Per R* Newswire:

Hunting is one of the most fun and unpredictable gameplay offerings of the epic open frontier Red Dead Redemption experience – and judging by what we’ve been seeing at the Social Club and from player impressions on Twitter, it’s also a fan-favorite Red Dead pastime.

Today we’ll be providing some tips to help you become an expert in some of the single-player aspects of hunting wildlife…

* After hunting and skinning animals, keep in mind that the further away the shop is from the native land of the animal that you are selling, the more money they pay for the hides and parts.

* If you see a cougar, immediately take action and begin shooting.  Best to move side to side instead of running in one direction as the cougar will follow right behind you.

* If you hear a rattling noise when riding your horse, climb off and retrace your steps.  A rattlesnake is nearby…

* Use rifles on soaring birds as pistols and revolvers aren’t as accurate at long range.

* When hunting deer, elk and other fast animals, stay on your horse so you don’t lose them.

Master Hunter challenges for single player include the following:

* Master Hunter 1: Collect five coyote pelts by killing five coyotes, skinning the carcasses and collecting the pelts.  Search around Hanging Rock north of Armadillo or on the hills surrounding MacFarlane’s Ranch.

* Master Hunter 2: Collect five deer pelts by killing five deer and skinning them.  One place you’ll find them is prancing about in Hennigan’s Stead.

* Master Hunter 3: Kill five wolves with your melee knife and collect five wolf pelts.  Look for wolves south of Blackwater and north of MacFarlane’s Ranch.

* Master Hunter 4: Collect five boar tusks and three armadillo carapaces in addition to those you already have.  Search for boars southwest of Thieves Landing and for armadillos in the areas surrounding Armadillo and Ridgewood Farm.

* Master Hunter 5: Kill two cougars with your melee knife and collect two cougar pelts.  This will unlock the Buffalo Rifle in town weapon shops.

* Master Hunter 6: Collect five raccoon pelts, five skunk pelts and five fox pelts in addition to those you already have.  Look for these around Armadillo at night, and in Tall Trees in the green regions.

* Master Hunter 7: Collect five elk meat and five bighorn skins in addition to those you already have.  Search for elk in the snowy region of Tall Trees.

* Master Hunter 8: Kill a bear with your melee knife and collect a bear pelt.  Bears are found in Tall Trees.

* Master Hunter 9: Search Ojo Del Diablo for Khan the jaguar and collect his pelt.

* Master Hunter 10: Search Aurora Basin for Lobo the Wolf, Stillwater Creek for Gordo the Boar and Nekoti Rock for Brumas the Bear.  This will unlock the ability to harvest vittles from animals that create a consumable health item.

We’ll be covering more hunting tips and also all of the Sharpshooter Challenges in part two of our Hunting Wildlife tips series, coming soon.  In the meantime, let us know if you have any hunting tips or questions in the comments below and we may answer them now or in a future edition of Asked & Answered.

Here’s a great video from MwKShield1 which features a checklist of all animals in Red Dead Redemption as well as where to find them. This is an excellent resource if you are trying to gain the Unnatural Selection Achievement/Trophy.

The guys over at iRedDead put together an awesome list which compiles hunting prices in Red Dead Redemption. This list contains both default prices and prices with the honor bonus. It is by far the best list that I’ve seen on the net so far – certainly worth a mention!

To see the Hunting Price list, click here.

Per Rockstar: “The vast world of Red Dead Redemption is populated by a complex ecosystem of over thirty different species of animal, ranging from farm livestock to domestic pets to deadly predators. Each territory – from the frontier prairies of New Austin, down into the sun-scorched Mexican deserts of Nuevo Paraiso, and up into the greener, mountainous terrain of West Elizabeth – is home to its own distinct species and breeds of wildlife.

Each animal in Red Dead Redemption has its own unique behaviors: dogs will chase wagons, or bark at potential enemies. Barnyard animals will herd together, taking fright at loud noises. Large birds will scavenge from corpses, while predators like bears or wolves will put on aggressive threat displays and fearlessly attack humans.”

For me, hunting is certainly one of the funner aspects of Red Dead Redemption. It’s also a great way to earn extra coin since you can skin what you kill and then sell the animal parts in town. That being said, hunting can take skill and you will get ganged up on, ambushed, and most likely mauled more than a few times during your time spent in Red Dead Redemption. Here are a few tips to help keep hunting related death to a minimum:

Use Bait

There’s plenty of wildlife to shoot at, but we all experience cold streaks. If you use bait (can be purchased in most towns) you stand a much better chance of attracting the animals that you are looking for, assuming you are in the correct region.

Scan the Area

When you’re traveling off the beaten path, be aware of your surroundings and keep your Dead Eye meter full. I’ve also found it important to keep the volume up. Predators such as wolves and cougars often growl before they attack. If you fail to react, you may be dead within seconds.

Skin Everything

When you go on a hunt it can take some time – especially if you are searching for one particular animal. Because of this, be sure to take a step back and shoot other animals you know will wield extra cash. This way, if you don’t end up finding the animal you were searching for, you can still go home with something.

Double Tap

Taking a phrase from one of my favorite movies (Zombieland), be sure to “Double Tap” larger and more aggressive animals you are hunting. Often times, it will take more than one shot to put them down for good. Don’t let them get away and keep yourself alive. Double Tap everything larger than a raccoon.

Do you have any tips to share? Comment below!