To survive longer in DayZ, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the game’s key mechanics. Finding food can be challenging at first, and canned food isn’t always easy to find on well-populated servers. Therefore, your best source of food is nature itself. As in many other survival games, wild animals are your best chance of obtaining rich and tasty food. But how can you hunt successfully in DayZ? Today, we’ll take a closer look at all the important aspects of this topic so you can become a pro and never go hungry again.
Which Animals to Hunt?
DayZ is rich in various animals that you can find and kill. While some are very easy to find, you’ll have to venture deep into the woods to face significant challenges for others. Initially, you should focus on domesticated animals, but soon after, specific hunting in the forest becomes the better option.
Domesticated Animals: Even after the zombie apocalypse, there are still plenty of farm animals to be found calling the world of DayZ home. In villages, fields, or towns, you can find cows, goats, chickens, pigs, and sheep. They are less shy and therefore easy to find and kill. However, they become increasingly rare as a server remains online longer. Cows are by far the best animals to hunt in this category.
Wild Animals: A bit further away from human civilization, you will find wild animals. These mostly live in forests and are not so easy to hunt. These include wild boars, deer, rabbits, foxes, and reindeer (only Frostline). Focus on wild boars initially and later on deer.
Aggressive Animals: Deeper in the woods of Chernarus, you’ll encounter wolves and bears. Definitely keep away from these predators! They will attack and can kill you faster than you’d like. Currently, their meat isn’t worth it as it can give you salmonella 50% of the time, even when cooked.
Preparing for a Successful Hunt
Of course, you shouldn’t go hunting unprepared, as an animal can quickly slip away from you. The weapons you take into the forest to search for your food are especially important.
Knife: A knife is necessary to skin the animal afterward. It doesn’t matter much which knife you use. They all work equally well; they just have different durability. Additionally, knives can be useful if a bear or wolf surprises you.
Sniper Rifle: For accurate shots, you need a good and reliable weapon. There are many good rifles in DayZ, and you should use the one you are most comfortable with. High calibers are more lethal. An additional attachment for better zoom is also good for spotting animals from a greater distance. The Mosin 91/30 and M70 Tundra are best suited. For the truly daring, a crossbow is also a brilliant weapon! But at the end of the day, it’s your decision what you want to hunt with.
Efficiently Identifying Animal Locations
The hunt can now begin, but it’s not that simple. Animals only spawn in specific regions and have a limited number. So, you won’t find herds of deer in one spot. Additionally, animals wander around, making them harder to spot. The best locations are, for example, abandoned farms for domesticated animals or water sources for wild animals in the forest.
Your ears are your best tool; it’s best to use good headphones and stereo sound to play DayZ. This way, you can hear the calls and sounds of animals in the distance and follow them. Each animal makes its own noises, which you can listen to and learn. Study them, try to distinguish them, and follow the sounds. You’ll likely have the most success for a fruitful hunt this way.
If you still can’t find anything, the iZurvive Map is a good resource for you. Here, all current spawn points for each animal are noted. They are marked with their corresponding symbols and can also be individually selected in the legend.
Effective Hunting Methods for DayZ
Now you’ve spotted an animal and want to kill it. It’s best to proceed quietly and calmly so the animal doesn’t notice you and run away. Observe the animal for a while and learn how it moves. You might shoot at the wrong moment, and the animal could move just as you fire.
We recommend focusing directly on a good headshot. This kills most animals with one shot and ensures you get the most meat. The rest is a matter of practice!
Efficiently Processing and Utilizing Spoils
After a successful hunt, the dead animal lies before you, and you need to process your bounty. You receive various items that can aid you during your time in DayZ. Hunting provides much more than just meat! With a knife or an axe, you can skin and quarter the animal. How much you receive depends on the condition of your tool.
Be sure to wash your hands afterward or wear gloves. Learn more in our article on diseases (DayZ: Ultimate Guide to Health and Healing)
Pelts: Can be processed into leather with garden lime, which you can use, for example, for a leather backpack.
Meat: Suitable for consumption, but only if you cook, roast, or dry it (Ultimate Guide: Finding Food in DayZ and Surviving)
Innards: Should not be eaten due to the risk of salmonella. However, they can be processed into ropes and cords.
Fat: Can be eaten but also used as a cooking ingredient. Additionally, it is practical for making torches.
Bones: Particularly useful in the beginning as fish hooks or bone knives.
Conclusion: Master Hunting in DayZ
Hunting is one of the fundamental skills you must master in DayZ. It is essential for survival and ensures that you can live without pre-outbreak food. With some practice, you’ll surely find and process many animals. You can rent your own server for DayZ with us and roam the woods with your friends to find animals. You can, of course, share the meat!
