find the species you need and observe it from a distance.
2. Study it with binoculars or inspect it carefully before taking the shot.
3. Check that the animal has three stars.
4. Read the recommended weapon in the animal's information or Compendium entry.
5. Equip that weapon and the appropriate ammunition before moving into position.

If you see only a one- or two-star animal, keep looking rather than treating a clean kill as an upgrade to its starting quality. A three-star animal gives you the reliable starting point. Take a moment to check the rating again if there are several animals close together and your aim switches from one to another.

3. Use the right weapon and take one clean shot

The recommended weapon depends on the species. A squirrel calls for Small Game Arrows. A rabbit can be hunted with the Varmint Rifle. A rifle is suitable for larger animals such as deer when the Compendium recommends it. Use the species entry when in doubt. A powerful weapon that works on a large animal may ruin a smaller one's pelt.

Position yourself for a clean shot at a vital area and wait if the animal is moving behind cover. Repeated hits can lower the quality. It is better to let an animal go and find another chance than to fire several hurried shots when the first angle is poor. If you lose sight of it, check its trail and approach from a position that gives you a clearer view.

4. Skin it and verify the quality

Approach the kill and use the skin prompt. Check the resulting pelt in your inventory or on your horse before moving on. If it is below Perfect, think back to the animal's starting rating, the weapon, and the number of hits. Change the first part of the process that did not match the recommendation.

Keep the pelt on your horse if it is a size that needs to be stowed. If the trip to the merchant is long, decide whether you want to deliver the current haul first or continue hunting. For a recipe that needs one hard-to-find piece, getting the right pelt to its destination can be more useful than filling the rest of your inventory.

5. Sell or donate the pelt

Take the pelt to a Trapper if you want it recorded for the Trapper's gear, or choose the sale option at a butcher if you only want money. For a camp recipe, go to Pearson and donate it for crafting. Check the menu before confirming so you do not accidentally sell or donate a pelt meant for another use.

If the recipe still shows a missing pelt after delivery, check the species, quality, and who received it. A pelt sold to the wrong shop can explain why the required item is still absent. On your next hunt, verify the finished pelt and go straight to the person whose recipe you are completing.

Before leaving camp, check that you have the right ammunition in your satchel. Bringing the correct weapon with an unsuitable round can still spoil the pelt.