What’s the best way to avoid bounty hunters while exploring?

Avoiding bounty hunters in Red Dead Redemption 2 is crucial for maintaining your freedom and resources while exploring the map. Bounty hunters are relentless and will track you down if you have a high bounty in a specific region. To avoid them, you need to understand the game mechanics and take proactive steps to minimize your visibility and bounty.\n\nFirst, always pay off your bounties as soon as possible. Visit any post office in towns like Valentine, Saint Denis, or Blackwater to clear your bounty. If you lack the funds, consider completing missions, hunting, or selling items to gather the necessary money. Ignoring your bounty will only make bounty hunters more aggressive and frequent.\n\nSecond, avoid committing crimes in populated areas. If you must engage in illegal activities, do so discreetly. Wear a mask or bandana to conceal your identity, and change your outfit afterward. This prevents witnesses from recognizing you and reporting your crimes to the authorities. For example, if you rob a store in Rhodes, quickly change your clothes and leave the area to avoid being identified.\n\nThird, use the terrain to your advantage. Bounty hunters rely on line of sight and predictable routes. When exploring, stick to less-traveled paths, dense forests, or mountainous regions like the Grizzlies or Big Valley. These areas provide natural cover and make it harder for bounty hunters to track you. If you spot bounty hunters, use the terrain to break their line of sight and escape.\n\nFourth, invest in a good horse and upgrade its stamina and health. A fast and durable horse, like the Arabian or Turkoman, can help you outrun bounty hunters. Additionally, keep your horse''s cores full by feeding it regularly and using horse tonics. This ensures your horse performs at its best during high-pressure situations.\n\nFifth, use stealth and distractions to evade bounty hunters. Items like throwing knives, fire bottles, or dynamite can create chaos and give you an opportunity to escape. For example, if bounty hunters are closing in, throw a fire bottle to create a barrier of flames, forcing them to reroute and buying you time to flee.\n\nFinally, consider lowering your honor level temporarily. While this may seem counterintuitive, having low honor reduces the likelihood of witnesses reporting your crimes. However, this strategy comes with its own risks, as low honor can affect interactions with NPCs and story outcomes.\n\nIn summary, the best way to avoid bounty hunters is to pay off bounties promptly, commit crimes discreetly, use the terrain to your advantage, maintain a strong horse, and employ stealth tactics. By following these steps, you can explore the map freely without constant interruptions from bounty hunters.