Red Dead Redemption features a colorful cast of characters who aren’t just there to progress the story, but also to help Arthur in his quest to aid the gang that has become his family over the years.
Among the members of the Van der Linde Gang that will provide help to the outlaw is the cook, Simon Pearson. Pearson not only provides food for the whole gang, but also a crafting service which allows players to obtain a variety of items in exchange for animal parts.
In order for Pearson to be able to craft all of the possible items, you need to purchase a specific camp upgrade, the Leather Working Tools. This upgrade costs only $180, so we suggest you purchase it as soon as possible since some of the items that the cook can craft for you are extremely useful.
In this guide, we will not only list all the items that Pearson can craft, but where to find all the required materials.
Article Contents
Satchel Upgrades
The most useful items that Pearson can craft are the satchel upgrades. These seven upgrades expand your inventory space for select item types, so getting them will allow you to carry more items which, in turn, can be sold for more money.
Crafting these upgrades, however, is going to be difficult if you’re not good at hunting since you need perfect pelts, hides, and skins to do so. Once you have one in your possession, donate it to Pearson by selecting the appropriate option when interacting with his wagon.
Valuables Satchel
- Increases carrying capacity for valuable items that can be sold for money.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect beaver skin, 1 x perfect rabbit skin, 1 x perfect deer skin
Materials Satchel
- Increases carrying capacity for inedible materials used for crafting.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect boar hide, 1 x perfect iguana skin, 1 x perfect deer skin
Provisions Satchel
- Increases carrying capacity for all provisions.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect bison hide, 1 x perfect raccoon skin, 1 x perfect deer skin
Kit Satchel
- Increases carrying capacity for hit equipment.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect elk skin, 1 x perfect panther skin, 1 x perfect deer skin
Ingredients Satchel
- Increases carrying capacity for edible ingredients used for cooking and tonic crafting.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect badger skin, 1 x perfect squirrel carcass, 1 x perfect deer skin
Tonics Satchel
- Increases carrying capacity for all tonics.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect buck hide, 1 x perfect elk skin, 1x perfect deer skin
Legend of the East Satchel
- Greatly increases carrying capacity for all item types.
- Ingredients: 1 x perfect wolf skin, 1 x perfect cougar skin, 1 x perfect deer skin
Cosmetic Camp Upgrades
Alongside satchel upgrades, Pearson can also craft a variety of cosmetic camp upgrades. These don’t unlock any new features, so craft them only if you wish to make the Van der Linde camp look different than before.
Alligator Skull
- 1 x Perfect Alligator Skin
Big Horn Ram Skull
- 1 x Perfect Ram Carcass
Cougar Pelt Covered Chest
- 2 x Perfect Cougar Pelts
Boar Skin Table Cover
- 1 x Perfect Boar Pelt
Ox Hide Rug
- 2 x Perfect Ox Hides
Boar Skin Rug
- 4 x Perfect Boar Pelts
Pronghorn Leather Table Tops
- 2 x Perfect Pronghorn Hides
Pronghorn Skull
- 1 x Perfect Pronghorn Carcass
Moose Antlers
- 1 x Moose Antler
Wolf Skull
- 1 x Perfect Wolf Carcass
Snake Skin Banjo Head
- 2 x Perfect Snake Skins
Campfire Seat Cover
- 1 x Perfect Beaver Pelt, 1 x Perfect Muskrat Pelt, 1 x Perfect Fox Pelt
Campfire Log Seat Cover
- 2 x Perfect Wolf Pelts
Lean-to Cow Hide Ground Cover
- 1 x Perfect Cow Hide
Scout Fire Ground Cover
- 2 x Perfect Goat Hides
Elk Antlers
- 1 x Elk Antler
Hanging Bones
- 1 x Buck Antlers
Where To Find All Needed Materials
Finding all the materials needed to craft all of these upgrades is a daunting task as you’ll be doing a lot of hunting, and you need to be good at it as well since perfect pelts, hides, skins, and carcasses are required.
