Medved: Moose Guide (High Caliber Update)

^{This guide has been updated slightly with new weapons and methods in mind.}

So you’re looking to hunt some Moose in Medved? Whether you are after rares, diamonds, or Great Ones I’m here to help!

Locations

First, lets start with locations. In the map below you will find every location I have found a Moose drink zone in complete runs of the map looking for them. There are 6 visible lakes on the map, and at least 1 hidden lake that I’ve not found any at. The visible lake on the map to left of my cursor does without the blue and magenta marker does have Moose as well. The 2 top visible lakes on the right side of the map may or may not get them at some point. I have found Moose there in the past. The 2 bottom visible lakes on the right I’ve never found Moose at, and don’t expect them to show up there. Note that all 4 of these lakes are just about center of the overall map. In the last year I’ve not had a single moose spawn at these 4 lakes. Also, I no longer have any animals in the one hidden lake anymore.

I have also included where I have placed my tents to be able to more easily access every single zone on my map. There may be better locations for tents, this is just how I have mine set up. Note that sometimes it’s better to visit a location from a specific direction, otherwise you will spook things too easily. Note if this map disappears this guide is outdated. Just ask and I’ll make a new one if that happens.

Moose Drink Zones

My Video Guide

Loadouts

I have several loadouts that I like to use for this grind. I do use the pack mule perk to get an extra 3 units of weight for loadouts. If you don’t use Pack Mule you will need to eliminate 3 units of weight for from the items in the list. Note that you may also find that a bow somewhere in your loadout could be extremely beneficial as you can take down closer Moose quitely, and then take out more further away with the .300. I recommend the 5 pin bow sight with a compound bow as you can easily take moose up to 110 yards away with a little practice. Note that loadouts from the previous guide have been listed at the end of the loadouts.

1. My new favorite Moose Grind Loadout takes the AR .300, Tsurugi .338, .303, .243 R.Cuomo Handgun, Virant .22LR, and Stenberg Bow. I make sure to take .303 poly and soft tips. This is important for me, because I’ve found that .303 soft tips for some reason can knock down wolves long enough that they die before getting back up. However, I highly recommend getting good with the bow to defend yourself. Also, take the Moose Caller, Argus, Hyperion, 5 Pin Bow Sight, appropriate ammo, First Aid Kit, Scent Eliminator, and Apexview Binoculars.
2. This loadout is very much like the previous loadout, but instead trades the .338 for a bolt action .300, and the .243 for the longer range .22-250. Everything else will be exactly the same and used the same way. You can even opt to just take the .243 if you want since it’s more powerful than the .22-250. In all you will want the AR .300, .300, .303, .22-250 or .243, .22LR, and Stenberg Bow.
3. If you want to be able to hunt everything with ease still while doing your grind you will want to switch out your second high class weapon for a shotgun. use the same exact loadout as 2, except switch the bolt action .300 for either the Cacciatore 12GA, Cuoso 16GA, or Strandberg 10GA. Also add the Meridian Scope. Note that the shotgun is really only useful for Western Capercaillie, and not needed for any other reason.
4. For focusing on Moose and protection, and not worrying about other animals I have just the loadout. Go with the AR .300, .303, .22LR, .243 R. Cuomo Handgun, and the Hawkedge Bow. Take at least 1 scope, 1 bow sight, moose caller, 1 pair of binoculars, scent eliminator, and health kits. The 303 is for protection, but the bow can be as well. The bow can be used for hunting one zone that’s on one side of the lake while another zone is on the other size. This allows you to hunt both zones in one go most of the time.
5. This loadout starts the loadouts from the previous guide, but updated versions. If you want to take a tent or another portable structure with you my favorite loadout takes the AR .300, V.22LR, .243 Handgun, Moose caller, favorite binos, Argus and Hyperion scopes, First Aid Kit, Scent Eliminator, and your portable structure. You may have room for a few extra things if you want. Add anything extra that you want if you have the Pack Mule skill.
6. My old favorite loadout for this grind takes the AR .300, .300 bolt action, V.22LR, .243 Handgun, .303 / .308 / or M1, .454, Moose caller, favorite binos, Argus, Hyperion, and Goshawk scopes, First Aid Kit, and Scent Eliminator. No Pack Mule? Remove the Goshawk, and .454. You may need to drop another scope as well.
7. If you want to be able to easily hunt everything on the map without cutting any corners there’s another loadout that I love as well. You will take the .300, .303 / .308 / or M1, Virant .22LR, Z.223 or .22-250, Cacciatore 12GA or Couso 16GA, your favorite binos, favorite scopes, Moose caller, First Aid Kit, and Scent Eliminator. You can also take the .243 Handgun. if you limit your scope selection. If you are only hunting in the daylight hours for Moose you do not need any night vision so you can easily avoid 1.5 units of weight that way. No Pack Mule? Remove the shotgun and any scopes for it. This is very close to the new #3 above as well.

