How do I avoid losing a Legendary Animal pelt after dying?

Losing a Legendary Animal pelt in Red Dead Redemption 2 can be frustrating, but there are several strategies to avoid this issue. First, it’s important to understand the game mechanics surrounding Legendary Animals. Once you kill a Legendary Animal, its pelt is automatically sent to the Trapper if you lose it, but you won’t receive the money or crafting materials until you deliver it. To ensure you don’t lose the pelt after dying, follow these steps.\n\nBefore hunting a Legendary Animal, prepare thoroughly. Stock up on health tonics, potent weapons like the Rolling Block Rifle or Bolt-Action Rifle, and special ammo such as Express or High-Velocity rounds. These weapons ensure a clean kill, which is crucial for preserving the pelt’s quality. Additionally, bring a horse with a large saddlebag to carry the pelt. The Arabian or Turkoman breeds are excellent choices due to their speed and stamina.\n\nWhen you locate a Legendary Animal, save your game manually. This creates a checkpoint you can reload if something goes wrong. To save, open the pause menu, go to Story, and select Save Game. This step is critical because if you die or lose the pelt, you can reload your save and try again without losing progress.\n\nDuring the hunt, use Dead Eye to target the animal’s vital areas, such as the head or heart. This ensures a quick and clean kill, minimizing the risk of the animal escaping or damaging the pelt. After killing the animal, skin it immediately. Skinning locks the pelt into your inventory, making it harder to lose. If you’re in a dangerous area, such as near predators or hostile NPCs, clear the area before skinning to avoid interruptions.\n\nOnce you have the pelt, prioritize delivering it to the Trapper or a Fence. Avoid fast travel, as it can sometimes cause glitches. Instead, ride directly to the nearest Trapper location, such as Saint Denis or Riggs Station. If you encounter enemies or predators on the way, use your horse’s speed to evade them rather than engaging in combat. This reduces the risk of dying and losing the pelt.\n\nIf you do die after skinning the animal, don’t panic. The pelt will automatically be sent to the Trapper, but you’ll need to visit them to access it. However, you won’t receive the monetary reward or crafting materials until you physically deliver the pelt. To avoid this inconvenience, always reload your manual save if you die during the hunt.\n\nFinally, consider hunting Legendary Animals during daylight hours. This improves visibility and reduces the chances of ambushes by predators or hostile NPCs. Additionally, avoid hunting in areas with heavy fog or rain, as these conditions can make tracking the animal more difficult and increase the risk of accidents.\n\nBy following these steps, you can minimize the risk of losing a Legendary Animal pelt after dying. Preparation, careful hunting, and quick delivery are key to ensuring you reap the full rewards of your efforts.