Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive open world game set in the Wild West, featuring a huge variety of animals to hunt across its vast landscapes. Egrets are a type of large, white heron that can be hunted and skinned for useful items like flight feathers. But with such a huge world to explore, you may be wondering – where are the best places to find and hunt egrets in RDR2? Here are some of the top locations and tips for bagging your limit of these elegant birds.
Bayou Nwa
One of the very best areas for egret hunting is the Bayou Nwa region found south of Saint Denis. This huge swampy area is the ideal habitat for egrets, herons, spoonbills and other wading birds. Focus your search around the Kamassa River flowing through the bayou, as well as near Lagras and Lakay. The shallow waters and muddy banks provide the perfect environment for egrets to feed.
Early morning and evening are when you’ll see the most egrets in Bayou Nwa. Equip your varmint rifle and approach slowly on horseback along the river banks. Listen for their distinctive calls and look for white shapes standing in the shallows or perched in trees along the shore. Take your time and line up clean headshots to preserve the quality of the carcasses and feathers.
Lannahechee River
The Lannahechee River north of Saint Denis is another reliable spot to find good numbers of egrets. This winding river has wide, marshy banks lined with willow trees that the birds love to perch in. Ride along the river scanning the trees and shoreline. Egrets blend in surprisingly well against the white blossoms of the trees when perched, so look closely.
As with the Bayou, the early morning hours tend to be most productive. Hunt during foggy weather for an added challenge too. Pluck them from the trees or shoot them on the wing as they burst out over the river. With luck, you may be able to take down multiple birds if they flush in a group.
Clemens Point
The marshes and shoreline near the Clemens Point camp make for a conveniently located spot to hunt egrets from Chapter 3 onwards. This part of Flat Iron Lake has good populations of wading birds due to its shallow, calm waters. Focus your search along the reedy banks on the southeast side of the lake near camp.
Small islands, outcroppings and fallen trees provide good perches for the birds as they search for fish in the lake shallows. Paddle a canoe or rowboat out quietly on the water before dawn to get in range. You can also spot and snipe them from shore with the varmint rifle. Shoot any 3-star specimens you see and you’ll quickly fill your hunting wagon.
Mattock Pond
This small lake northwest of Rhodes is another spot where you can reliably bag egrets, especially during early morning hours. The secluded lake is surrounded by grassy shores, stands of trees and some marshy areas where the birds like to wade and feed. Slowly loop the lake by horseback scanning for white shapes at the water’s edge. Listen for their trilling call which can alert you to birds before you see them.
Be stealthy in your approach as the open terrain can make it tricky to get close. But move slowly and use cover like bushes or boulders to sneak within rifle range. Aim for clean kills on the head or body to avoid damaging the feathers. Mattock Pond is conveniently close to the Rhodes butcher making it easy to cash in your egret plumes.
Bismarck Lake
This sprawling lake found west of Blackwater in the Great Plains region also holds good numbers of egrets. The reedy marshes, shallow water and small islands are prime habitat for wading birds. Focus your search efforts along the eastern shores near Flatneck Station. This side of the lake has more marshy cover making it ideal for egrets.
Paddle along the banks in a canoe or rowboat using the reeds for cover. You can also spot and snipe them from shore using your scoped varmint rifle or improved arrows if you want a stealthier approach. Time your hunt around dawn or dusk when egret activity peaks. With a potent rifle like the Varmint or Springfield, you can take down multiple birds if they take flight at the same time.
Sea of Coronado
The coastline bordering the Sea of Coronado also provides good egret hunting opportunities. These solitary white herons can be found wading along the sandy beaches or perched in the rugged cliffs overlooking the ocean. The best areas to focus your search are around southeast New Austin, particularly south of Benedict Point.
Study the cliffs with your binoculars to spot any white shapes standing out against the dark rocks. Then use your varmint rifle scope to cleanly take them down. Hunting here early in the morning is your best option, as the egrets become more scarce and spread out later in the day. With some persistence along this coastline, you can collect plenty of perfect egret plumes.
Tips for Hunting Egrets
Follow these tips to maximize your chances when egret hunting:
- Hunt near water – rivers, lakes, marshes and coasts are where you’ll find them.
- Early morning and evening are the peak activity times.
- Use stealth and move slowly to avoid startling them.
- Watch for them standing along shores or perched in trees.
- Listen for their loud, distinctive trilling call.
- Use a canoe or rowboat to sneak up on them.
- Aim for clean head and body shots to preserve feathers.
- The Varmint Rifle is ideal for range and accuracy.
- Use bird feathers or predator bait to lure them closer.
Conclusion
So if you’re looking to collect stacks of egret plumes for crafting or to complete hunting requests, concentrate your efforts in the prime egret hunting areas mentioned. The expansive swamps and marshes of Bayou Nwa and Lannahechee River should be your top priorities. But don’t overlook lakes like Mattock Pond and Bismarck Lake or the Sea of Coronado coastline either.
Hunt during the early morning hours while using stealth and the right weapons. This will allow you to easily bag your limit of these graceful wading birds. With the excellent payout for their plumes, egrets are well worth hunting down in Red Dead Redemption 2.