Red Dead Redemption: All 10 Master Hunter Challenges (July 2025)

2nd July, 2025

If you're aiming to become a true Legend of the West in Red Dead Redemption, then conquering all 10 Master Hunter challenges is absolutely essential. These increasingly difficult hunting tasks will push your skills to the limit, from simple coyote hunts to intense knife battles with grizzly bears and tracking down legendary beasts.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through every single Master Hunter challenge, providing exact locations, proven strategies, and expert tips that'll help you earn that coveted Master Hunter title. Whether you're struggling with the notorious bear knife challenge or can't find those elusive skunks, I've got you covered.

Table of Contents

Red Dead Redemption: All Master Hunter Challenges

Before we dive into the details, here's a quick reference table showing all 10 challenges at a glance:

Rank	Challenge	Reward
1	Kill and skin 5 coyotes	Progress to Rank 2
2	Kill and skin 5 deer	Progress to Rank 3
3	Kill 5 wolves with knife & skin 5 wolves	Progress to Rank 4
4	Skin 5 boars and 3 armadillos	Progress to Rank 5
5	Kill 2 cougars with knife & skin 2 cougars	Buffalo Rifle unlocked
6	Skin 5 raccoons, 5 skunks, and 5 foxes	Progress to Rank 7
7	Skin 5 elk and 5 bighorn sheep	Progress to Rank 8
8	Kill a bear with knife & collect bear pelt	Progress to Rank 9
9	Find and skin Khan the legendary jaguar	Progress to Rank 10
10	Find and skin 3 legendary animals	Vittles from skinning

Now let's break down each challenge with detailed strategies and locations.

Master Hunter Challenge #1: Kill and Skin 5 Coyotes

Where to Find Coyotes

Starting your Master Hunter journey is relatively straightforward. Coyotes are among the most common predators in New Austin, and I've found the best hunting grounds are:

South region between Pike's Basin and MacFarlane's Ranch - This is my go-to spot
Southeastern corner of Hennigan's Stead, north of the river
Open areas northwest of MacFarlane's Ranch

Pro Tips for Challenge #1

Coyotes are most active at night, so wait until sunset before heading out. Listen carefully for their distinctive chirping and whining sounds - they'll often announce their presence before you see them. While coyotes aren't particularly aggressive, they're skittish and will flee if spooked. I recommend using a repeater for quick, clean kills.

Master Hunter Challenge #2: Kill and Skin 5 Deer

Best Deer Hunting Locations

Deer are everywhere in Red Dead Redemption, making this challenge a breeze. My favorite spots include:

South region of Armadillo near Cholla Springs
Between Pike's Basin and MacFarlane's Ranch (great for multitasking with coyotes)
Center of the map, north of the river

Important Note About Deer vs. Bucks

Here's something crucial that many players miss: bucks do NOT count toward this challenge. You need to hunt deer specifically - the ones without antlers and with a slimmer build. I learned this the hard way after spending an hour hunting the wrong animals!

Master Hunter Challenge #3: Kill 5 Wolves with Your Knife and Skin 5 Wolves

Wolf Pack Locations

This is where things get interesting - and dangerous. Wolves hunt in packs, making knife combat particularly risky. Find them at:

Northwest region of Cholla Springs
South of Armadillo
Rio Bravo area (multiple packs here)

Knife Combat Strategy

The key here is that only the killing blow needs to be with the knife. Here's my proven method:

Weaken each wolf with 2-3 body shots from your pistol
Stay on horseback if possible - you can knife wolves while mounted
Use Dead Eye with your knife for precision strikes
Keep medicine handy - wolves attack in groups

Pro Tip: Auto-Save Trick

After each knife kill, use a horse deed from your satchel. This forces an auto-save without needing to camp or wait 6 hours. If you die before saving, you won't lose progress!

Master Hunter Challenge #4: Skin 5 Boars and 3 Armadillos

Boar Locations

Finding boars can be tricky, but I've discovered some reliable spots:

North region of Hennigan's Stead
Hennigan's Stead side of Tanner's Span railroad bridge (careful - also spawns cougars and wolves!)

Armadillo Hunting Tips

For armadillos, follow the train tracks from the town of Armadillo. These little critters scatter across the wild lands, often hiding in tall grass. A simple revolver shot will do the job.

Since boars rarely spawn close together, I recommend saving and reloading after each successful hunt to respawn the area.

