Start with your license, equipment, and practice
Prepare your first hunt at the Hunting Lodge: buy the correct species license at its computer, match your weapon to the recommended caliber, and practice at the Shooting Range. Then choose the walkthrough for early missions, the animal list for target selection, or the weapons guide for your next loadout decision.
Check your game and setup before heading out
Hunting Simulator 3 released on October 29, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The launch game is single-player, with multiplayer planned for a later update. Plan your first outing around your own hunt and dog companion.
On PC, compare your machine with the complete requirements on the Steam page. The minimum includes Windows 11 (64-bit), 8 GB RAM, DirectX 12, and 25 GB of available storage, alongside the specified processor and graphics requirements. Check the whole specification list before installing.
The released game includes fixes and adjustments compared with the Steam Next Fest demo, including changes to tracking, difficulty presets, and the tutorial. Treat older demo footage as an introduction rather than an exact set of instructions. Follow the prompts in your game when an older walkthrough shows something different.
Prepare at the Hunting Lodge
- Complete the introductory tutorial before using the hub helicopter. Take this opportunity to learn the controls before organizing your first trip into a reserve.
- Select Colorado at the hub helicopter to reach the reserve and its Hunting Lodge. The lodge is on your right when you arrive, providing a destination for preparing your equipment.
- Buy the hunting license for your intended species at the computer in the Hunting Lodge. The correct license is required for a validated trophy, so handle this before harvesting an animal.
- Match your equipment to your target at the armory loadout bench, using the species' recommended caliber icons as your check. Build the loadout around the animal you intend to hunt.
- Practice with your chosen weapon at the Shooting Range at the Hunting Lodge. Use that practice to become comfortable with aiming before taking the equipment on a live hunt.
- Use your dog's command wheel to become familiar with its orders. Its hunting assistance includes spotting tracks, following trails, and retrieving small game.
Follow a trail before committing to a shot
Look for tracks and listen to the sounds around you as you explore. Holding the inspect input on a track lets you follow a specific animal in the released game. Stay with that trail while learning the tracking display, and use your dog's assistance when you need help following it.
Check wind direction on your GPS before approaching, because your scent travels with the wind. Avoid moving toward an animal with the wind blowing from you toward it, and use binoculars to identify the target before aiming. If tracks are difficult to see, adjust clue visibility through the difficulty settings.
Choose the guide that answers your next decision
Choose your next read around the decision holding up your hunt. Keep the immediate task narrow so you can return to playing with a clear next action. Use the guide choices below to decide where to continue.
| Guide | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Early mission walkthrough | Choose the walkthrough when you want help progressing through early missions. Read up to the next action you need, then return to the game before taking on another task. |
| Animal list and target selection | Choose the animal list when deciding what to pursue. Settle on a target before preparing its license and equipment so your shopping and hunting plans work toward the same goal. |
| Weapons and loadout guide | Choose the weapons guide when your target is settled but your equipment is not. Use the species' recommended caliber icons to guide the choice, then practice with the weapon before leaving. |
Check what you own before buying more gear
Buying a weapon unlocks its supported calibers, which you can switch between at the weapon bench. Purchased scopes and other attachments are available across compatible weapons without buying the same attachment again. Check those options before deciding that a different target requires another purchase.
If equipment costs are holding you back, visit the Ranger, Butcher, or Sports Shooter for contracts and challenges that help you earn money. Credits buy weapons, equipment, and other items, and are shared across hunting regions. Make the purchase serve your next hunt rather than buying gear without a target in mind.