How To Use?

1. Use the portable structure loadout to put out any tents or stands. You can hunt while using this loadout, but if you just want to setup first you can feel free to throw on a back pack and grab an ATV. Note that the ATVs get really bad traction on Medved though. Use the .300 for your Moose, I recommend the Hyperion as it will make it easier to take more than one animal. The .243 is to take anything from class 2 to 6, but it only has a single shot. It’s just in case you see something you really want. If you get attacked by wolves it’s best to use the .300 on them with this loadout.
2. Using loadout 1 or 2 Put the Hyperion on the AR .300 and make it your main weapon. Put the Argus on the .338 / .300 Bolt Action, .243 / .22-250, and .22LR. The .303 will use the Hyperion. I use the AR .300 for everything unless I know I’ll need to change from long distance to mid distance fast for follow up shots. For this I will use the .338 for the long shot, then switch over to the AR .300. If I only have one long shot I put the Argus on the AR .300. The .303 is used for the proper classes, and defence from wolves. If hunting use the poly tips, but if defending use the soft tips. Use the bow as much as possible for defense as well. The bow will also be used when a moose or other animal gets too close and threatens to blow your cover. Sometimes it’s best to just take them out.
3. From previous guide, but updated: For loadout 6 throw the Hyperion on your first .300, and the Argus on the second .300. This allows you to more easily take long shots where you need a little more zoom, and to take more Moose up closer with ease. I prefer the .303 for this build with the soft points. It’s mainly used as protection from Wolves. The soft points up close with the Wolves seem to work much better, because it knocks them down and helps scare them off. They jump right back up with polymer tips, but with a well place shot with soft points they often die before they have fully recovered. The .303 is also an amazing rifle that is capable of hunting anything in the classes 4-8. I would not recommend it for the Moose though. You could actually take an Eckers .30-06 instead of a second .300 and the .303 / .308 / M1. I’ve always found that it actually does much better for moose than the other class 4-8 weapons. This loadout also takes the .454 so you can take out anything in classes 4-9 with it easily. The .454 can be used for protection without any problems at all. Just make sure to remove the scope if you are attacked by wolves. You can also easily replace one of the .300s with a bow in this loadout.
4. This works just like the 6th loadout, except it replaces the second .300 with the Z.223 or .22-250 to be able to take longer shots on class 2-3 animals. The Z.223 is a little weak but with well placed shots it’s a perfect weapon for Medved. The .243 RC. has a shorter range and only one shot, but it’s an absolute beast when it comes to power and accuracy. The shotgun is is for Capercaillie when they fly towards you. The .22LR is for Capercaillie, and for doing the .22 trick to get animals to move around and go alert.

Hunting The Zones

When I grind I hunt all zones at least to make sure nothing new has come in. I may hunt the best zones more often than others though. I may also not visit out of the way zones as much. However, I always make a routine that works best for me. This is how I do mine right now. I set my time to 13:31-13:45, and hunt as many zones as I can until about 16:15. If you can notate where you took out a Moose you should and use time after 16:30 to pick up all your downed Moose. You will make a lot more progress doing it this way. If you want to pick them up along the way feel free to, or mix both styles the way I do.

