Every Map at a Glance
Knowing where each reserve fits helps you choose the right hunt, avoid confusing the game with its predecessor, and plan trophy displays around local wildlife. At launch, Way of the Hunter 2 includes three base-game maps: two full hunting reserves with stories and one mountain hub area.
| Map | Location | Story | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Laurentia | Canada | Yes | Main hunting reserve |
| Kilimaya Reserve | Africa | Yes | Main hunting reserve |
| Hearth & Hunt HQ | Rocky Mountains | No | Central hub area |
New Laurentia arrived first during Early Access, followed by Kilimaya Reserve and then Hearth & Hunt HQ. All three became part of the base game at full release on September 29, 2026.
Unlike the original Way of the Hunter, the same playable hunter is used across the maps. That makes the regions feel like connected parts of one hunting career rather than isolated character campaigns.
Each area serves a distinct purpose, so map selection affects more than scenery. Choose a story reserve when you want missions and animal-focused exploration, then use the Rocky Mountain hub to support your wider hunting routine.
New Laurentia Map
New Laurentia is the Canadian reserve and the most detailed interactive map currently available through Shackmaps. It combines broad wilderness hunting with practical infrastructure, making it a strong starting point for learning the game’s tracking, need-zone, and travel systems.
The interactive map tracks animal need zones, hunting locations, campsites, cabins, lodges, and player-created pins. Need zones are especially useful because they show where species spend time feeding, drinking, or resting.
| New Laurentia feature | Known count | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Animal pins | 3,547 | Helps locate species and need zones |
| Campsites | 16 | Supports faster travel and route planning |
| Hunting stands | 10 | Provides prepared shooting positions |
| Cabins | 3 | Useful landmark and travel points |
| Lodge | 1 | Displays trophies from local species |
| Shooting range | 1 | Lets players test equipment |
| Stations | 3 | Useful service and navigation points |
New Laurentia has a varied roster that includes American wolverines, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, wolves, elk, mule deer, moose, white-tailed deer, wood bison, mallards, turkeys, and snowshoe hares. The mix supports long-range mountain hunts, stalking in dense cover, and waterfowl outings.
When exploring this reserve, prioritize infrastructure before trying to cover every animal marker. A few unlocked campsites can turn a long hike into a short approach and make it easier to return when a promising animal appears during its active need-zone time.
Useful New Laurentia planning priorities include:
- Unlock campsites nearest the species you intend to hunt.
- Mark recurring need zones with custom pins.
- Use hunting stands when wind and visibility favor a fixed position.
- Visit the shooting range after changing rifles, ammunition, or optics.
- Keep the lodge in mind when selecting animals for trophy displays.
Kilimaya Reserve and Hearth & Hunt HQ
Kilimaya Reserve is the game’s African story region. It adds a different hunting setting from the forests and mountains of New Laurentia, giving players another full reserve to explore without buying a separate map pack.
The available material confirms Kilimaya Reserve as a base-game map with a story, but it does not provide a complete official animal or location list. Players should avoid treating community speculation about its name or setting as confirmed map details.
Hearth & Hunt HQ is different. Located in the Rocky Mountains, it is a non-story hub rather than a standard story reserve. It gives the game a home base between hunts and complements the two narrative hunting regions.
The distinction matters when planning your time. Kilimaya Reserve is for pursuing a separate narrative region and discovering its local wildlife, while Hearth & Hunt HQ is best approached as part of the broader career structure rather than a third story campaign.
| Map | Best reason to visit | Story missions | Interactive map detail currently listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Laurentia | Canadian species and extensive mapped infrastructure | Yes | Yes |
| Kilimaya Reserve | African hunting region and its story | Yes | Not listed in the supplied map data |
| Hearth & Hunt HQ | Rocky Mountain hub functions | No | Not listed in the supplied map data |
Treat the hub as a place to prepare rather than a replacement for a full reserve. If your goal is to follow missions and find diverse animal populations, start with New Laurentia or Kilimaya Reserve. If you are organizing equipment, reviewing progress, or moving between activities, Hearth & Hunt HQ is the more relevant destination.
How to Use Maps More Effectively
The best map choice depends on what you want from a session. New Laurentia offers the clearest publicly mapped route planning, while Kilimaya Reserve provides another story-driven environment. The hub supports the larger hunting loop without adding a separate story campaign.
Before setting out, use this simple process:
- Pick a target species or mission objective.
- Check its likely need zones and nearby travel points.
- Choose a campsite or station that leaves room for a quiet approach.
- Check wind, terrain, and available hunting stands.
- Place custom pins for animals, blocked routes, and promising areas.
- Return at the appropriate time instead of wandering randomly.
New Laurentia’s map also identifies environmental obstacles and restoration-related locations. These include damaged bridges, fallen trees, boulder obstructions, invasive plants, polluted water, and habitat-enhancement sites. They can affect routes and make a straight-line trip less practical than it appears on the map.
| Map information type | Example | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Animal markers | Elk, wolves, moose, deer | Find species and need zones |
| Infrastructure | Campsites, stands, cabins | Plan travel and shooting positions |
| Environmental markers | Damaged bridges, fallen trees | Avoid inefficient routes |
| Custom pins | Personal waypoints | Record tracks, trophies, and routes |
An interactive map should guide your scouting, not eliminate it. Animal behavior, weather, terrain, and wind still decide whether an approach succeeds. Use the pins to get into the right neighborhood, then slow down and hunt carefully once you arrive.
Future map additions are planned as paid DLC, according to the developer’s post-launch roadmap. However, no specific future reserve name, location, release date, or animal list has been officially detailed in the supplied information. For now, the complete confirmed base-game map lineup remains the three areas above.
FAQ
How many maps are in Way of the Hunter 2?
Way of the Hunter 2 has three base-game maps: New Laurentia, Kilimaya Reserve, and Hearth & Hunt HQ.
What are all maps in Way of the Hunter 2?
The full way of the hunter 2 all maps list is New Laurentia in Canada, Kilimaya Reserve in Africa, and Hearth & Hunt HQ in the Rocky Mountains.
Which maps have story content?
New Laurentia and Kilimaya Reserve have story content. Hearth & Hunt HQ does not have a story.
Is New Laurentia an interactive map?
Yes. Its interactive map includes animal need zones, campsites, cabins, hunting stands, a lodge, stations, infrastructure markers, and custom player pins.
Are there DLC maps yet?
No DLC maps have been confirmed as released in the supplied material. The developer has announced plans for future paid hunting regions, but details have not yet been provided.