Valheim: Beginner’s Guide to Hunting Deer

Deer are the trickiest creatures to hunt in Valheim, as they’re very sensitive to movement and other sensory stimuli. If they detect you, they’ll bolt, making it significantly harder to take them down.

Tips and Tricks

• Deer tend to congregate in open fields and within forests. Search for them in these areas.

• You need to be sneaking to get anywhere near deer without them seeing you.

• Moving while crouched takes stamina, so avoid moving too much at once to prevent depleting your stamina bar. If your stamina runs out, your character will stand up, making it easy for deer to spot you.

• Crouching and moving between bushes and shrubs will improve your stealth.

• Deer can also detect your scent if it’s carried on the wind. Check the wind direction (bottom-left corner of your mini-map) and ensure the wind isn’t blowing your scent towards the deer. If it is, change your approach angle.

• If using a bow, aim slightly above the deer so that your arrow arcs into it. This also applies if you’re throwing your spear at deer.

• If using a spear or knife, slowly sneak up behind the deer and then stab them. The spear has better range, while the knife deals higher damage with sneak crits.

• Deer often travel together, and if you kill a deer close to others, they will scatter. To prevent this, target deer that wander a bit from the group, making it easier to hunt the whole pack.

• Spooked deer tend to return to the area they were scared from after a minute or two. Instead of chasing a fleeing deer, reposition to a new spot and wait for them to calm down and return.

• Deer with stars over their name and health bar drop more meat and hide, so prioritize killing these when you see them.

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