Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions (2024)

Bounty missions can be an excellent source of money for Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, but they're not unlocked for at least the first few hours of the game. In our Red Dead Redemption 2 Bounties guide, we'll be detailing how to unlock Bounty missions in Red Dead Redemption 2 as soon as possible.

On this page:

  • Red Dead Redemption 2 Bounty Missions
  • How to Unlock Bounty Missions
  • Can Bounty Missions be Replayed?

Red Dead Redemption 2 Bounty Missions

Unfortunately, Bounties won’t be unlocked for at least the first 7-8 hours of Red Dead Redemption 2. You’ll know when Bounties are available to you when a Stranger quest marker appears in the sheriff’s office in the town of Valentine.

Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions (1)

How to Unlock Bounty Missions

Here's how to unlock Bounty Missions in Read Dead Redemption 2. Head to the sheriff's office in Valentine, and you’ll be tasked to bring back a murderer alive. To find this person quickly, head north to the river from Valentine, and you’ll find the wanted man on a small path underneath an overhanging cliff, next to a campfire overlooking the river.

Capture him alive by throwing your lasso at him, then pressing the right trigger repeatedly to draw your captive back to you. Dismount from your horse while still holding the lasso with the left trigger, and approach the captive, pressing Circle/B to hogie them. Now place the wanted man on the back of your horse, and deliver them to the sheriff’s office in Valentine. You’ll be paid a tidy sum of $50, and the side mission will be completed.

From this point forward, you can undertake Bounty Missions in Red Dead Redemption 2. All you need to do to begin tracking a Bounty target is to find a wanted poster out in the open world. You can check the map to see if there are any available, and they’re always found in towns like Valentine or Strawberry.

We've put together a lot of Red Dead Redemption 2 guides since launch. You can find them all in our RDR2 Walkthrough Hub

Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions (2)

You’ll always have the option to bring in the Bounty target dead or alive. Although it’s a lot more work to track someone down and successfully bring them back alive, you’ll get a bigger cash reward if you can do this, and your Morale rating will also rise, making you a good cowboy.

Can Bounty Missions be Replayed?

If you've accidentally shot dead a bounty target and missed out on the bonus for bringing the felon in alive, you might be wondering if by the magical powers of video games you can replay a Bounty mission. Sadly, you can't. Once a Bounty target has been killed, they are dead.

Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions (3)Red Dead Redemption 2 Review Discussion with Greg Miller - No Story Spoilers: Red Dead Radio Ep. 27

We’re now at the end of our Red Dead Redemption 2 guide on how to track down and capture Bounty targets, but there’s plenty more to cover on the game yet. You can head over to our page on how to earn money quickly in Red Dead Redemption 2, or our guide on how to sell valuables in Red Dead Redemption 2, in case you happen across some rare items on your travels.

That's not even scratching the surface of our RDR2 coverage on USG. Head here to read Mike's article on how Arthur Morgan just might be the clumsiest cowboy in all the Wild West. After that, check out our RDR2 review.

Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions (2024)

FAQs

Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions? ›

Bounty Hunting is not available from the get-go. To unlock it, players need to complete the “Good, Honest, Snake Oil” mission in Chapter 2. Once it's been completed, wanted posters will become available at select sheriff stations and post offices.

How do you unlock bounties in rdr2? ›

Red Dead Redemption 2 Bounty Missions. Unfortunately, Bounties won't be unlocked for at least the first 7-8 hours of Red Dead Redemption 2. You'll know when Bounties are available to you when a Stranger quest marker appears in the sheriff's office in the town of Valentine.

When can you start bounty hunting in RDR2? ›

In Redemption, it is unlocked after completing the mission "Political Realities in Armadillo", while in Redemption 2 it is unlocked after the mission "Polite Society, Valentine Style".

How to get a bounty license in RDR2? ›

Location(s) The Bounty Hunter License is a license featured in Red Dead Online. It can be obtained for 15 gold bars by talking to Leigh Gray at the Scarlett Meadows Sheriff's Office and will unlock the Bounty Hunter role.

