Study each animal with binoculars to record it in the Animal Compendium. For animals you hunt, use the recommended weapon and any named ammo to preserve a Perfect pelt or carcass. Skin Deep has a separate set of eligible skinnable animals, so its trophy rules differ from the full Compendium.
How to use this collection
Compendium # matches the in-game order. Sections group animals by biology, so the American Alligator sits with the reptiles.
Showing 73 of 162 items.
Animal type
Mammals
Nine-Banded Armadillo
Stringy Meat can be sold to traders.
- Compendium #
- 3
- Region / habitat
- New Austin, including Gaptooth Ridge, Cholla Springs, and Rio Bravo
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Carapace and stringy meat
American Badger
A Perfect Badger Pelt can be used to craft a Hat.
- Compendium #
- 4
- Region / habitat
- Arid regions across the states
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, claws, and stringy meat
Little Brown Bat
Bat carcasses can be sold to traders.
- Compendium #
- 5
- Region / habitat
- Across the states at night
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Wing and stringy meat
American Black Bear
A Perfect Bear Pelt can be used to craft a Hat.
- Compendium #
- 6
- Region / habitat
- Remote woodlands in Roanoke Ridge, Big Valley, and Tall Trees
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle
- Drops and uses
- Claw, fat, and big game meat
Grizzly Bear
A Perfect Bear Pelt can be used to craft a pair of Chaps.
- Compendium #
- 7
- Region / habitat
- Grizzlies East
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle
- Best ammo
- High Velocity or Express Bullets
- Drops and uses
- Claw, fat, and big game meat
North American Beaver
- Compendium #
- 8
- Region / habitat
- Kamassa River in Roanoke Ridge
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Scent gland, skin, and fat
Wild Boar
A Perfect Boar Pelt can be used to craft a Saddle.
- Compendium #
- 10
- Region / habitat
- New Hanover, Lemoyne, and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, tusks, fat, and tender pork
Whitetail Buck
- Compendium #
- 11
- Region / habitat
- Forested areas across the states
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, antlers, and mature venison
Whitetail Deer
- Compendium #
- 12
- Region / habitat
- Forests in New Hanover, Lemoyne, and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and mature venison
American Bison
- Compendium #
- 13
- Region / habitat
- Plains of New Hanover and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Carcano Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horn, and bison meat
Angus Bull
- Compendium #
- 14
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms across the states
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horn, and prime beef
Devon Bull
- Compendium #
- 15
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms across the states
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horn, and prime beef
Hereford Bull
- Compendium #
- 16
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms across the states
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horn, and prime beef
American Domestic Cat
Domestic cats help control pests.
- Compendium #
- 19
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns across the states
Western Chipmunk
- Compendium #
- 28
- Region / habitat
- Forested and brush-heavy areas in New Hanover, Lemoyne, and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Carcass and stringy meat
Cougar
- Compendium #
- 30
- Region / habitat
- New Austin, West Elizabeth, and remote forests in New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, fangs, and big game meat
Florida Cracker Cow
- Compendium #
- 33
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and homesteads across the states
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Hide and prime beef
California Valley Coyote
- Compendium #
- 34
- Region / habitat
- New Austin, West Elizabeth, Lemoyne, and New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
American Fox Hound
American Fox Hounds were bred for hunting.
- Compendium #
- 40
- Region / habitat
- Towns across the states
Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds herd sheep.
- Compendium #
- 41
- Region / habitat
- Towns across the states
Bloodhound
Bloodhounds hunt wild boar and deer.
- Compendium #
- 42
- Region / habitat
- Towns across the states
Bluetick Coonhound
Bluetick Coonhounds track raccoons.
- Compendium #
- 43
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns in Lemoyne and New Hanover
Border Collie
Border Collies herd livestock and can be found in Bayou Nwa.
- Compendium #
- 44
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns in Lemoyne and New Hanover
Catahoula Cur
Catahoula Curs were traditionally used to hunt boar.
- Compendium #
- 45
- Region / habitat
- Towns across the states
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are good at retrieving waterfowl.
- Compendium #
- 46
- Region / habitat
- Ranches, homesteads, train stations, and towns in New Hanover
Siberian Husky
Siberian Huskies help with hunting and gathering.
- Compendium #
- 47
- Region / habitat
- Towns and ranches in West Elizabeth and New Hanover
Labrador Retriever
The Eastern Heartlands are a good place to find Labradors, which make good hunting companions.