Master Hunter Challenge #5: Kill 2 Cougars with Your Knife and Skin 2 Cougars

Prime Cougar Territory

This challenge strikes fear into many players, and for good reason. Cougars are deadly predators that can kill you in just 2 hits. Find them at:

North region of Hennigan's Stead
Around Rio Bravo's north region
Near Fort Mercer
Northwestern New Austin around Gaptooth Ridge

Cougar Knife Fighting Technique

Here's my battle-tested strategy that's saved me countless deaths:

Shoot the cougar once in the back just above the hind legs with a High Power Pistol
It will typically run after being shot - wait for it to attack again
Dodge roll when it pounces (crucial for survival!)
Strike immediately after dodging - cougars only take 2 knife hits to kill
Use Dead Eye with your knife - you'll be immune to attacks during the animation

Important: Unlock the Buffalo Rifle

Completing this challenge unlocks the Buffalo Rifle at any gunsmith - a game-changer for hunting large animals. Looking for more gaming gear recommendations? Check out these high refresh rate gaming laptops that'll give you the edge in any game.

Master Hunter Challenge #6: Kill and Skin 5 Raccoons, 5 Skunks, and 5 Foxes

The Nocturnal Hunt

This challenge requires patience more than skill. All three animals are fairly common but can be tedious to track down.

Best Hunting Grounds

Beecher's Hope perimeter from dusk to dawn (all three animals)
Around Armadillo and Warthington Ranch at night (skunks and raccoons)
South of Armadillo and Critchley's Ranch around dusk (foxes)

Time-Saving Strategy

I've found the most efficient approach is to pick one location and patrol it repeatedly rather than traveling between multiple spots. Beecher's Hope is ideal because all three animals spawn there regularly.

Master Hunter Challenge #7: Kill and Skin 5 Elk and 5 Bighorn Sheep

Venturing into Tall Trees

Both animals inhabit the Tall Trees region, requiring you to venture into more dangerous territory:

Elk: Deep into Tall Trees past Manzanita Post, in the snowy regions
Bighorn Sheep: South region of Tall Trees, throughout woodland areas

Hunting Tips

Use hard-hitting weapons like rifles for clean kills. The terrain here is challenging, so having a good horse is essential. Be aware that Tall Trees is also home to bears and wolves, so stay alert!

Master Hunter Challenge #8: Kill a Bear with Your Melee Knife and Skin It

The Ultimate Test

This is arguably the hardest Master Hunter challenge, requiring you to face down a grizzly bear with just your knife.

Bear Locations

Northern region of Tall Trees (most common)
Between Watson's Cabin and Wallace Station
Near Aurora Basin

Two Strategies for Success

Strategy 1: The Traditional Method

Weaken the bear first with specific shots:
- 2 headshots + 6 leg shots with Cattleman Revolver, OR
- 1 headshot with Henry Repeater, OR
- 8 leg shots with Evans Repeater
Lasso the bear after weakening it
When you release it, the bear will run - chase on horseback
Strike the fleeing bear with your knife

Strategy 2: The Mission Method (Easier!)

Later in the game, replay the mission "For Purely Scientific Purposes." This mission features a bear that won't attack you (it's focused on the mission NPC). Simply chase and stab it repeatedly - much safer than fighting a wild bear!

Critical Tips

Stock up on medicine - lots of it
Save your game before attempting
The killing blow must be with the knife, but weakening with guns is allowed
You can knife a different bear than the one you skin

Master Hunter Challenge #9: Find Khan the Legendary Jaguar

Entering Khan's Domain

After completing the previous 8 challenges, you can finally hunt the legendary jaguar Khan. Head to:

Ojo Del Diablo in Mexico
South region of Chuparosa

Hunting Khan

Enter the area and wait for the prompt about Khan's location
Watch your minimap for the red blip
Keep your distance - Khan is extremely dangerous
Use long-range rifles and Dead Eye
The Buffalo Rifle (unlocked from Challenge #5) is perfect here

Khan is aggressive and fast, so don't let him get close. One headshot with the Buffalo Rifle should do the job.

