Choosing the right reserve changes everything in theHunter: Call of the Wild. Picking a dense forest when you want long-range open-country sniping leads to frustration, while dropping into a flat map without the right class loadout leaves you empty-handed.
Expansive Worlds has expanded the game significantly since its launch, introducing numerous paid and free maps that span different continents, biomes, and animal classes. Knowing what each reserve offers helps you spend your hard-earned money wisely and plan your hunting sessions efficiently.
Base Game Maps: Where Every Hunter Starts
Your journey begins with two massive maps included in the base game. Both offer a balanced introduction to tracking, wind mechanics, and weapon classes without requiring extra purchases.
Hirschfelden Hunting Reserve
Located in Central Europe, Hirschfelden features rolling agricultural fields, deep deciduous forests, and steep hills. It's a challenging map due to heavy rolling terrain that blocks line of sight and thick foliage that conceals animal movement.
- Key Species: Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Wild Boar, European Bison, Roe Deer, and Canada Goose.
- Best For: Mid-range rifle practice and learning bowhunting tactics in dense woods.
- Challenge: Spotting targets across massive farming fields requires good binoculars and patience.
Layton Lake District
Modelled after the Pacific Northwest in North America, Layton Lake offers dense pine forests, frozen lakes, and winding rivers. It's often considered the easier starting map because water bodies provide clear sightlines for spotting animals as they come down to drink.
- Key Species: Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Roosevelt Elk, Moose, Coyote, and Mallard.
- Best For: New players learning drink-time mechanics and tracking footprint trails.
- Challenge: Thick brush near lakes can cause you to stumble upon startled bears or moose at close range.
Popular DLC Reserves and Regional Variety
Once you've mastered the base maps, the game opens up globally. Each DLC reserve introduces distinct topography, unique species, and specialized mechanics.
Silver Ridge Peaks
Set in the Rocky Mountains of North America, Silver Ridge Peaks is famous for its open vistas and high animal density. Unlike Hirschfelden or Layton, the terrain features wide-open valleys where you can spot herds from hundreds of meters away.
- Key Species: Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Mountain Lion, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, and Plains Bison.
- Best For: High-visibility spot-and-stalk hunting and grinding experience points quickly.
- Challenge: Long shots require compensating for wind and bullet drop across deep canyons.
Cuatro Colinas Game Reserve
Inspired by the rugged hills and scrublands of Spain, Cuatro Colinas combines agricultural plots with steep, rocky crags. It introduces the aggressive Iberian Wolf, which can pack up and stalk the player.
- Key Species: Four distinct species of Ibex, Red Deer, Wild Boar, Roe Deer, and Iberian Wolf.
- Best For: Varied terrain hunting and dramatic landscape photography.
- Challenge: Navigating steep vertical climbs while trying to stay downwind of sharp-nosed prey.
Emerald Coast Australia
Bringing the Outback to life, Emerald Coast features tropical eucalyptus forests, dry bushland, and mangrove swamps. It includes a massive variety of unique marsupials and introduced species.
- Key Species: Saltwater Crocodile, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Banteng, Red Fox, and Fallow Deer.
- Best For: Fast-paced action, shotgun hunting for birds, and tracking dangerous game like crocodiles.
- Challenge: Dense brush in the tropical zones makes tracking wounded heavy game risky.
Navigating Specialized and Recent Reserves
The developers continue to release new environments, pushing into unique biomes like Nepal, Scotland, and Peru.
Sundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve
Sundarpatan offers a diverse slice of the Himalayas, transitioning from low-altitude river valleys and terraced farms up to snowy alpine peaks. It features unique domestic-wild hybrids and traditional farming livestock alongside fierce predators.
- Key Species: Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, Barasingha, Water Buffalo, and Yak.
- Best For: High-stakes predator hunting and players looking for complex multi-tier geography.
- Challenge: Stalking a Bengal Tiger through tall grass is one of the most perilous encounters in the entire game.
Tòrr nan Sithean (Scotland)
Transporting hunters to the misty highlands of Scotland, this reserve focuses on heather-covered moors, rocky lochs, and moody, atmospheric weather conditions that limit visibility.
- Key Species: Red Deer, Sika Deer, Fallow Deer, and Grouse.
- Best For: Atmospheric, slow-paced tracking through open peat bogs and classic European style drives.
- Challenge: Constant rain and fog reduce visibility, forcing you to rely heavily on audio cues and tracking scent markers.
How to Choose the Right Map for Your Playstyle
Picking a reserve depends entirely on what kind of hunting session you want to run. If you want high-action shooting where animals are easy to spot, head to Silver Ridge Peaks or Emerald Coast. If you prefer a slow, methodical challenge where you must puzzle out tracks in thick woods, Hirschfelden or the New England Mountains fit better.
You can join multiplayer sessions on maps you don't own to test them out before buying the DLC. This lets you check out the scenery, test the animal populations, and see if the terrain matches your favorite weapons.
You can check out official game details and community updates directly on the Steam Store Page or visit the official Call of the Wild Website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy all the map DLCs to play multiplayer?
No. You can join a multiplayer session hosted on any reserve for free, even if you don't own the corresponding DLC. However, you can't start your own single-player game on that map or claim reserve-specific achievements until you purchase it.
Which map is best for earning money quickly?
Silver Ridge Peaks and Emerald Coast are widely considered the best maps for currency grinding. Their open layouts, high animal concentrations, and plentiful drink zones allow you to harvest large numbers of animals efficiently.
How many reserves are currently in the game?
There are 19 official reserves available, ranging from the two original base game maps to later additions like the Peru Hunting Reserve.
Are all animal classes available on every map?
No. Different maps host different selections of animal classes, ranging from tiny class 1 birds and rabbits up to massive class 9 animals like water buffalo and bison. Always check the reserve details to ensure your preferred weapon loadout matches the local fauna.
