If you’ve been stalking the digital woods for as long as I have, you know the rhythm of this game. You track, you wait, you freeze when a twig snaps. But lately, things feel different. The recent hunter call of the wild update, specifically Patch 8.4 and the Tòrr nan Sithean launch, hasn’t just added a few new pixels to the horizon. It fundamentally shifted how we interact with our trophy rooms and the animals themselves.
Honestly, it’s about time.
For a while there, the community was getting a bit restless. We had the Nepal peaks and the Himalayan Tahr, which were cool, but players wanted more meat on the bones of the core systems. The December 2025 overhaul delivered that in a way that’s still rippling through the player base today in early 2026.
The Scotland Expansion: Tòrr nan Sithean
First off, let's talk about the Highlands. Tòrr nan Sithean isn’t just another forest map. It’s dense. It’s moody. The developers at Expansive Worlds leaned hard into the "legend and folklore" vibe, and it shows in the environment. You aren't just walking through a biome; you're walking through a history of Scottish hunting.
We got 17 species in this reserve. That’s a massive roster. What’s more interesting is the debut of the mustelids. We finally have the American Mink and the Eurasian Pine Marten. If you think tracking a Whitetail is tricky, try spotting a Pine Marten in the Scottish undergrowth. They are small, fast, and remarkably elusive.
Then there’s the gear. The Benelhag 12G semi-auto shotgun came with the DLC. It’s a beast. Since the hunter call of the wild update removed the skill requirement for 12GA Birdshot and Slugs, this gun has become the go-to for anyone starting a new save or looking to clear out some small game without grinding through the shotgun tree for hours.
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The Animals That Got a Face-Lift
It wasn't just about the new stuff. The "remaster" trend continued, and this time the Red Deer, Wild Boar, and Roe Deer got the treatment.
- Red Deer: New models that look significantly more regal.
- Wild Boar: Tougher silhouettes and better fur textures.
- Roe Deer: Subtle adjustments to their animations and coat variations.
The devs also tweaked the fur rarity logic. You’ll notice more variety now—Erythristic Ptarmigan are officially a thing, and the "Red" plumage was renamed to reflect that. It’s a small detail, but for the trophy hunters who live for rare furs, it matters.
The Great One Wild Boar is a Nightmare (In a Good Way)
Every major hunter call of the wild update needs a "White Whale." For Patch 8.4, it’s the Great One Wild Boar.
I’ve seen some of the community screenshots. This thing is terrifying. It comes with nine different fur variations and various tusk configurations built on the TruRACs system. If you’re trying to grind for one, you’re in for a long haul. The population resets on maps like Te Awaroa and Layton Lake mean you’re essentially starting the hunt from scratch if you hadn't cleared those zones recently.
Customization Finally Hits the Trophy Lodge
If you’ve spent any time on the COTW subreddits, you know the "Lodge Update" was the most requested feature for years. We finally got it. You don't just put a head on a wall anymore.
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You can now use sprays to change the appearance of your plaques and stands. Patch 8.4 added 16 new plaques and 40 new stands for everyone—not just DLC owners. The UI overhaul in the Trophy Lodge is probably the best quality-of-life change in the entire hunter call of the wild update.
Filtering trophies by species or medal rank makes it so much easier to organize your collection. Before this, scrolling through a list of 200 Gold-rated harvests was a nightmare. Now, it’s actually functional.
What You Should Know About the Premium Mounts
The Premium Trophy Mount Pack launched alongside the update. It’s separate from the map DLC, which some people found annoying, but it adds "Multimounts" like the "Boar Boys" and "Claw and Order." If you have a specific vision for your lodge, these are basically essential.
Technical Fixes That Actually Work
Let’s be real: this game has a history of being "buggy."
The December/January updates addressed some of the most glaring issues. Waterfowl on the Alberta map (and elsewhere) used to get stuck in infinite flight loops. That seems to be mostly gone. Also, the Xbox save file backup system is a massive relief. Losing a 300-hour save because of a power flicker was a rite of passage no one wanted.
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They also fixed the "hovering" cars in Emerald Coast. Apparently, the Australian vehicles weren't in "street-legal" positions. Fixed. The floating gates in Rancho Del Arroyo? Nailed those too.
How to Maximize the Current Version
If you're jumping back in after a break, the game feels heavier—in a good way. The road texture optimizations have noticeably reduced memory usage, which helps on consoles especially.
But don't ignore the 12GA adjustment. It’s a game-changer for early progression. You can take down birds and small game immediately with slugs or birdshot without needing to spend points in the shotgun tree.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Hunt
- Check your Need Zones. If you hunt on Layton Lake or Te Awaroa, your zones have likely reset or shifted. Don't rely on your old maps; spend an hour re-scouting the water edges at dawn.
- Update your Lodge. Go into your Trophy Lodge and use the new filters. It’s the fastest way to see what you’re missing for your "Grand Slam" sets.
- Try the Scottish Highlands for Mustelids. Focus on the Caledonian Forest biome. Bring a small-caliber rifle or the new Benelhag 12G. Use the "low-profile" approach because the Pine Marten will spook if you even think about running.
- Use the Scents and Callers. The update refined how certain callers interact with the reworked animal AI. The Raccoon Caller is now working as intended if you own the Salzwiesen DLC.
The hunter call of the wild update series throughout late 2025 and into early 2026 has successfully bridged the gap between a pure simulator and a collection-based RPG. Whether you’re chasing the Great One Boar or just trying to decorate a wall with some custom-sprayed plaques, the game finally feels like it has the "end-game" depth it was missing.