Master Hunter Challenge #10: Hunt and Skin 3 Legendary Animals

The Final Hunt

The ultimate challenge requires finding and killing three legendary beasts:

Legendary Animal	Name	Location
Wolf	Lobo	Northwest Tall Trees near Aurora Basin
Boar	Gordo	West of Thieves' Landing by Stillwater Creek
Bear	Brumas	North of Tall Trees on top of Nekoti Rock

Legendary Hunting Tips

Each legendary animal is significantly tougher than regular versions
Use your most powerful weapons - the Buffalo Rifle is ideal
Stock up on medicine and Dead Eye tonics
Save before engaging each legendary animal
Listen for unique sound cues that indicate you're in their territory

Your Reward: Vittles

Completing all Master Hunter challenges grants you Vittles whenever you skin any animal. These consumables restore health, making future hunts much easier. You've truly earned the title of Master Hunter!

Advanced Hunting Tips and Tricks

Weapon Selection Guide

Small animals (rabbits, skunks, raccoons): Repeater or pistol
Medium animals (deer, wolves, coyotes): Repeater or rifle
Large animals (bears, elk, boars): Rifle or Buffalo Rifle
Knife challenges: Always weaken with guns first!

Dead Eye Mastery

Dead Eye isn't just for guns - you can use it with your knife too! This is especially useful for the knife challenges, as you're briefly invulnerable during the Dead Eye animation.

Managing Your Hunt

Always save before attempting difficult challenges
Use horse deeds to force saves after progress
Keep your horse nearby for quick escapes
Stock up on medicine before knife challenges
Hunt at optimal times (night for nocturnal animals)

Looking to enhance your Red Dead experience? While you're mastering these challenges, you might wonder about playing with friends. Check out our guide on Red Dead Redemption 2 cross-platform compatibility for the latest updates in 2025.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Hunting bucks instead of deer for Challenge #2
Not weakening animals before knife kills - only the final blow matters!
Forgetting to save progress - use horse deeds or camp regularly
Ignoring medicine - knife challenges are dangerous
Giving up on Challenge #6 - patience is key for finding all those small animals

Preparing for the Hunt

Before starting your Master Hunter journey, ensure you have:

Plenty of ammunition for all weapon types
At least 10-15 medicines
Multiple horse deeds for saving
A fast, reliable horse
Patience and persistence!

Platform-Specific Information

The Master Hunter challenges work identically across all platforms:

PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Switch (recent port)
PlayStation 4/5 (via backwards compatibility)

No matter which platform you're playing on, these strategies will work perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to complete Master Hunter challenges for 100% completion?

Yes, completing all Master Hunter challenges is required for 100% completion in Red Dead Redemption. They're also necessary for earning the "Legend of the West" achievement/trophy.

Can I use Dead Eye with the hunting knife?

Absolutely! Dead Eye works with the hunting knife and is highly recommended for the knife challenges. You'll be briefly invulnerable during the Dead Eye animation, giving you a crucial advantage.

What's the hardest Master Hunter challenge?

Most players consider Challenge #8 (killing a bear with a knife) the most difficult, followed closely by Challenge #5 (killing cougars with a knife). However, some find Challenge #6 tedious due to the time required to find all the small animals.

Do I have to kill and skin the same animal?

No! For challenges requiring both killing and skinning, these are separate objectives. You can kill one wolf with a knife and skin a completely different wolf to progress.

What happens if I die during a knife challenge?

If you die before saving, you'll lose any progress made since your last save. Use horse deeds from your satchel to force auto-saves after each successful knife kill.

Can I complete Master Hunter challenges in Undead Nightmare?

No, the Master Hunter challenges are exclusive to the main game. Undead Nightmare has its own set of unique challenges involving the undead.

Where's the best place to find all animals quickly?

While there's no single location with every animal, the area around Beecher's Hope and Tall Trees offers the most variety. For specific animals, refer to the location guides for each challenge above.

Is the Buffalo Rifle worth unlocking?

Definitely! The Buffalo Rifle (unlocked after Challenge #5) is one of the most powerful weapons in the game, perfect for hunting large animals and completing later challenges.

Final Thoughts

Completing all Master Hunter challenges in Red Dead Redemption is a true test of skill, patience, and courage. From tracking elusive skunks to facing down grizzly bears with nothing but a knife, these challenges will push you to master every aspect of the game's hunting mechanics.

Remember, the journey to becoming a Master Hunter isn't meant to be rushed. Take your time, enjoy the incredible world Rockstar has created, and don't get discouraged if a challenge seems impossible at first. With the strategies and locations I've provided, you'll be sporting that Master Hunter title before you know it.

Happy hunting, partner! May your aim be true and your knife sharp as you conquer the wilderness of the Old West.