In order to get a perfect hide, pelt, skin, and carcass, you need to perform a perfect kill on animals that have a three-star rating, as they are the only ones that can drop perfect materials. A perfect kill means killing the animal with the correct weapon and without damaging its body too much. As a general rule, small animals require the Varmint Rifle for perfect kills, medium-sized animals like deer the bow and arrow, and big animals rifles.
To make gathering the materials required to craft all of Pearson’s items easier we have listed below where to find the relevant animals. Always remember that it has to be a three-star animal to get perfect materials. You can analyze it beforehand to avoid wasting time.
Perfect Bison Hide
To get a perfect kill, you can use the Poison Arrow, with a single arrow aimed at the head, or get headshots with any rifle or sniper rifle. These animals can be found to the west of Blackwater, and in the Heartlands Overflow to the southwest of Annesburg.
Perfect Boar Pelt
Boars are found all over the Lemoyne region, near forested areas. To get a perfect kill, you can use regular arrows, poison arrows, rifles, and sniper rifles. Always go for headshots to avoid damaging the animal’s body.
Perfect Rabbit Pelt
Rabbits are extremely common, and they can be found in most areas near Valentine, Strawberry, Rhodes and Saint Denis. The only way to perform a perfect kill on rabbits is by using the Varmint Rifle armed with 0.22 shells.
Perfect Raccoon Pelt
Raccoons are common in the Lemoyne, New Hanover and West Elizabeth regions. The only way to get a perfect kill on raccoons is by using the Varmin Rifle loaded with 0.22 shells.
Perfect Beaver Pelt
These animals are a bit tricky to find, as they are small and only spawn in a few very small areas, The best area to find beavers is near the E and R in New Hanover on the map. You can also always find a 2 and 3-star North American Beavers at Owanjjila near the water. There are multiple ways to get a perfect kill on beavers: with the bow armed with arrow, repeaters, rifles and sniper rifles.
Perfect Elk Pelt + Elk Antler
These animals are common in the coldest areas of the map, specifically in the Ambarino region and to the north of Annesburg. Getting a perfect kill on elks is easy, as you can use poison arrows, rifles, and sniper rifles.
Perfect Goat Hide
Wild goats are not that common, but they spawn quite often in an area a little to the north of Saint Denis, near the coast. You can always find a 3-star goat in New Hanover at the ‘Larned Sod’ ranch. You will be confronted by the rancher there, but you can kill him and get the goat. It is always easier to not lose honor if you visit the place at night and silently take out the goat, this way you can save your honor level. The homestead is located just underneath the letter “H” of “NEW HANOVER”. In case, you don’t see a 3-star goat (which is highly unlikely), you can set up a camp nearby, sleep to skip some time and then save your game. After saving load up the save file and you should see new goats appearing and a 3-star goat among them hopefully.
To get a perfect kill on these animals, you can use the regular arrows, poison arrows, rifles, and sniper rifles. Always go for headshots to avoid damaging the animal too much.
Perfect Fox Pelt
You will need one single perfect fox pelt to craft all of Pearson’s items. Foxes are quite common in Red Dead Redemption 2, and they tend to spawn in forested areas in Ambarino and Lemoyne. You can always find an American Red Fox at Cumberland Forest. You need to look for the fox near the letters “BER” of the name “CUMBERLAND FOREST” on the map.
To get a perfect kill on a fox, you can use the bow with regular or poison arrows, repeaters, rifle, and sniper rifles.
Perfect Cow Hide
Cows are found in several different small areas all over the map, but the best area is the same one where goats spawn more often, to the north of Saint Denis, very close to the coast. You can also just head over to the ‘Painted Sky’ ranch overlooking Dakota River in New Hanover. There will always be two cows in the pen. One is sure to be a 2 or 3-star cow. If it is not, then you can save your game and reload the save file. Although, the chances of it being a 2-star are low and you should be able to come across a 3-star cow. If you do it at night, then it should be good as you won’t have to confront the rancher and compromise your honor level.
To get a perfect kill on cows, you can use the bow with poison arrows, rifles, and sniper rifles.
