You've finally spotted that perfect three-star chipmunk skittering across a rock near Roanoke Ridge. You pull out your Varmint Rifle, line up the shot, and—pop. Suddenly, that pristine carcass is a one-star mess of fur and meat. It’s frustrating. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece of detail, but its hunting system is notoriously unforgiving if you don't use the right tools. If you want those perfect pelts for the Legend of the East satchel or those tedious hunting requests, you've got to master crafting small game arrows RDR2 style. It’s the only way to keep the small fry intact.
The Recipe Most People Forget
Most players think they can just buy everything at the Gunsmith. You can't. Small game arrows are a craft-only item, which means you’re going to spend some time staring at a campfire or crouching in the wilderness. To get started, you need three specific ingredients: regular arrows, flight feathers, and shotgun shells.
Wait, shotgun shells? Yeah. It sounds counterintuitive to use high-powered buckshot to kill a sparrow, but Arthur (or John) basically dismantles the shell to use the casing or the lead as a blunt weighted tip. This turns the arrow into a non-lethal projectile that kills via blunt force trauma rather than piercing. It preserves the tiny skin.
Getting the feathers is the real chore. You can’t just pluck a chicken and call it a day; you need flight feathers from birds you’ve actually shot out of the sky. Pro tip: head to the heartlands and look for ducks near the water or crows circling overhead. They’re easy targets and provide plenty of flight feathers per carcass. You’ll need one feather and one shotgun shell for every single small game arrow you make. It’s a one-to-one ratio that gets expensive in terms of time, but it's non-negotiable for 100% completionists.
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Stop Aiming for the Head (Sometimes)
Let’s talk about the mechanics of crafting small game arrows RDR2 players often struggle with during the actual hunt. Because these arrows are weighted, their flight path is "loopy." They drop much faster than standard arrows. If you’re trying to hit a bullfrog from twenty yards away, you need to aim significantly higher than you think.
Honestly, Dead Eye is your best friend here. Don't try to be a hero and manual-aim a tiny snake in the grass. Pop your Dead Eye, mark the target, and let the game handle the ballistics.
What can you actually kill with these?
It’s a specific list. If you use these on a rabbit, you’re just going to annoy it. Rabbits, raccoons, and foxes require the Varmint Rifle. Small game arrows are strictly for the "tiny" tier. We're talking:
- Squirrels (all varieties)
- Chipmunks
- Rats (crucial for that Saint Denis saloon side quest)
- Toads and Frogs
- Snakes (the only way to get a perfect snake skin)
- Small birds like songbirds, cardinals, and woodpeckers
Finding the Recipe and Getting to Work
You don't actually need to buy a pamphlet for this. Unlike the Explosive Slug or the Incendiary Buckshot, Arthur knows how to make these from the jump. Just set up camp or hold the "Rest" button while on foot. Open the crafting menu, toggle over to the ammo tab, and start hammering them out.
The animation is slow. It’s one of those RDR2 quirks that adds "immersion" but feels like a lifetime when you need to craft 40 of them. Just sit back and enjoy the sound of the woods.
One thing people get wrong is the "yield." You don't get a bundle of arrows; you get one. If you have 30 shotgun shells and 5 feathers, you are only making 5 arrows. It’s a bottleneck. I always recommend farming feathers in bulk first. Go to the bridge near Lemoyne where the cranes and herons hang out. Blast a few out of the air, and you'll have enough feathers to last a few hunting trips.
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The Satchel Problem
You're going to run out of space. Fast. The default satchel is tiny, and since you’re already crafting small game arrows RDR2 requires for upgrades, you might as well prioritize the Legend of the East satchel. It boosts your carrying capacity to 99 for almost every item.
Without it, you’re constantly hitting the cap on feathers or shells, which makes the whole process feel like a chore. Once you have that upgraded bag, you can carry enough small game arrows to clear out every squirrel in West Elizabeth without heading back to a campfire.
Why the Varmint Rifle Isn't Enough
Newer players often ask why they can't just use the .22 caliber Varmint Rifle. It says it's for "small animals," right? Well, Rockstar’s definition of "small" is different from yours. In the game’s logic, a rabbit is "small," but a squirrel is "tiny."
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If you use a Varmint Rifle on a squirrel, the game considers the bullet too destructive for the fragile bones and skin. You’ll get a "damaged" notification. The only exception is if you have the Legendary Buck Antler Trinket. This magical little item gives you a chance to "save" a pelt and keep it at three stars even if you messed up the kill. It's not 100% reliable, though. If you want a guaranteed perfect rat or woodpecker, the small game arrow is the only path.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Hunt
Don't go out looking for one specific animal. That’s how the game’s "desire sensor" kicks in and makes them all disappear. Instead:
- Mass-harvest feathers: Spend 10 minutes at any river bank shooting ducks.
- Stock up on regular shells: Buy the max amount from any general store or gunsmith.
- Craft in bulk: Do it while you’re waiting for a specific time of day for a mission.
- Use the right POV: Hunting tiny critters is much easier in first-person mode. The field of view changes, and it's easier to track movement in the brush.
- Listen for the "chirp": Most small game animals are heard before they are seen. Woodpeckers and songbirds have distinct calls. If you hear one, stop, crouch, and pull out the bow.
Getting the hang of crafting small game arrows RDR2 is really just a test of patience. It’s about slowing down to the game’s intended pace. Once you have a quiver full of them, those "Hunting Request" posters at the post office become a lot less intimidating and a lot more like a fun scavenger hunt.