Hunt & Live Team
Updated October 25, 2026
7 min read
Featured game
theHunter: Call of the Wild by Expansive Worlds is the most realistic hunting game we play, with real ballistics, wind and scent, and animals that follow daily routines. As hunters, we think it's the best way to practise reading country between seasons. This is our field guide to all of it, free and with no ads.
19Reserves, each with a full guide
128Animals with trophy data
74Weapons by ammo class
14Weapon pack guides
6Illustrated interactive maps
Start With the Tools
DatabaseAll 128 AnimalsClasses, diamond scores, Great Ones, need zones
DatabaseAll 74 WeaponsEvery gun and ammo with class bars
GuideDiamond & Great One GuideHow trophies work, species tips
AnswersBig FAQ30 questions players ask most
Newest Releases
NewNew reserve · 2026Intisuyu14 species · Peru
NewNew weapons · 2026Old West Weapon PackHWEEN .45-90 Buffalo, Humphrey 10G Coach Gun, Maijo .44-40 Special
Reserve · 2025Askiy Ridge19 species · Alberta, Canada
Field Notes
Short posts from our own hunts: behaviour we’ve watched, methods that work and Great Ones. See all field notes.
Wolves · Medved-TaigaHunting Wolves on the Frozen River at Medved-TaigaWhen they drink and feed, what the binocular panel says and how far the shots are
Best kills · The lodgeOur Trophy Lodge: A Walk Through the Wall14 mounts room by room, with fur, rating and how close each came to diamond
Best kills · LionOur Best Kills: LionA gold at 146 m: warning call, one lung shot, 2.6 short of diamond
CompareAmerican Alligator vs Saltwater CrocodileClass, size, diamond scores, furs and times side by side
VurhongaGlassing from a kopjeThe rocky lookout spots on Vurhonga Savanna and how we use them
Handguns.45-70 Jernberg: the big-game pistolOur pick for Cape buffalo and other class 9 animals
Handgun of the monthFocoso .357Why it lives in our sidearm slot
DiamondsHow to Get a Diamond JackalOur Vurhonga spot: coordinates, time window and setup
PredatorsPredators That Chase PreyLions, pumas, tigers and more: what "Chasing" means and how to use it
MethodHow to Hunt WolvesFrozen-lake calling, need zones, a rifle, and a .357 for self-defence
Great OnesThe Great One Mule DeerThat huge-antlered deer from the Askiy Ridge art
Animal Guides
64 animals now have their own guide: behaviour, need zones, best weapons, strategy and where to hunt them. See all 64.
Class 9BantengEmerald Coast Australia
Class 9Bengal TigerSundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve
Class 9European BisonHirschfelden Hunting Reserve
Class 9LionVurhonga Savanna
Class 9Water BuffaloParque Fernando, Sundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve
Class 9Wild YakSundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve
Class 8Grizzly BearYukon Valley Nature Reserve
Class 8MooseAskiy Ridge, Layton Lake District
Every Reserve
All 19 reserves, newest first. Each guide has the full species list with need-zone clocks, trophy thresholds, the right weapons, tips, official screenshots and FAQs. The six marked with a map have our illustrated interactive map. Compare them all in one table.
NewPeru · 2026Intisuyu14 species
Alberta, Canada · 2025Askiy Ridge19 species
Scottish Highlands · 2025Tòrr nan Sìthean18 species
Nepal · 2024Sundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve13 species
Northern Germany · 2024Salzwiesen Park15 species
New South Wales, Australia · 2023 · MapEmerald Coast Australia14 species · Great Ones: Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Red Fox
Finland · 2022Revontuli Coast19 species
New Hampshire, USA · 2022New England Mountains15 species
Sonora, Mexico · 2021Rancho del Arroyo10 species
Mississippi, USA · 2021Mississippi Acres Preserve10 species
Colorado, USA · 2020 · MapSilver Ridge Peaks9 species · Great Ones: Black Bear, Mule Deer
New Zealand · 2020 · MapTe Awaroa National Park10 species · Great Ones: Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Tahr
Yukon / Alaska · 2019Yukon Valley Nature Reserve8 species
Spain · 2019Cuatro Colinas Game Reserve11 species
Southern Africa · 2018 · MapVurhonga Savanna10 species
Patagonia, Argentina · 2018Parque Fernando8 species
Pacific Northwest, USA · 2017 · MapLayton Lake District9 species · Great Ones: Moose, Black Bear, Whitetail Deer
Central Europe · 2017 · MapHirschfelden Hunting Reserve9 species · Great Ones: Red Deer, Wild Boar, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer, Red Fox, Ring-Necked Pheasant
Siberia, Russia · 2017Medved-Taiga National Park8 species
Weapon Packs
Every weapon DLC, with each gun’s ammo class bands and the animals and reserves it suits best.
