Hunting

"The shot must be quick. The kill clean. This rabbit is a gift. We must return nature's kindness with our own."

―Ratonhnhaké:ton teaching Kanen'tó:kon how to hunt, 1769.^[src]

Hunting is the practice of tracking and killing wildlife for various purposes, such as the collection of meat or skins, as well as ingredients for the crafting of items.

Caribbean Sea

During the Golden Age of Piracy, the Assassin Edward Kenway and other pirates tracked and hunted whales and sharks for various purposes, such as meat and oil production. Edward would harpoon at known whale locations using the Jackdaw's whaleboat. He also hunted several species of terrestrial animal present on the islands and in the cities of the Caribbean.^[1]

Land-based huntable animals

Capuchin monkey
Crocodile
Deer
Iguana
Hutia
Howler monkey
Red Howler monkey
Jaguar
Black jaguar
White jaguar
Ocelot
Rabbit
Wild pig

Marine-based huntable animals

Bull shark
Great white shark
Hammerhead shark
Killer whale
Humpback whale
White whale

North Atlantic

During the Seven Years' War, the Assassin-turned-Templar Shay Cormac tracked animals exclusive to arctic conditions such as narwhals and polar bears.^[2]

Land-based huntable animals

Polar bear
Arctic hare
Arctic wolf
Beaver
Eastern elk
Hare
Black bear
Arctic fox
Fox
Deer
Black wolf
Grey wolf
Canadian lynx

Marine-based huntable animals

Narwhal
White whale
Killer whale
Humpback whale
White shark

North America

Hunting was a fundamental part of the culture for the Native North Americans and European colonists, with the activity becoming a common source of contact between them. It provided food for isolated towns in the Frontier, and was a lucrative way to make money at general stores. Colonization in the Frontier increased partially because of demand in England and France for fur pelts. In 1770, several trappers, including Simon Girty, founded the New England Hunting Society, which provided cabins for hunters to share during hunting season.^[3]

Though animals could be hunted in a variety of ways, the quality of the kill affected the price one could fetch for the skin. For an animal killed with snares, bow and arrow or blade, the skin had a higher economic value, since bullets from a firearm or the rope dart would damage the pelt.^[3]

AC3 Skinning — Ratonhnhaké:ton preparing to skin a bobcat

Edward's grandson Ratonhnhaké:ton hunted animals similarly to assassination targets, tracking and trapping several kinds that he encountered across the Frontier. As a member of the Kanien'kehá:ka, he respected nature; he would kneel next to the carcass of a fallen prey and say "Niá:wen", which translates into "thank you", before skinning it.^[3]

He eventually joined the New England Hunting Society, which had become a club for hunters to boast about their kills. By hunting infamous animals like King Edward the Elk, and threats to settlers like a man-eating bear, Ratonhnhaké:ton was rewarded with mementos for his bedroom at the Davenport Homestead after completion.^[3]

The following animals could be hunted in the Frontier and the Davenport Homestead:

Predators

Prey

Trivia

If a predator killed another animal, that animal could be skinned. However if another character killed an animal, it could also be skinned, though the spoils would be damaged.
While in the Animus, if Desmond Miles killed too many animals without skinning them as Connor did, it would cause him to desynchronize. Also, killing domesticated animals such as pigs and chickens would count the same as killing a civilian.
According to George Washington's journal, he once witnessed Connor hunting outside of Valley Forge. While both men were following a male elk, the Assassin managed to bring the animal down with a single arrow. While this is possible in-game, killing an elk with the bow usually requires at least two arrows.
In AC3 Ratonhnhaké:ton would use a hidden blade blade animation and the hidden blade sound plays even if he has not yet visited Achilles and acquired it.