Stalking and tracking animals

spot the animal - usually with binoculars or a rangefinder

examine a track from the animal

About animal levels:

level 9 animals include:

All predators (lions, pumas, wolves, jackal, coyotes and foxes)

All Buffalo (cape buffalo and water buffalo)

Red deer - because their antlers are so awesome

level 5 animals include:

*most* deer and antelope species

level 3 animals include:

small deer species (musk deer, roe deer)

whitetail deer

all rabbits and hares

all ducks and geese



Gemsbok - (lvl 4 females can sometimes be diamonds - in fact males cannot score higher than 960 and therefore are rarely diamonds - pre-Yukon bugs)



can sometimes be diamonds - in fact males cannot score higher than 960 and therefore are rarely diamonds - pre-Yukon bugs) Lesser Kudu (lvl 4 males can be diamonds)



Wildebeest (lvl 4 males can be diamonds)



Blackbuck (lvl 4 males can be diamonds)

There are two methods of locating desired animals that I know of:The screenshot above demonstrates an animal that has been tracked and is about to be spotted. The skillsandthat are unlocked with skill points allow you to get certain information from animals you spot or track.Most animal tracks you examine will give an estimate weight eg "85-100kg", however you will notice that the animal in the screenshot has only one weight "100kg" listed - this means that it was a maximum weight animal and was well worth tracking - even though the tracks were "very old" on crossing them initially. It is possible estimate animal weight very accurately from tracks.If you want to know more then see " ZagTactics ".By far the majority of my high scoring animals came from spotting them directly and not from spotting their tracks though, usually from 150- 350m away and usually at a need zone (mostly drinking zones). Spotting an animal is done by by pressing "E" when using binoculars (or a scope if you have the appropriate skill point). This will give further information like the animal's level and possibly weight or trophy estimates.If you have 2 skill points in "soft feet" and have no backpack equipped you can run through short grass to between 200m and 150m of most animals without them seeing / smelling or hearing you. after that you have to be very cautious of wind direction, line of sight and any noise that you make. A general rule of thumb is run to no more than 160m - walk to no more than 130m, crouch to no more than 75m and crawl to no more than 50m of an animal.Alternatively, hide in a bush or blind within 200m of an animal while the wind is in a friendly direction and call the animal in with a caller or scent. Generally only animals that are at the highest level possible can score a diamond rating, some exceptions to this rule are listed below: