Far Cry 5 gives players a sprawling, chaotic world to explore, liberate, and survive in — and like any resistance fighter worth their salt, you’ll need cash to do just about everything. Whether you’re looking to unlock new vehicles, buy weapons, or deck yourself out in fresh camo, money talks. While there are plenty of ways to earn cash in Hope County, one method reigns supreme for efficiency and payout: hunting, done right. With nearly 1,500 hours poured into the game, here’s a method that’s been tested and proven time and time again.

Step 1: Clear Your Inventory and Get a Bow or Slingshot

Before you head into the wild, swing by a shop and sell all your loot. This gives you a clean slate to track your profits more accurately. Then, head over to the weapons section and equip yourself with a bow — or better yet, the slingshot. Don’t have one yet? No worries. Progress through the story until you unlock Jess Black. Her companion mission near the Lumber Mill will not only unlock her as a Fang for Hire but also earn you a free compound bow.

The slingshot is the top pick here due to its lightning-fast fire rate. While it lacks a traditional sight (just a centered dot), it’s incredibly effective once you get the feel for it. But if you prefer the compound or recurve bow for their range and stability, use what suits you best. The key here is to use a silent, clean-kill weapon — bows or slingshots both meet this need.

Step 2: Unlock Jess and Take Advantage of Her Passive Ability

Jess Black isn’t just a reliable stealth partner — her passive ability makes all wild animals friendly toward you while she’s on your squad. This alone changes the hunting game. Without the usual fear of animals fleeing as you approach, you can easily get up close and line up clean shots. Equip her via your roster menu after completing her mission to activate this passive benefit. It saves time, increases your accuracy, and boosts your hunting efficiency in a big way.

Step 3: Choose the Right Hunting Spot

While there are several viable hunting areas, one spot stands out above the rest: Bear Island, just east of Falls End in John’s region. It’s a well-populated area with frequent deer spawns, making it perfect for rapid hunting loops. Deer are the optimal target here — they go down in a single headshot from a bow or slingshot, allowing for quicker turnaround and less wasted time compared to tougher animals like bison.

If you’re looking for bison, head up to Raptor Peak in Faith’s region — but keep in mind that bison can take multiple shots to bring down, and the time tradeoff might not be worth the extra payout. For speed and consistency, deer remain the superior choice.

Step 4: Activate the Harvest Master Perk

Now this step is what turns a profitable run into a goldmine. The Harvest Master perk, located on the top-left corner of the perks screen, costs 8 points. It doubles your loot from both plants and animals, which means double skins per kill when using appropriate weapons (i.e., bows or slingshots). If you don’t have the perk points yet, grind a few prepper stashes — most offer enough perk points to get you close — or complete challenges (e.g., kills with molotovs) to stack up fast.

Once you have Harvest Master unlocked and active, a single deer can yield four skins instead of two. Multiply that over even a short session, and the money adds up incredibly fast.

Step 5: Use Hunting Syringes for Maximum Efficiency

To streamline the process further, don’t forget about consumables. The hunting syringe — crafted or purchased — reveals the locations of all nearby animals (and enemies), allowing you to track targets without needing to manually scout. Pop one before heading into the hot zones and you’ll find deer practically falling into your lap. Combine this with Jess’ passive, and you’ll be cleaning house with ease.

Step 6: Sell Your Haul — And Profit

After your hunting spree, head back to any shop and sell your haul. In just 12 minutes of focused deer hunting, expect to rake in around $11,000. That’s more than enough for a vehicle, new weapon, or custom upgrade. Considering how quick and repeatable this method is, it easily becomes the most efficient money-making loop in the game.

Not only does it beat fishing or mission farming in terms of payout per minute, but it also doubles as a satisfying, low-stress gameplay loop that fits in well between main missions.

Bonus: Deer vs. Bison — The Better Pick

While both animals offer decent returns, deer edge out bison due to simplicity and speed. One well-placed headshot is all it takes. Bison, on the other hand, are bulkier, sometimes taking two shots even with solid aim. When it comes to maximizing your profit in a short time window, quicker kills equal faster turnarounds — and that means more cash.

Final Thoughts

With Far Cry 5 regularly going on sale and new players flooding in, mastering this hunting loop early gives you a massive head start. Invest in the right gear, unlock Jess, and get that Harvest Master perk as soon as possible. You’ll be rolling in cash in no time — and you won’t have to grind repetitive missions or hope for lucky finds. So load up your bow, head out to Bear Island, and turn Far Cry 5’s wilderness into your personal gold mine.