
Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Unlock Bounty Missions
Bounty missions aren't unlocked for the start of Red Dead Redemption 2, but this guide will show you how to quickly make them available.
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.

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

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.
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.
In other news
NPD: PS5 Sets New US Console Launch Records While Switch Holds Strong
A strong debut for Sony hasn't stopped Switches from flying off shelves.
The Last of Us Part 2 Takes Home Top Prize at The Game Awards: Here Are All the Winners
Hades, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Among Us did get some well-earned love too.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Receives a Surprise Ray Tracing Performance Mode Update on PS5
Can't choose between 60 FPS and ray tracing? There's a new mode for you.
Quantic Dream Announces Publishing Deal for Dustborn, From the Makers of Dreamfall
Red Thread's dystopian road trip may end up being the first title published by David Cage's newly independent studio.
You may also like
Cyberpunk 2077 Review: Death by a Thousand Cyber-Cuts
Even if you get beyond the bugs, it's just not worth it.
PlayStation 5 Update Lets You Know If You're About to Play the PS4 Version of Game
Check yourself before you last-gen yourself.
Stardew Valley Just Got Beaches, Fish Tanks, Swimming Ducks, and a Whole Lot More
Nearly five years on, Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone just pushed what he says is Stardew's "biggest update yet."
Alien: Isolation Is Free on Epic and Just As Good as It Was in 2014
Get the motion tracker and don't go in the vents.