Tracking down every Big Poe in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the most rewarding side quests available as Adult Link. Not only does hunting these elusive spirits net you a massive payout of rupees, but it also rewards you with the coveted Bottle #4—an essential item for completing your inventory.
The competitor page linked above is filled with AI-generated gibberish, fake locations like the "Deku Baba Queen's Lair," and completely useless advice. This guide cuts through the noise. Below, you'll find the exact locations of all ten Big Poes, the precise requirements to trigger them, and the most efficient path to clear the entire Hyrule Field hunt without wasting time.
Prerequisites for the Big Poe Hunt
Before you start galloping across Hyrule Field hunting ghosts, you need to unlock the proper gear and reach the right point in the game. Without these prerequisites, Big Poes won't spawn, and you won't be able to collect them.
You must be Adult Link. Child Link cannot hunt Big Poes. You also need the Fairy Bow from the Forest Temple and Epona, your horse. While you can hunt on foot, trying to chase down mobile ghost spirits without a horse is painfully slow and inefficient. Finally, you need at least one empty bottle to capture the spirits, though having two or three makes the trip back to the Ghost Shop much faster.
Once you have your gear ready, head to the ruined building in the southeast corner of Hyrule Field—the Ghost Shop (formerly the guardhouse). Talk to the Poe Collector inside to initiate the side quest. From that moment on, special floating ghosts will appear across the field when you ride past specific trigger points.
All 10 Big Poe Locations on Hyrule Field
Every single Big Poe spawns only when Adult Link rides past a specific invisible coordinate on horseback with Epona. When you cross the trigger point, a ghostly white spirit will materialize, laugh, and start floating away. You must shoot it with an arrow while remaining on Epona. Once defeated, it drops a large purple flame that you must scoop into an empty bottle immediately.
Here is where to find all ten targets:
- Near the Lon Lon Ranch Fence (Northwest): Ride along the western fence line of Lon Lon Ranch, roughly midway between the ranch entrance and the path leading toward Kakariko Village.
- Outside the Market Entrance: Ride directly south from the drawbridge of Castle Town/The Bazaar ruins toward the center of the field, near the ruined stone pillars.
- Toward Kakariko Village Path: Position yourself on the path heading east toward Kakariko Village, just off the main dirt track near the cluster of trees.
- Near the Gerudo Valley Bridge: Ride toward the southwestern corner of Hyrule Field, not far from the wooden bridge entrance leading into Gerudo Valley.
- Close to the Kokiri Forest Entrance: Head to the path leading northwest toward the Lost Woods and Kokiri Forest entrance; the spawn point sits just off the main trail in the open grass.
- Southern Fence of Lon Lon Ranch: Circle around to the southern exterior wall of Lon Lon Ranch, scanning the grassy area a few dozen yards away from the fence.
- Western Wall Near Market: Patrol the western border of Hyrule Field, roughly halfway between the Lon Lon Ranch turn-off and the path to Lake Hylia.
- Eastern Plateau Area: Ride across the eastern side of the field, between the path to Kakariko Village and the entrance to the Zora's River corridor.
- Central Field Ruins: Loop around the stone ruins scattered in the middle of Hyrule Field. One specific spawn point sits just beside the broken wall segments.
- Toward Lake Hylia Entrance: Head south toward the stone gateway leading down into Lake Hylia; the final spirit pops up in the open field just north of the trench.
Maximizing Your Efficiency
Hunting Big Poes can become tedious if you ride back to the Ghost Shop after every single capture. Because you can hold multiple bottles, you can stack up to four spirits at once if you've collected all four bottles in the game.
Plan a counter-clockwise or clockwise loop around the perimeter and center of Hyrule Field. Hit two or three trigger points, bag the spirits, and then gallop straight to the Ghost Shop before the game's internal timer or day-night cycle creates issues. Remember that Big Poes only appear during the night cycle within the game, so if dawn breaks while you are hunting, you will need to play the Sun's Song or wait for nightfall to resume.
For more deep dives into classic gaming mechanics and secrets, check out the official Nintendo portal or browse community archives on Zelda Universe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do you get for each Big Poe?
The Poe Collector pays 50 rupees for each Big Poe you bring him, plus 500 bonus rupees and Bottle #4 once you deliver all 10 spirits. In total, the side quest yields 1,000 rupees.
Do Big Poes respawn if I miss my shot?
Yes. If you shoot and miss, or if the ghost drifts away and disappears, simply ride away from the trigger point to reset the area, then ride past it again to respawn the ghost.
Why won't Big Poes appear when I ride across Hyrule Field?
Make sure it is currently nighttime in the game world, that you are playing as Adult Link, and that you have already triggered the start of the side quest by speaking to the man inside the Ghost Shop ruins.
Do normal Poes in dungeons count toward this total?
No. Standard Poes found inside temples and dungeons (such as the Forest Temple or Shadow Temple) are strictly puzzle or enemy elements and cannot be sold at the Hyrule Field Ghost Shop.