NewWeapon pack · 2026Old West Weapon PackHWEEN .45-90 Buffalo, Humphrey 10G Coach Gun, Maijo .44-40 Special
NewWeapon pack · 2026Multi-Class Weapon PackALIS Precision Shot .25-06, Joneros .17HMR, Richardsson .500, Cassidy Combinatio
Weapon pack · 2025Pump, Flip and Fire PackAnantha Action .22 Mag, Frost .257, Giddings SSC .410 Coyote
Weapon pack · 2025Rapid Hunt Rifle PackPERRY .308, HANSSON .30-06, QUIST REAPER 7.62x39
Weapon pack · 2024Hunters' Choice: Bolt-Action Rifle PackVallgarda .375, Johansson .450, Fors Elite .300
Weapon pack · 2024High Caliber Weapon PackArzyna .300 Mag Tactical, .45-70 Jernberg Superior, Strandberg 10SA Executive
Weapon pack · 2023Ambusher PackMoradi Model 1894, Stenberg Takedown Recurve Bow
Weapon pack · 2023Hunter Power PackTsurugi LRR .338, Malmer 7mm Magnum, Olsson Model 23
Weapon pack · 2022Assorted Sidearms Pack10mm Davani, .243 R.Cuomo, .45 Rolleston
Weapon pack · 2022Modern Rifle PackZARZA-15 .22LR, ZARZA-15 .223, ZARZA-10 .308
Weapon pack · 2020Smoking Barrels Weapon PackHudzik .50 Caplock, M1 Iwaniec, Miller Model 1891
Weapon pack · 2019Weapon Pack 3Andersson .22LR, Eckers .30-06, Vasquez Cyclone .45
Weapon pack · 2019Weapon Pack 2Grelck Drilling Rifle, Mangiafico 410/45 Colt, Solokhin MN1890
Weapon pack · 2018Weapon Pack 1Virant .22LR, Crosspoint CB-165, Houyi Recurve Bow
Dogs, Lodges & Gear
CompanionsHunting DogsBloodhound, Labrador, German Shorthaired Pointer
Show offTrophy LodgesSpring Creek Manor, Saseka Safari, mounts
EquipmentGear & EquipmentFeeders, blinds, treestands, ATV, scopes
New · Free PDFs
Seven printable cheat sheets
Classes and ammo, weapons, need zones, diamonds, furs, maps and DLC. No ads, no sign-up.
Get the free cheat sheets
Start Here: The Three Rules of Call of the Wild
- Match your ammo to the animal’s class. Classes run from 1 (birds and rabbits) to 9 (bison, buffalo and big bears), and every load is rated for a band. In-class ammo means clean kills and full payouts. Out-of-class ammo fails the harvest check. → Weapons & ammo
- Hunt the need zones. Every herd feeds, drinks and rests in fixed places at fixed times. Find the zones and you’ll find the animals. → Animals & need zones
- Only max-level animals make diamonds. Check the level and trophy rating before you shoot, use the right ammo, and kill cleanly in two shots or fewer. → Diamond guide
Class Cheat Sheet
The whole game in one table: which animals are in each class, and a base-game load that covers it.