• I start at the left most tent I have placed on the map, which is at the upper left corner where the frozen river is. I go down the hill and check for anything between it and the zones up to that next outpost. From there I hit the zones on the left further up the river in that area. If you keep looking straight ahead in that direction you’ll see I have another tent. After I’ve hit the zones on the left of the river I go to that tent, and visit the zones on on the corner south of the tent and up to the next outpost. I work around the lake in the river counter clockwise. It’s easy to go to the Ledyanoy Bay Eastern Outpose and then move to the right for that one zone. After that zone go to the next tent on the right of the river lake. Get the zones down to the right, but don’t go down the mouth of the river. If you have a lot of shootable Moose you may need to reset your time around here. If not go back to the same tent and start working your way up, and then around to the left under Zverolova Hill. Once you’ve hit those few zones go back to the same tent you went to on the left side of the lake. You can save time by jumping back there, and heading north.
• From here you should check the lake just to the north of the Zverolova Hill Eastern Outpost, and then travel all the way to the upper right tent above the Dikiy Coast. Run to the East and check for zones there. Note that the furthest zone is out of bounds for you. I highly recommend killing any Males until they don’t come back, or simply put down enough pressure that they move to another area. Once you’ve hunted that area go back to the tent and head west along the upper frozen river. Once you hit around the midway point between the two tents just fast travel to the other tent. You can see those zones to the East much better doing this. Hunt those, fast travel to the same tent, and head West until you reach the Eastern most zone on the Zverolova Hill coast. From there travel to the next tent to the West, go East to the zones there, then go to the tent, and head East to the few zones there. This can be done in 1 or 2 zone times easily.
• Next I go to the southmost tent on the hidden river in the middle of the map. If you are on top of the zone when you spawn in take out anything in the 2 zones closest turn around and walk backwards until those pop in. You can then move back closer to them and take them out. Before you pick up anything go North again and hit the final zone on the right just before the my second tent there. I pick up all of my kills there then fast travel back to the first tent, and pick up your kills. From here you can check the middle section of the river from the second tent above the path up to the 7th zone around the Lore flag on the left of the river banks. This section is hard to hunt, and often produces nothing good for me. I prefer to skip it. From there travel to to the P’yanaya Taiga Northern Outpost around the middle of the river on the left. Work your way straight East to the river, and check the 3 zones just south here. I usually shoot these and come back to pick them up after I’ve finish the next part. From there work your way north up the river until you are almost at the zones at the mouth of the river. Return and pick up anything you’ve left.
• From here I break up all of the lakes into zones. I go to first tent I went to start the grind at the far left in Zabolochennye Lands. I hit the 4 lakes in the order of left lake, bottom lake, right lake, upper lake, and then go back to the bottom lake on the right, and then to the lake above it. If you do it this way you don’t risk them hearing you in other zones as much.
• The next area I hit is Rybatskiy Bay, and I start at Ledyanoy Bay Southern Outpost. If there’s nothing on the lake right at the outpost run to the 3 lakes above in order and check them, then come back to the lake at the outpost after 15:00.
• Next I go to P’yanyy Forest to the P.yanaya Taiga Western Outpost. I check the lake above the outpost first, fast travel back, then check the lake below. Sometimes these will need some extra time to come in. Check the zones in the Crater at this point and go back to the lack under the outpost if need be. Finally hit the lake South of the crater by fast traveling to the tint I have at the crossroads.
• I now go to the P’yanaya Taiga Central Outpost to the right of the Crater. I go to the lake North of the outpost first to give time for stuff to come in. Travel back, and go to the lake Southwestern of the outpost. This one usually has Moose. Once you’ve finished it hit the one to the right. You may want to check your distance before shooting at the left lake so you don’t spook off anything on the right lake. The lake below these 2 I no longer find any Moose at right now. From the right lake go to the lake directly East of the outpost. After that go to the lake East of it. I have a tent there to make it easier for me. If you spooked off anything in the this time period go to that area in the next first.
• At the very bottom of the Lesnye Lands area I have a tent under 2 lakes. I’d set this one to around 13:50 or 14:00 if it’s not already that late. If you cannot seem to get into the lake Northeast of the tent go to the P’yanaya Taiga Southern Outpost and look down the hill at the lake. I’ve found that all of the good Moose are always on the left side of the lake for some reason. The right side tends to have small fries and females. This is one lake you most likely will need to hunt multiple times to get everything there though. From this lake go to the lake left of it.
• On the right side of the map I like to start at the bottom and work my way up while skipping the big lake area and coming to it last. Start in the Mamontovaya Tundra at the Besplodnoye Plateau Southern Outpost. Note the Moose here can be hard to find and will come in late sometimes. From there go to the tent just left of that outpost, and hunt the hidden lake there. Next go to the tent between the next two lakes which is East of Besplodnoye Plateau Western Outpost where the lore marker is in the fork in the road. Hunt the left lake, but you may have to contend with wolves if you sneak up to it. From there I like to go to the tent at te upper right of the big lake on the right of the small lake. This is close enough that the zones there don’t spawn in when you travel there. Hunt the Southeastern side of the lake, then turn around and hunt where you came from. From there go to the far right side of the map where I have a tent at the lone lake in that area. It’s to the East of the Besplodnoye Plateau Eastern Outpost.
• Next You will want to go to the tent just north of the skull formation on the left side. Just below the shadow on the ridge is a hidden lake that seems to always have Moose. If you want to check you can hit the 4 lakes on the left side of this area above and below the Besplodnoye Plateau Northern Outpost. I skip these because I’ve not found anything there since the reset. To the East of the 2 lakes North of the last outpost there are 2 Hidden Lakes. Go to the Vetrenyye Plains Western Outpost, and travel Southeast to the left one, East to the right one, and then if you have time hit the lake Northeast of that one. Travel back to the same outpost, and go to West to the bottom lake, then top lake, then left lake. You can do bottom, left, top also if you wish, but I find the top lake has the better zones.
• At this point all we have left is the Bol’Shoye Lake Taiga area. Go to the Vetrenyye Plains Southern Outpost, and travel South to the right lake. From there go to the left lake. Fast travel back to the same outpost, head North to the lake, and work your way around the edge clockwise starting just left of where you enter the lake. Be careful in the upper right of the lake to not put down too much pressure.