Perfect Muskrat Pelt
Muskrat rats are all over the world where ever there are dry rivers. One of the most common locations is Dewberry Creek in Lemoyne. You will find the place just north of the letter “E” of “LEMOYNE” on the map. There will be a dried up river with a little bit of water and 2-3 muskrat rats.
The only way to get a perfect kill on a muskrat is by using the Varmint Rifle armed with 0.22 shots.
Perfect Alligator Skin
These animals can only be found in the swamps surrounding Saint Denis, but they are quite common so it shouldn’t be a problem to find them. To get a perfect kill on any alligator, you can use the bow with poison arrows, rifles, and sniper rifles. It may take more than a single shot to kill them with firearms, so you can use improved ammo to avoid damaging the animal too much.
Perfect Snake Skin
Snakes can be found in several different areas, but the best one is near the road going from Saint Denis to the Van Horn Trading Post and Annesburg. You will need to flush them out, though, so use predator bait to make things easier. Another east way to get a perfect snake skin is to head over to the swamps north of Saint Denis and look for water snakes in the swamps. The regular snakes are quite difficult to come by but this method is highly effective. You can head over to Lagras and find 3-star perfect snakes in the water. Be patient with them and use bow with small game arrows to kill them. Always go for a headshot or else the skin is going to get ruined and turn into a 1-star skin.
Perfect Wolf Pelt +Perfect Wolf Carcass
Wolves are quite elusive in Red Dead Redemption 2 and they can only be found in West Elizabeth and Ambarino. The area right above the “O” in Ambarino on the map is the best one to choose as hunting spot. Another really great location for plenty of 3-star wolves is near the Hanging Dog Ranch in West Elizabeth. Just slightly north of the ranch, there is an intersection where three roads meet up. Go there at night time and you will be attacked by at least 5-6 wolves. So be sure to have a high enough dead eye level as well as fortified health. Take them all out using your dead eye and make sure you go for headshots. Use a rifle with express ammo for a clean kill. Any rifle should work as long as the damage is high enough. After taking them all out, approach them and at least 2 of them should have 3-star pelts.
Perfect Pronghorn Hide +Perfect Pronghorn Carcass
These animals are extremely common in the New Hanover regions, especially in the areas next to the “New” in New Hanover on the map, and to the south of them, near Flat Iron Lake. You can also find a number of perfect pelt pronghorns to the far left of the map, to the west of Hanging Dog Ranch. You need to pass the ranch and keep going forward until you reach the end of the map, near the black border. You will be near lavender fields and find plenty of pronghorns just above the letter “W” of “WEST ELIZABETH” on the map.
To get a perfect kill on pronghorn bucks, you can use the bow with regular or poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles.
Perfect Iguana Skin
You can also find plenty of iguanas after you reach the Epilogue. However, the only way to get the iguanas before reaching the epilogue is to go to the island west of Rhodes. You will find 2-3 iguanas and at least one of then is guaranteed to have a 3-star pelt. Make sure you set up camp away from the island and save your game before you head to the island. In case you do not come across a 3-star iguana, reload your game and then head back to the island which will spawn a 3-star iguana.
The Varmint Rifle with .022 rounds is the only way to get a perfect kill on iguanas.
Perfect Panther Pelt
Panthers are very rare, and they only spawn in two specific areas: to the very south of Rhodes, near the river banks to the southeast of Braithwaite Manor and to the north of Saint Denis, slightly to the north of the “N” and “E” in Lemoyne on the map. If you go to the south of Braithwaite Manor, then you can always find a panther lurking in the woods near Old Harry’s Fen. Set up a camp nearby and sleep till night time as night time increases the chances of panther spawning. Save your game and then head into the woods. The panther is extremely aggressive and it suddenly spawns near you, so you need to have a quick reaction time. This is the reason you should always save your game before heading into the woods. If the panther kills you, then simply reload your game and head back inside, it will always spawn.
To get perfect kills on panthers, you can use the bow with regular or poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles.
Perfect Buck Pelt +Buck Antler
Bucks are very common, and they can be found in the Lemoyne regions as well as in the northern parts of the New Hanover region, close to the border with Ambarino. You can use the bow with arrows and poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles to get perfect kills on them.