| Class | Example animals | Species | Base-game pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Mallard, European Rabbit, Ring-Necked Pheasant, American Mink, Antelope Jackrabbit | 44 | Caversham Steward 12G — 12 GA Birdshot |
| Class 2 | Red Fox, Coyote, Side-Striped Jackal, Bobcat, Common Raccoon | 14 | Ranger .243 — .243 Soft-Point |
| Class 3 | Roe Deer, Blackbuck, Springbok, Axis Deer, Chamois | 12 | Ranger .243 — .243 Soft-Point |
| Class 4 | Whitetail Deer, Fallow Deer, Eastern Gray Kangaroo, Beceite Ibex, Blacktail Deer | 17 | Ranger .243 — .243 Soft-Point |
| Class 5 | Wild Boar, Mule Deer, Desert Bighorn Sheep, Feral Pig, Javan Rusa | 8 | Ranger .243 — .243 Soft-Point |
| Class 6 | Red Deer, Gray Wolf, Gemsbok, Barasingha, Blue Wildebeest | 13 | Ranger .243 — .243 Soft-Point |
| Class 7 | Black Bear, Roosevelt Elk, American Alligator, Black Caiman, Eurasian Brown Bear | 8 | .270 Huntsman — .270 Soft-Point |
| Class 8 | Moose, Grizzly Bear, Saltwater Crocodile | 3 | .270 Huntsman — .270 Soft-Point |
| Class 9 | Plains Bison, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Banteng, Bengal Tiger | 9 | 7mm Regent Magnum — 7mm Mag Soft-Point |
Quick Picks
- Best starter rifle: the Ranger .243 covers classes 2–6 cheaply.
- Best all-rounder: the 7mm Regent Magnum covers classes 4–9.
- Best first DLC reserve: community favourites are Emerald Coast, Yukon Valley and Vurhonga Savanna. Silver Ridge Peaks is often called the most beginner-friendly.
- Best place to learn diamond grinding: whitetail on Layton Lake District, where max level is only Very Easy, so every max-level buck is a candidate.
- Most wanted: the Great Ones — fabled, level-10 animals with unique trophies. See the diamond guide.
Why a Hunting Site Has a Call of the Wild Guide
The game rewards the same habits real hunting does: pick the right calibre for the animal, take broadside shots at the vitals, play the wind, and spend more time glassing than walking. Many of the rifles are modelled on real ones we review, such as the .243, .270, .30-06 and 7mm magnums. If the game has you curious about the real thing, start with our calibre guide, our species database and our gear reviews.
Hunt & Live is a fan resource and is not affiliated with Expansive Worlds or THQ Nordic. Data compiled October 2026 from store pages, community wikis, guide sites and Steam guides. See each page's notes for sources and anything marked "verify".
Frequently Asked Questions
How many reserves are in theHunter: Call of the Wild?
There are 19 reserves: Layton Lake District and Hirschfelden in the base game, plus 17 reserve DLCs. The newest is Intisuyu (2026).
How many animals are in Call of the Wild?
Our database tracks 128 huntable species across all reserves, from class 1 birds and hares up to class 9 bison and buffalo. Every one is on our animals page with its class, trophy thresholds and reserves.
Which Call of the Wild DLC should I buy first?
For most players, a reserve that adds species you want beats a weapon pack, because the base-game weapons already cover every class. Silver Ridge Peaks, Te Awaroa, Hirschfelden-style deer reserves and the newer Askiy Ridge are popular picks. Each reserve guide here lists its species, Great Ones and unique animals so you can choose.
Are the weapon packs worth it?
Weapon packs change handling, range and fun more than what you can kill, since ammo class decides that. Each weapon pack guide shows the class bands and the animals each gun suits, so you can see whether a pack fills a gap in your kit.
Is Hunt & Live affiliated with Expansive Worlds or Avalanche Studios?
No. This is an independent, ad-free fan guide written by hunters who play the game. We feature the game and link to its official store pages because we enjoy it and want to support the studio, but nobody pays us for it.
Support the developers
theHunter: Call of the Wild
We built this guide because we love the game. If you are new to it, start with the base game; Layton Lake District and Hirschfelden alone will keep you busy for months.
Get theHunter: Call of the Wild on Steam → Also on PlayStation and Xbox. Store prices change; check the store for the current price.Independent fan guide · no ads. This guide is an independent, fan-made project by Hunt & Live. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Expansive Worlds, Avalanche Studios Group (Fatalist Development AB), or their partners. Parts of the materials used are property of Fatalist Development or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This material is not approved or endorsed by Fatalist Development AB or any of its affiliates. theHunter: Call of the Wild and all associated animal designs and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Game screenshots are official promotional images from the game's store pages. These pages carry no ads and are free to read — no sign-up, no paywall. Game values change with patches and DLC; numbers were checked against community and official sources on the date above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.