- Compendium #
- 48
- Region / habitat
- Farms and ranches in New Hanover and New Austin
Poodle
Poodles make good companions for duck and bird hunting.
- Compendium #
- 49
- Region / habitat
- Wealthy neighborhoods in Saint Denis and Rhodes
Mutt
Mutts make good household pets.
- Compendium #
- 50
- Region / habitat
- Armadillo and Saint Denis
Rufus
Rufus usually sits on the front porch of John's house.
- Compendium #
- 51
- Region / habitat
- Beecher's Hope farm, west of Blackwater, after the story
Standard Donkey
Donkeys are useful for farm labor.
- Compendium #
- 52
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms across the states
Rocky Mountain Bull Elk
- Compendium #
- 60
- Region / habitat
- Ambarino and northern New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, antlers, and mature venison
Rocky Mountain Cow Elk
- Compendium #
- 61
- Region / habitat
- Ambarino and northern New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and mature venison
American Red Fox
- Compendium #
- 62
- Region / habitat
- Forests and grasslands in West Elizabeth, New Hanover, and Lemoyne
- Best weapon
- Repeater or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
American Gray Fox
- Compendium #
- 63
- Region / habitat
- Forests and grasslands in West Elizabeth, New Hanover, and Lemoyne
- Best weapon
- Repeater or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
Silver Fox
- Compendium #
- 64
- Region / habitat
- Varied habitats across the states, mostly at night
- Best weapon
- Repeater or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
Alpine Goat
- Compendium #
- 66
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms across the states
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Hide and gristly mutton
Collared Peccary
A Perfect Collared Peccary Pig Pelt can be used to craft a pair of Boots.
- Compendium #
- 75
- Region / habitat
- New Austin
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and tender pork
Western Bull Moose
- Compendium #
- 79
- Region / habitat
- West Elizabeth, with another spawn at Cairn Lake in Ambarino
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, antlers, and mature venison
Western Moose
Both moose varieties can spawn at Cairn Lake in Ambarino.
- Compendium #
- 80
- Region / habitat
- Remote forested areas in West Elizabeth, Ambarino, and New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and mature venison
Mule
Mules have tougher skin and harder hooves than horses, which makes them better for manual work.
- Compendium #
- 81
- Region / habitat
- Farms and ranches across New Hanover
American Muskrat
Perfect Muskrat Fur can be used to craft a pair of Muskrat Gloves.
- Compendium #
- 82
- Region / habitat
- Rivers and shores in New Austin, West Elizabeth, Lemoyne, and New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, scent glands, and stringy meat
Angus Ox
A Perfect Ox Hide can be used to craft a pair of Chaps.
- Compendium #
- 88
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms in West Elizabeth, New Hanover, and Lemoyne
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Hide, horn, and a prime beef joint
Devon Ox
A Perfect Ox Hide can be used to craft a pair of Chaps.
- Compendium #
- 89
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and farms in West Elizabeth, New Hanover, and Lemoyne
- Best weapon
- Long-scope rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Hide, horn, and a prime beef joint
Panther
A Perfect Panther Fur can be used to craft a Saddle.
- Compendium #
- 90
- Region / habitat
- Remote forested wetlands in Lemoyne
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Improved Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and big game meat
Florida Panther
A Perfect Panther Fur can be used to craft a Saddle.
- Compendium #
- 91
- Region / habitat
- Remote forested wetlands in Lemoyne
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and big game meat
Berkshire Pig
- Compendium #
- 100
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns across New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Hide and tender pork
Big China Pig
- Compendium #
- 101
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns across New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Hide and tender pork
Old Spot Pig
- Compendium #
- 102
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns across New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Hide and tender pork
Virginia Opossum
- Compendium #
- 105
- Region / habitat
- Varied habitats across the states
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
American Pronghorn Buck
- Compendium #
- 106
- Region / habitat
- Open grasslands in New Hanover and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Hide and mature venison
American Pronghorn Doe
- Compendium #
- 107
- Region / habitat
- Open grasslands in New Hanover and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Rifle or Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Hide and mature venison
Sonoran Pronghorn Buck
A Perfect Pronghorn Fur can craft a Hat.