Herd Management

^{Note that my herd management has changed since my last guide, and it works much better than before.}

1. Shoot all rares regardless of level, weight, or gender. There’s a possibility that another won’t spawn unless you do. We don’t know how the rare gene pool works. See the bottom of this section for more information on Rares.
2. Do not shoot males that are under the 1201 lbs top estimate, or any females if you do not have to. Sometimes you have no choice. Accidents happen, but don’t worry about them.
3. Shoot any males with an upper weight estimate of 1201. Despite my previous guide saying don’t shoot level 2 males you should actually shoot any level 2 with the 1201 top estimate weight. If you don’t you will end up with a ton of level 2 1201s and nothing larger to shoot eventually. Once you start shooting the 2 1201s down you’ll start regaining numbers in your larger Moose.
4. Shoot all initial spawn max weight estimate males that are not diamond estimate. If you’ve been hunting and have respawns already try to leave max weight estimates so you can push up the low weight spawns. You eventually want to get as many sub 1201 males as possible. This way to even out you will start getting more max weight spawns once you start killing them off.
5. Shoot off diamond estimate animals when you want. They technically should be included as max weight estimates since I don’t believe scores have a thing to do with what they respawn as. However, once you shoot off a lot of max weight estimates at once you do seem to have a better chance of a great one or diamond showing up in those respawns.
6. Continue shooting 1201s, and when you start running out of 1201s start shooting off the max weight estimates. Rinse and repeat at this point.

The way we think herds work is when you kill an animal it goes into a respawn pool. That animal will ALWAYS respawn with the same weight estimate from what we know. It may not respawn immediately though. The reason you don’t shoot small animals is you don’t want them to respawn, and the games tries to average out the scores on the map. This will help you to spawn more large animals. If you shoot the max weights under diamond estimate they will eventually respawn as something with a diamond estimate. The mid range animals just take up space therefore you want to eliminate them all and hope they get the smaller or larger animals back on the map. Again, note that I fully believe score has absolutely nothing to do with what something will respawn as.

The way great ones seem to work is that they can spawn off anything. However, it seems if you kill a lot of max weight they spawn faster.

Herds, and moving them? With Moose it’s very hard to move herds where you want, and I wouldn’t even bother to be honest.. With other animals how it works is if you find a herd of only females in a good location you gradually kill them all out, and as soon as you kill one you go to another location you don’t want to hunt and kill a male. Eventually a female will spawn into that herd and it will be all female. You can end up wiping out herds though doing this. Sometimes it just seems herds hit a limit and never spawn anything else. This is why if you have a herd with multiple males you want to leave at least one of the males. It seems to make a huge difference if males will spawn back into that herd or not. Once it’s all females leave it or wipe it out until they stop coming back to have a chance for a new herd to show up there.

How does herd management work with rares? If you kill all the rares you see, but you don’t kill any other females or small Moose the rares can only come back as the mid or large moose. In theory you may think that if you want a big or super rare it would make more sense to only shoot max weight animals. This can come back to bite you in the butt though. When you only shoot max weight animals you have maybe 3 to 5 percent of an entire population if that to choose from. Also, you are going to end up running out of them, because often times next in line is a medium sized animal.