Perfect Ox Hide
A perfect 3-star Ox is quite difficult to come across. However, there is a guaranteed spawn of either a 2-star or a 3-star Ox at the cabin just northwest of Van Horn Trading Post. It is a very small cabin indicated by a small square on the map. Just look slightly to the east of Butcher Creek on the map and you should see a small square which is the cabin (it is actually a small ranch). Once you’re at the location, you will either come across a 2-star Ox or a 3-star Angus Ox. If by chance it is not a 3-star then simply set up a camp nearby, sleep 2 times and save your game. After saving reload the game and the Ox should change. Do this a couple of times and you should have a 3-star Angus Ox. Beware of the ranchers as they will attack you for killing their Ox.
You can perform a perfect kill on an ox by using the bow with poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles.
Perfect Deer Pelt
Deer are one of the most common animals in the game, and you will find them near forested areas all over Lemoyne and the eastern part of Ambarino. The absolute best location for a perfect deer is just south of Rhodes and north of Bolger Glade. You will find plenty of deer in between these two in an open grassy land.
To get a perfect kill on them, you can use the bow with regular or poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles.
Perfect Cougar Pelt
Cougars are rare and they mostly spawn in select areas in New Austin, such as to the south of Blackwater, near the southwestern side of Flat Iron Lake and to the northwest of the “A” in New Austin on the map. They can also be found in a very small area near the border of the map a little to the southwest of the “W” in West Elizabeth on the map. To get a perfect kill on cougars, you can use the bow with regular or poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles.
Perfect Badger Pelt
If you are looking for a 3-star badger, then there is an absolute guaranteed location where you can find one. Just look behind the trapper at Riggs Station, you will find a 3-star badger just relaxing on the rocks. If you do not come across a 3-star and instead a 1 or 2-star, simply set up a camp, save your game and reload. Return back and you will see the change in the quality. We found the badger at night time but you can also try at day time.
To get a perfect kill on a badger, you must use the Varmint Rifle armed with 0.22 shots.
Perfect Squirrel Pelt
Squirrels are common in all forested areas on the map, such as the forests near Strawberry, to the north of Annesburg, and in Ambarino and West Elizabeth. You can find a number of perfect 3-star squirrels to the very west in West Elizabeth region. You need to go all the way up through Little Creek River passing the Hanging Dog Ranch. Go to the edge of the map to the top left corner and you will come across a nice green grassy area. You will find a lot of squirrels here, including Black Squirrels and American Red Squirrels.
You need the small game arrow to perform a perfect kill on squirrels.
Perfect Ram Carcass
Perfect ram are mostly in mountainous areas. One such area is near the Cattail Pond where you also find a legendary ram. You need to look for the ram just above the name “Cumberland falls” on the map and just south of Cattail Pond. There is an open area by the railway track where a herd of bighorn ram and sheep gathers. If you don’t see any then set up a camp nearby, sleep a couple of times, save and reload your game. A 3-star ram will eventually appear.
To get a perfect kill on rams, you can use the bow with arrows or poison arrows, rifles and sniper rifles.
Moose Antler
Moose are amongst the rarest of the animals to find early in the game. If you are in the epilogue then you can easily find them in the Tall Trees in New Austin. However, before the epilogue, there are a handful of spawn points for this particular animal. They do not guarantee a 100% spawn rate but will occasionally spawn either a female moose or a male moose (with antlers).
You need to visit these places from time to time and put down herbivore bait (potent herbivore bait is recommended) for the moose to be attracted. Normally, after putting down at least 4-5 herbivore baits, walk away from the area and then loop back around (make sure you save your game before doing this process). You will see some horses and elks spawning. If they spawn then you need to reload your game and repeat the same process. It is extremely time consuming, but eventually you will get a moose. We had luck at Cairne Lake doing the same process and were able to get one. You can also find one near Colter. All the possible locations are shown in the maps below.
You need to kill moose with the bow armed with poison arrows, rifles, and sniper rifles to get perfect kills.
