Alan Wake 2 - Taxidermy Deer Head Locations

There are lots of collectible objects and points of interest in Alan Wake 2. One, in particular, requires you to pay attention to your surroundings whenever you enter homes and buildings. Our guide discusses the Alan Wake 2 Taxidermy Deer Heads, which you can pet while playing as Saga Anderson to complete the tally.

Mounted Taxidermy Deer Head locations in Alan Wake 2

We've organized our Alan Wake 2 Taxidermy Deer Head guide into several sections pertaining to each major zone that you visit during Saga's arc. We've also numbered them based on when we saw them during our playthrough. Likewise, don't forget that you can check Saga's Mind Place to "talk" to the mounted deer on the wall. You might hear a response--i.e. "eight remaining"--informing you of how many are still left.

Cauldron Lake Deer Heads

There are three Deer Heads in Cauldron Lake. The first two are found fairly early in the campaign, but the last one requires you to spend more hours for progression.

Deer Head #1

• Chapter: Return 1 - Invitation
• Location: Murder Site - Just south of the Murder Site, you'll find a small shed, which has the first Cult Stash puzzle in the game. Take a peek inside the bedroom so you can pet the mounted deer.

Deer Head #2

• Chapter: Return 2 - The Heart
• Location: Witchfinder's Station - We've only discovered one deer head in Cauldron Lake, and it's in the Witchfinder's Station all the way in the northwestern corner of the map. Take note that this is also the site of a secret Nursery Rhyme puzzle.

Deer Head #3

• Chapter: After Return 5 - Old Gods
• Location: Rental Cabins - You can only enter the Rental Cabins once you have the Bolt Cutters, which are obtained near the end of the Old Gods chapter. The goal here is to go through Cabin #3 so you can solve the Nursery Rhyme in the next area. If you manage to do that, a Taken enemy will burst out from the wall of Cabin #6. Once your foe has been defeated, enter Cabin #6 to gather your rewards and check out the mounted deer.

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Bright Falls Deer Heads

Out of all the zones in Saga's arc, Bright Falls has the most number of Alan Wake 2 Deer Heads. A couple can be interacted with early on, though the others are found much later.

Deer Head #1

• Chapter: Return 1 - Invitation
• Location: Elderwood Palace Lodge - Once Saga and Casey are in Bright Falls, take a look inside the backroom (the one that the two are using for their investigation). The mounted deer is above the fireplace.

Deer Head #2

• Chapter: Return 1 - Invitation
• Location: Oh Deer Diner - From your first visit to Bright Falls and in succeeding chapters, you should be able to visit the Oh Deer Diner. Check the storage room at the back to find this mounted deer.

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Deer Head #3

• Chapter: Return 5 - Old Gods
• Location: Valhalla Nursing Home - Much later in the campaign, you'll find this Alan Wake 2 Taxidermy Deer Head in Valhalla Nursing Home. It's in the lounge room on the second floor, which also happens to have a save point.

Deer Head #4

• Chapter: Return 5 - Old Gods
• Location: In the same chapter, you'll make your way to the adjacent Wellness Center. Eventually, you'll come across a door without a doorknob, and a security room. Since it's also where the Hunting Rifle is located, we discuss this location in detail in our weapons guide. Here's a quick summary:
  
  • Input 17-08-23 in the terminal and open the sliding doors.
  • Get the doorknob from the receptionist's desk.
  • You can use it to open the storage room that has both the Hunting Rifle and this mounted deer head.

Deer Head #5

• Chapter: Return 5 - Old Gods
• Location: Ranger Station - Later, after clearing the Overlap encounter, you'll have the Bolt Cutters and you'll be able to travel along the southern portion of Bright Falls. You should stumble upon a Ranger Station in the hilly woods, just before reaching Billie's Boat Yard and the town proper.

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Watery Deer Heads

The last few Taxidermy Deer Heads in Alan Wake 2 are found in the quaint village of Watery. All of these can be found in one chapter, though you're free to revisit the place as long as you don't go past the point of no return.

Deer Head #1

• Chapter: Return 3 - Local Girl
• Location: Suomi Hall - Once you arrive at Watery, check out the bar across the street. There's a Break Room at the back, which also happens to have a mounted deer head.

Deer Head #2

• Chapter: Return 3 - Local Girl
• Location: Lighthouse Trailer Park - Obtain the Screwdriver in Coffee World and solve the Gift Shop puzzle. You'll receive a key that unlocks the gate to the trailer park. You should spot this mounted deer in one of the trailers in the area.

Deer Head #3

• Chapter: Return 3 - Local Girl
• Location: Kalevala Knights Workshop - Eventually, you'll need to enter the Kalevala Knights Workshop. You should see this Alan Wake 2 Taxidermy Deer Head mounted on a wall.

Deer Head #4

• Chapter: Return 3 - Local Girl
• Location: Ranger Station - Once you've finished the Overlap encounter, the flood waters will recede. You should be able to visit the Ranger Station north of Coffee World.

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Taxidermy Deer Head rewards

After finding all 12 Taxidermy Deer Heads in Alan Wake 2, head back to Elderwood Palace Lodge in Bright Falls. Upon entering, take a look at the hallway to your left. You'll notice a deer standing at the end of the hallway, and it will enter the last room.

Once you approach, you'll realize that it has disappeared. However, the room itself has a bunch of items, such as ammo, flares, and healing kits. Sadly, we didn't find any collectibles or points of interest inside.

In any case, these are the Taxidermy Deer Heads that we've discovered in Alan Wake 2. While you're at it, don't forget to grab various collectibles, such as Alex Casey Lunchboxes, Cult Stashes, and Nursery Rhymes. There's even an item that reveals these goodies and points of interest on your map, and it's called the Mayor Setter Charm.