Where can I find food on the first day?
Search kitchens, food shops, vending machines, traders and nests. Gather edible plants and hunt small animals. Check food properties because not every meal also restores water.
Link to this answerFood, hunting and farming - FAQ
Find food, track and harvest animals, unlock meals and keep enough crops for the next planting.
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Answers describe the base game. World settings and mods can change its rules.
Why am I always hungry or thirsty?
Activity and stamina recovery consume supplies. Diseases and weather can increase consumption. Check active effects, hydration and meal values. World settings can also increase hunger and thirst.
Link to this answerI killed an animal. Why did I not get meat?
You must harvest its body with a suitable tool such as a bone knife, hunting knife or machete. Killing it does not put all the meat in your backpack. Different animals provide different products.
Link to this answerHow can I get more meat from an animal?
Develop The Huntsman perk and harvest the body with a suitable tool. This perk increases harvesting yield. Animal Tracker helps you find animals instead.
Link to this answerHow does Animal Tracker work?
After buying the perk, crouch and wait for tracking to activate. The perk rank determines which animals you can detect. It reveals animals within range; it does not create new animals.
Link to this answerDoes crouching always increase hunting damage?
No. A sneak attack bonus requires a target that has not detected you. Crouching helps you stay hidden, but does not guarantee bonus damage after the animal notices you.
Link to this answerWhy can I not cook a meal even though I have the ingredients?
Check the recipe unlock, workstation, required cooking pot or grill, fuel and ingredient amounts. With magazine progression enabled, Home Cooking Weekly unlocks recipes. Master Chef does not replace every crafting requirement.
Link to this answerHow do I start growing crops?
Place a farm plot, obtain seeds and plant them in a suitable spot. Most crops need light, while mushrooms have different requirements. Standard crops do not need manual watering.
Link to this answerWhy did harvesting not return all my seeds?
Seed returns are not always guaranteed. You may need to turn part of the harvest into new seeds. Living Off the Land improves farming returns. Check crop and seed settings, and save enough produce for replanting.
Link to this answerDoes food spoil, and do I need a refrigerator?
In the base game, stored food does not normally rot simply because time passes. A refrigerator can provide storage but is not required to keep food fresh. Mods may add spoilage.
Link to this answerCan food or raw meat attract zombies by smell?
Yes, when the smell system is enabled. Carrying raw meat and consuming many foods can reveal your presence. Store meat in a container or vehicle and use meat bundles when available.
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