- Compendium #
- 108
- Region / habitat
- Open deserts in New Austin
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and mature venison
Sonoran Pronghorn Doe
A Perfect Pronghorn Fur can craft a Hat.
- Compendium #
- 109
- Region / habitat
- Open deserts in New Austin
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and mature venison
Baja California Pronghorn Buck
A Perfect Pronghorn Fur can craft a Hat.
- Compendium #
- 110
- Region / habitat
- Gaptooth Ridge and Rio Bravo
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and mature venison
Baja California Pronghorn Doe
A Perfect Pronghorn Fur can craft a Hat.
- Compendium #
- 111
- Region / habitat
- Gaptooth Ridge and Rio Bravo
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and mature venison
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Ram
- Compendium #
- 113
- Region / habitat
- New Austin and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horns, and gristly mutton
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
- Compendium #
- 114
- Region / habitat
- New Austin and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and gristly mutton
Desert Bighorn Ram
- Compendium #
- 115
- Region / habitat
- New Austin
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horns, and gristly mutton
Desert Bighorn Sheep
- Compendium #
- 116
- Region / habitat
- New Austin
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and gristly mutton
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram
- Compendium #
- 117
- Region / habitat
- Grizzlies region
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, horns, and gristly mutton
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
- Compendium #
- 118
- Region / habitat
- Grizzlies and Cumberland Forest
- Best weapon
- Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Hide and gristly mutton
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
- Compendium #
- 119
- Region / habitat
- Varied habitats across the states
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and game meat
North American Raccoon
- Compendium #
- 120
- Region / habitat
- Lemoyne, New Hanover, and West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
Black Rat
- Compendium #
- 121
- Region / habitat
- Saint Denis and other densely populated areas
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Carcass and stringy meat
Brown Rat
- Compendium #
- 122
- Region / habitat
- Armadillo and other densely populated areas
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Carcass and stringy meat
Merino Sheep
- Compendium #
- 130
- Region / habitat
- Ranches and towns across New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Repeater
- Drops and uses
- Hide and gristly mutton
Striped Skunk
- Compendium #
- 131
- Region / habitat
- Varied habitats across the states
- Best weapon
- Varmint Rifle
- Drops and uses
- Pelt and stringy meat
American Red Squirrel
- Compendium #
- 149
- Region / habitat
- Forested regions in West Elizabeth and New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Carcass, pelt, and stringy meat
Western Gray Squirrel
- Compendium #
- 150
- Region / habitat
- Forested regions in West Elizabeth and New Hanover
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Carcass, pelt, and stringy meat
Black Squirrel
- Compendium #
- 151
- Region / habitat
- Woodlands in New Hanover and parts of West Elizabeth
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Small Game Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Carcass, pelt, and stringy meat
Gray Wolf
A Perfect Wolf Pelt can be used to craft a Vest.
- Compendium #
- 159
- Region / habitat
- Big Valley and Tall Trees North, with nighttime encounters across the map
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, heart, and big game meat
Timber Wolf
Timber wolves gather south of Cumberland Forest at night, and a Perfect Wolf Pelt can be used to craft a Vest.
- Compendium #
- 160
- Region / habitat
- Cumberland Forest and the Grizzlies
- Best weapon
- Bow
- Best ammo
- Poison Arrow
- Drops and uses
- Pelt, heart, and big game meat
How to fill the Animal Compendium
Study each animal with binoculars before you hunt it. Tracking isn't required for the Zoologist trophy, so skip it. Then kill the animal and skin it. Study, kill and skin are what fill the entry.
Zoologist has its own rules, so filling every entry here isn't the same as earning it. The 100% checklist needs only some of these animals and has a separate Legendary Animal task.
Requests that ask for one specific animal are covered in Hunting Requests, and the challenge ranks sit in Challenges.
