Expansive Worlds released theHunter: Call of the Wild on 16 February 2017 through Avalanche Studios, and it is still receiving reserves nine years later, with the Peru map arriving on 16 June 2026 as the nineteenth destination. Every animal sits in a class from 1 to 9, every cartridge is rated for a class range, and the game checks your ammunition, your shot placement and your shot count before it awards a medal. Around 128 huntable species are spread across reserves that run from the Pacific Northwest to Nepal.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger .243 | S | Everything from coyote to wild boar on your first hundred hours | The bolt-action rifle you start with, and one that stays useful far longer than most players expect. |
| .270 Huntsman | A | Players who want one rifle that covers most of a mixed reserve | A step up in cartridge rather than in mechanism, with the . |
| .300 Canning Magnum | A | Grizzly bear, moose and plains bison where lighter calibres fail the Harvest Check | A magnum bolt-action added alongside Yukon Valley and rated for classes 7 to 9. |
| Miller Model 1981 | B | Mixed bird and mid-class hunting where you cannot carry two long guns | The hardest-hitting shotgun in the game, and the reason shotguns are not just a bird weapon. |
| Hawk Edge CB-70 | B | Silent kills that generate less hunting pressure than a rifle shot | The most powerful compound bow available at 70 pounds of peak draw. |
S-Tier: Ranger .243
The bolt-action rifle you start with, and one that stays useful far longer than most players expect. The .243 cartridge is rated for classes 2 through 5, which covers fox, roe deer, whitetail, blacktail, mouflon and wild boar without any purchase at all.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Everything from coyote to wild boar on your first hundred hours |
| Key Mechanic | Need Zones |
| Recommended Build | Stalker skill tree |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Ranger .243: Pairs naturally with Stalker skill tree thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: .270 Huntsman
A step up in cartridge rather than in mechanism, with the .270 rated from class 4 up to class 8. It is the single most versatile calibre in the game because one rifle legally covers whitetail, red deer, elk, black bear and moose.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Players who want one rifle that covers most of a mixed reserve |
| Key Mechanic | Wind and scent |
| Recommended Build | Ambusher skill tree |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using .270 Huntsman: Pairs naturally with Ambusher skill tree thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: .300 Canning Magnum
A magnum bolt-action added alongside Yukon Valley and rated for classes 7 to 9. It is the standard answer for grizzly, moose and bison, and the Frontier variant is a cosmetic change rather than a performance one.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Grizzly bear, moose and plains bison where lighter calibres fail the Harvest Check |
| Key Mechanic | Hunting Pressure |
| Recommended Build | Rifle perks |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using .300 Canning Magnum: Pairs naturally with Rifle perks thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Miller Model 1981
The hardest-hitting shotgun in the game, and the reason shotguns are not just a bird weapon. Loaded with slugs it reaches into the mid classes, and loaded with birdshot it is still legal on class 1 waterfowl.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Mixed bird and mid-class hunting where you cannot carry two long guns |
| Key Mechanic | The Harvest Check |
| Recommended Build | Shotgun perks |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Miller Model 1981: Pairs naturally with Shotgun perks thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Hawk Edge CB-70
The most powerful compound bow available at 70 pounds of peak draw. Legal class depends on arrow grain rather than the bow, so heavy broadheads take it up to class 8, but arrow drop means you need to range the animal rather than guess.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Silent kills that generate less hunting pressure than a rifle shot |
| Key Mechanic | Trophy Rating and medal bands |
| Recommended Build | Archery perks |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Hawk Edge CB-70: Pairs naturally with Archery perks thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Layton Lake District
- .270 Huntsman → Your first real upgrade, available early
- .300 Canning Magnum → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Ranger .243 → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Read the class rating on the ammunition, not on the rifle. The Harvest Check tests the cartridge you fired, so a .243 round dropped into any rifle is still only legal on classes 2 through 5, and shooting a class 7 bear with it downgrades the medal no matter how perfect the shot was.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More theHunter: Call of the Wild Guides
- theHunter: Call of the Wild theHunter: Call of the Wild Overview
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Best Builds
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Tier List
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Walkthrough
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Beginner's Guide
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Tips & Tricks
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Combat Guide
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Boss Guide
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Maps & Locations
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Crafting Guide
- theHunter: Call of the Wild Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy theHunter: Call of the Wild, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Weapons Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Weapons Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Weapons Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
