Hunting Dogs
Hunting Dogs is an Exploration Age Market upgrade that increases Villager Food gathering from hunted animals by 10%. It improves the hunt economy specifically; it does not add Food to an animal or accelerate gathering from Farms, livestock or other sources.
Research profile
- Civilization
- Europeans; Federal Americans; Native Americans
- Research location
- Market
- Research time
- 20 seconds
- Wood cost
- 50
- Coin cost
- 50
- Effect
- Villager gather work rate for hunted animals +10%
- Next technology
- Steel Traps (Europeans and Federal Americans)
Effect
Research it at the Market where available. The bonus applies while Villagers gather from hunted carcasses, so its contribution depends on how many workers are assigned to Hunts and how long those animals remain available. It does not change an animal’s total Food value. Check the active technology panel for the civilization’s exact cost and any version-specific access condition.
Research condition
Research at the Market in the Exploration Age where the civilization has access.
Research decision
Research while Hunts are safe and will support Food gathering for a sustained period. The 10% bonus compounds across the Villagers working those animals, so it can help maintain unit and Villager production during an opening. If workers must move to Farms or livestock for safety, the upgrade’s immediate value falls. Protect distant hunting groups and scout replacement herds before the current source is depleted.
Apply the bonus to the right Food source
Hunting Dogs rewards a common early-game task but is not a universal Food upgrade. It is most useful when the map offers accessible animals and several Villagers can gather safely. The improvement does not make a depleted herd renewable, so plan a transition to another source. Avoid overcommitting workers to a contested Hunt simply to benefit from the technology; move them to safer gathering when raids threaten. Its value is the extra output during the time Villagers are actually hunting.