Best weapon and ammo for a clean kill
Most animals share a weapon with their group, so pick the weapon first, then match the ammo for the animal you're after.
| Animal group | Best weapon | Best ammo | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Songbirds, jays, woodpeckers, crows and quail | Bow | Small Game Arrow | Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Parakeet |
| Squirrels, rats, snakes, frogs and toads | Bow | Small Game Arrow | Western Gray Squirrel, Diamondback Rattlesnake, American Bullfrog |
| Eagles, hawks, owls, herons, turkeys and vultures | Varmint Rifle | None named | Golden Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Wild Turkey |
| Raccoons, skunks, opossums and muskrats | Varmint Rifle | None named | North American Raccoon, Striped Skunk, American Muskrat |
| Coyotes, pigs, goats and Merino sheep | Repeater | None named | California Valley Coyote, Berkshire Pig, Alpine Goat |
| Elk, moose, bulls and oxen | Long-scope rifle or Bow | Improved Arrow | Rocky Mountain Bull Elk, Western Bull Moose, Angus Ox |
| Bears | Long-scope rifle | None named, except grizzlies | American Black Bear, Grizzly Bear |
| Deer, boar and American pronghorn | Rifle or Bow | Poison Arrow | Whitetail Deer, Wild Boar, American Pronghorn Buck |
| Bighorn rams and sheep, Sonoran and Baja California pronghorns | Rifle | None named | Desert Bighorn Ram, Sonoran Pronghorn Buck, Baja California Pronghorn Doe |
| Wolves | Bow | Poison Arrow | Gray Wolf, Timber Wolf |
Some animals break the pattern. Grizzlies need High Velocity or Express Bullets with the long-scope rifle, the American Alligator takes a bow or long-scope rifle with an Improved Arrow or rifle ammo, and bison take a Carcano Rifle or a bow with an Improved Arrow.
Animals worth hunting for meat and pelts
Angus, Devon and Hereford bulls and the Florida Cracker Cow drop prime beef. Angus and Devon oxen yield a prime beef joint. Bears, cougars, panthers and wolves drop big game meat, and bison drop bison meat. Elk, moose, deer and pronghorn give mature venison, while wild boar and pigs give tender pork.
Perfect pelts are worth the trouble because they craft gear. A Perfect Bear Pelt makes a Hat from a black bear or Chaps from a grizzly, a Perfect Wolf Pelt makes a Vest, and a Perfect Panther Fur makes a Saddle.
Traders also buy stringy meat from the armadillo, bat carcasses, a Perfect Bullfrog Carcass, and Carolina Parakeet carcasses.
Where rare animals spawn
Spawns are randomized, so treat each spot as a place to search, not a sure thing.
- Great Horned Owl: a high chance to spawn on the roof of Radley's House in Rhodes at night.
- Californian Condor: New Austin. Predator Bait can flush it out.
- Carolina Parakeet: Bayou Nwa. Herbivore Bait can attract it. It's missable, so don't leave it for cleanup.
- Moose: each moose variety can spawn at Cairn Lake in Ambarino.
- Gray and Timber Wolves: gray wolves turn up at night across Big Valley and Tall Trees North, and timber wolves gather south of Cumberland Forest at night.
- Ring-necked Pheasants: a hunting spot lies southwest of Valentine.
- Pigeons: the river rocks north of Bard's Crossing.
- Orioles: the river west of Valentine.
- Small birds: Braithwaite Manor, for the tanagers and sparrows.
- Snakes: the swamp around Shady Belle, where most snakes can be farmed.
- Bayou Nwa: crayfish in the crawfish holes, and bullfrogs in calm, shallow water.
Guarma and after-story animals (spoilers)
Spoiler: Chapter 5. Guarma can't be revisited through normal play after its Chapter 5 story sequence, so the animals found only there are a one-time chance. Study the macaws before you leave. The Blue and Yellow, Great Green and Scarlet Macaws all take a bow with Small Game Arrows. The Red-footed Booby flies around the island, and the Red, Rainbow and Sunglow Boa Snakes show up near Arroyo de la Vibora before Chapter 5 ends.
The Fer-de-Lance is listed on Guarma near Arroyo de la Vibora too. The Cuban Land Crab and Green Iguana also turn up around Flat Iron Lake, so you aren't stuck with Guarma for them.
Spoiler: the epilogue. Rufus only appears once the story is over, at Beecher's Hope west of Blackwater, and he usually sits on the front porch.
FAQ
Does Red Dead Online have any of these animals?
No. Everything here is Story Mode only, so Red Dead Online animals and their hunting spots aren't included.
Where are fish and Legendary Animals?
They're separate Compendium categories. Legendary animals are covered in Legendary Animals, and legendary fish in Legendary Fish. Horses have their own category too.
Why is Best ammo blank for some animals?
Those entries have a weapon recommendation but no specific ammo pick.
Does the Compendium change on other platforms?
No. The Story Mode Animal Compendium is shared across the supported releases, so the same animals appear on each one.