Red Dead Redemption 2 Perfect Squirrel Pelt & Carcass Locations

Getting perfect pelts from squirrels and finding their locations in Red Dead Redemption 2 might sound like an easy task until you attempt it. These small critters are easy prey, but due to their size they are hard to spot and find. I finally managed to get some solid information while I was hunting for perfect squirrel pelts to make some satchel upgrades and get that sweet hat from the trapper. In this article I’ll talk about where to find squirrels in Red Dead Redemption. You will also find out what to do with perfect squirrel carcass and get perfect pelts from them.

Where to find squirrels in Red Dead Redemption 2?

The game compendium says that most squirrel species are located in woodland areas of New Hanover and West Elizabeth. That is a pretty wide area to search through. What you want to do is go west of your New Hanover camp near Valentine towards West Elizabeth until you find some woodlands. To my surprise I did not find them deep inside the woods, but mostly on the edges and more often than not, near roads. They would just jump out in front of me scared by my horse’s galloping. I had the most luck in one particular spot that is shown on the map bellow. Look for them up on the plateau as well as near the water’s edge, by the road.

How to get the Perfect Squirrel Pelt?

Like with any animal in the game, to get the perfect pelt you need to hunt squirrels of pristine quality that have three stars next to their name. You can discover them by tracking their tracks. You can also use your binoculars to study them and discover their quality if they are in plain sight. Next part of the equation is to use your bow to kill them. You need to use small game arrows with your bow or no perfect pelt. While you are in the weapon wheel and are equipping the bow use your D-pad left and right to select small game arrows. If you have none they are easily crafted. In your weapon wheel go to items with R1 and select crafting at the bottom. Once there choose ammunition crafting and you will have small game arrows listed. Now you are ready for some squirrel hunting.

What to do with Perfect Squirrel Carcass and where is it once picked up?

Once you kill a pristine squirrel with your small game bow you will be able to pick up the perfect squirrel carcass. No perfect pelt for you? Don’t worry, you just need to go to your satchel (inventory) and find the carcass. You will have an option to “break down” the item and this will yield both the perfect squirrel pelt and some meat. You see, little things are just tiny enough that you don’t skin them and can carry them around. Once you need their belts, break them down in your inventory and you are ready to go. I hope this helped your hunting in RDR2.

If you end up getting stuck at another point, you might want to check out some of the other guides we have. We've written about mysteries like the missing person Gavin, the Rhodes Gunsmith prisoner, the locked door at Valentine doctor. We also have instructional guides that show how to rob stores without getting bounty or where to sell jewelry and gold bars. If it's collectibles or key items you're after, we've found all the Penny Dreadful comic books, Chick's treasure map location, or that famous pipe for Dutch. Finally, if you don't care to explore the map yourself, you could take a look at our Watson's Cabin and Catfish Jackson's Homestead locations guides. In the latest Red Dead Online Moonshiners Update you'll have a chance to find Navy Revolver and Best Shack Locations.