Get ready for the bird invasion with our guide to Ptarmigans in The Long Dark
Want to know how to hunt Ptarmigans in The Long Dark? Ptarmigans are the latest animal to be added to The Long Dark. The Far Territory has a whole new ecosystem, including the Transfer Pass connecting all of the maps in the region. Ptarmigans are just one of the many animals that can be hunted in the open-world game.
The Ptarmigan is just one of many new animals in The Long Dark’s latest updates, as Tales From The Far Territory explores the furthest reaches of Great Bear Island. The first expansion, Transfer Pass, brings a new gameplay mechanic as a long walk connects all the maps in the region. Along the way, you’ll find new gear, an exciting storyline, and plenty of new animals to hunt. Here’s everything you need to know about hunting Ptarmigans in The Long Dark.
How to find and hunt Ptarmigans
The Ptarmigan is just one of many birds added in The Long Dark update, with several more also added in the Paid Expansion. Ptarmigans are the only bird available for hunting. Other new animals include the Arctic Hare, Caribou, and Muskox.
Ptarmigans have specific spawn locations, often far away from common paths. Blending in with their white feathers, you’ll need to listen for croaking sounds and keep an eye out for fluttering to locate them. If you’re struggling, try throwing stones to stun them without using arrows.
Once you’ve located a flock, you’ll need to make a plan to strike. Ptarmigans are usually in groups of two or three and are always in the same location. They take a whole day to respawn if scared away, so it’s best to strike when they’re in a location where you can quickly hide and repeat as necessary.
Ptarmigans can be spooked by missed arrows, nearby wolves, or if you’re spotted by yourself. Once spooked, they run along the ground before taking flight – if you’re quick enough, you may be able to strike before they get too high.
How to hunt Ptarmigan meat and down
Once you’ve struck a Ptarmigan, you can expect to yield 0.8-1.5kg of Raw Ptarmigan Meat. This is a vital ingredient for high-value dishes like Pie, as well as being an excellent source of protein. Raw Ptarmigan Meat can be cooked for a greater amount of calories, but doesn’t give as many points to the hunger and thirst meters.
Ptarmigan Down is another item you can acquire from Ptarmigans. This item is used in crafting, and you can use it to create an Improvised Down Bedroll or Improvised Insulation. The former uses one Ptarmigan Down and provides additional warmth, whereas the latter uses three Ptarmigan Down and keeps you warmer on your travels. Both weigh only slightly more than a basic Bedroll and Insulation.
You can also use Ptarmigan Down in the following recipes:
Good hunting spots for Ptarmigans
Ptarmigans are prolific in some regions but rarer in others, so don’t expect to find them everywhere. Here are some of the good hunting spots in The Long Dark:
Signal Hill in Pleasant Valley is a gathering spot for Ptarmigans, as is Forsaken Airfield, where Ptarmigans flock near the Mindful Cabin.
Now you know how to hunt Ptarmigans in The Long Dark, it’s time to venture off the beaten path and discover the new region of The Far Territory. For more guides, check out our The Long Dark review, which details what we think of one of the best indie games on PC. We also have a breakdown of the Cooking mechanic with new ingredients, as well as Oil and Flour. If hunting isn’t your thing, we have a guide to farming, one of the new mechanics in Transfer Pass.