Can you do bounties as Arthur? ›

Jack, John, and Arthur can be bounty hunters themselves too; bounties will be issued on NPCs and the characters can track down these NPCs and either apprehend and turn them in, or kill them for a reward. Bounties can be found either through missions or posters.

How many bounty missions are in RDR2 story mode? ›

There are well over forty unique bounties to undertake in Red Dead Redemption, and doing so will earn you all sorts of money. Of course, retrieving a person with a bounty over his head is never an easy feat. That, naturally, is where we come in.

How do you unlock legendary bounties? ›

Armed with your official license, check out any bounty board then press the relevant prompt for Legendary Bounties. This will then give you a list of all ten to choose from, so make your selection to trigger a cutscene which then leads straight into the bounty hunt as a standalone mission.

How to become a bounty hunter in RDR2 story mode? ›

To buy the license, simply visit the "Legendary Bounty Hunter" down in Rhodes. There will be a yellow icon on the map that indicates where the player needs to go in town to trigger a cut-scene. After the cut-scene plays, Sheriff Gray will offer to sell a Bounty Hunting License for 15 gold bars.

How to become a bounty hunter in Red Dead Redemption? ›

Get started as a Bounty Hunter when you meet the Legendary Bounty Hunter in Rhodes and purchase the Bounty Hunter License. Licensed Bounty Hunters can pick up work by visiting bounty boards located near law offices, post offices and train stations across the states.

How much gold do you need to start bounty hunting in rdr2? ›

Purchasing a Bounty Hunter License costs 15 Gold, and it takes another 15 for a Prestigious Bounty Hunter License that allows players to undertake even more lucrative opportunities. It's a steep fee for players who are just starting, but Bounty Hunter pays for itself after just a short amount of time.

What bounty pays the most rdr2? ›

2 Complete Legendary Bounty Hunter Missions

They provide the same experience and gold but pay much better in terms of cash. The highest paying targets are Etta Doyle, Red Ben Clempson, Tobin Winfield, and 'Shepherd' Virgil Edwards (unlocked with the Prestigious License).

Can you pay your own bounty in Red Dead Redemption 2? ›

You can pay off a bounty at any Post Office in the game as it lists all of your bounties according to the area. So, even if you're in Valentine, you can still pay off a bounty you earned in Strawberry. Just talk to the clerk and select the option. Once you've paid, the bounty will be off your head.

Is a Bounty Hunter License worth it in RDR2? ›

The Prestigious Bounty Hunter License adds 10 new Ranks of progression atop the 20 from the Bounty Hunter Role Ranks with high level items and skills to acquire, new weapon variants and horses, Infamous Bounty targets on the Bounty Boards and more.

Can you keep Arthur's guns as John? ›

It's important to note that while you will regain Arthur's outfits, weapons, and some valuables, his money, food, and other consumables will not carry over to John [2].

Can John do Arthur's missions? ›

It is important to note that Red Dead Redemption 2 has a dynamic honor system, and the choices players make throughout the game can affect the outcome and available missions. However, even with different choices, certain missions are still exclusive to Arthur Morgan and cannot be completed with John Marston alone.

How do bounties work in RDR2? ›

If a lawman sees you and you have a bounty on your head, expect them to get you to surrender. Though for more severe crimes and higher bounties, bounty hunters may try to hunt you down (these are indicated by red dots on the map). The bounty hunters will only look for you in the area in which the bounty is live.

Is it worth paying bounty in RDR2? ›

More Lawmen and Bounty hunters will appear on roads and around the area, and if any of them recognise you, they'll try to arrest or kill you on the spot. That means your best bet, once you have a Bounty, is to try and pay it off as soon as possible.

Is there a way to free Micah without getting a bounty? ›

Over on Reddit, one player revealed that you can actually just walk straight into the Sheriff's office where Micah is being held and blast away the three lawmen inside. From there, you simply collect the key to Micah's cell and let him out.

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