One of the most enigmatic mysteries inAlan Wake 2is the taxidermied deer heads you can stumble upon in your adventures as Saga Anderson. They can be found in every region of Saga’s story, and you can interact with them, but other than Saga herself, no one comments on them.

Given the thematic connection drawn between Saga and deer, you might think that it’s just a lore thing, but we assure you, the rewards are quite tangible. Need help finding them all or curious about the reward? We’ve got you covered. Check out where to find every deer head in Alan Wake 2 below.

Alan Wake 2 Deer Head Mystery

Where To Find All The Deer Heads In Alan Wake 2

When you find a deer head, you may interact with it by getting close to it. There will be a prompt to do so in the form of your interact button (A, X, etc.) showing up on the deer head.

If you do this, a small animation will play. You mustdo this with every deer head for it to count.If you forget to do so, you’ll have to find that deer head again and interact with it.

A deer head on the wall, next to is a cult symbol (left), a map of Cauldron Lake showing the deer head’s location (right)

In Saga’s Mind Place, there’s a deer head above the fireplace. After interacting with a new deer head in the world, you caninteract with the one in the mind placeto seehow many you have left to collect.

There are 12 deer heads in total:three in Cauldron Lake, four in Watery, and five in Bright Falls.

A bloody Deer Head At The Elderwood Lodge (left), its location on the Bright Falls map (right)

Below, you’ll find where to find every deer head,in the most likely order you’ll find them, following the story.

Near Murder Site - Cauldron Lake

you’re able to find this one as early asReturn 1: Invitation, right at the beginning of the game. After you investigate Nightingale’s body, you can gobehind the murder site,and you’llfind a house.

This is also whereone of the earliest Cult Stashes is found.Enter the house, and the deer head will be in thefirst room to your left.

Deer Head At Oh Deer Diner / Its location on the Bright Falls Map

The Elderwood Lodge - Bright Falls

This one, you can findas soon as you arrive at Bright Fallsproper. Instead of heading to the Oh Deer Diner, go into thebuilding in front of where you parked your car.

Turn rightand keep going until you find yourself in a familiar room– that’s right, theroom that Saga’s Mind Place is modeled after.

Deer Head At Witchfinder Station / Its location on the Cauldron Lake Map

This will be important later. Just like in her Mind Place, the deer’s head will beabove the fireplace.

Oh Deer Diner - Bright Falls

At the back of the Oh Deer Diner, you’ll find a dark hallway that should be familiar to you if you played the first game.

Don’t go in too far;immediately to the right is a door.Go inside, and the deer head will beat the end of the narrow room.

Deer Head At Suomi Hall / Its location on the Watery Map

Witchfinder Station - Cauldron Lake

This one becomesaccessible only after you beat the Cauldron Lake Overlapin Return 2: The Heart since the floodwaters will subside. From Cauldron Lake Shore, make your way back, but when you get to the tree,go left instead of going right.

This will take you through the previously flooded area. Head north until you get to Witchfinder Station. Enter the building, and you’ll find the deer headon your right, just above the fireplace.

Deer Head At Lighthouse Trailer Park / Its location on the Watery Map

Suomi Hall - Watery

you’re able to find this deer head as soon as you arrive at Watery, triggering the start of Return 3: Local Girl.Across the street from where you park your caris Suomi Hall, where you’ll hear Ahti performing.

Enter the building andgo to the back, where you’ll find aBreak Room.Immediately to the leftis the deer head.

Deer Head At Kalevala Knights Workshop / Its location on the Watery Map

Lighthouse Trailer Park - Watery

You can’t access this one until you find the keys to your trailer in Coffee World. The deer head is locatedin the trailer across from Saga’s.

Kalevala Knights Workshop - Watery

This one can be easy to miss. From the entrance of the workshop, the deer head is locatedin the far back left corner.

Ranger Cabin - Watery

This deer head is only accessibleafter youclear the Watery Overlap.North of Coffee World is theRanger Cabin, which is in a previously flooded area.

You’ll find the deer head on thefirst floor, on the left side from the entrance. If you end up in the kitchen, turn around, and it will be in the room across.

Deer Head At Ranger Station / Its location on the Watery Map

Valhalla Nursing Home Manor - Bright Falls

This one becomes available in Return 5: Old Gods, where the story will take you to the Valhalla Nursing Home. Goupstairs to the second floorand you’ll find the Lounge in thefirst room in front of the stairs (go left).

Enter the Lounge, which functions as a Break Room, andturn right.

Deer Head At Valhalla Nursing Home Manor / Its location on the Valhalla Nursing Home Manor Map

Valhalla Nursing Home Wellness Center - Bright Falls

You can find this deer head in the same room as where the Hunting Rifle is kept, right outside of the Security Room. To open the Workshop, you’ll need tograb the doorknob at the receptionist’s desk at the entrance first.

You’ll need tosolve the Security Room puzzleto get this one, as it will unlock all the doors in the Wellness Center, including the sliding door exit, which blocks the way to the receptionist’s desk.

Once you grab it, go back to the Workshop and use it to open the door. Enter the room andgo to the right.

Bunker Woods Ranger Station - Bright Falls

After you clear the Overlap at the nursing home,use the south exit to return to towninstead of back the way you came (the north exit). There’s alocked gate there, but your newfound Bolt Cutters will handle that.

At this point, you can get all of Saga’s collectibles except for one Cult Stash. You should do so,doing the Sheriff’s Office Cult Stash last.

Going to the Sheriff’s Station kicks off Return 6: Scratch, and doing so will lock you into it until you finish it. More importantly,it will advance the time to night, making it more difficult and dangerous to hunt for missing collectibles.

This route through the previously flooded Bunker Woods contains all sorts of collectible goodies, including the Ranger Station. Enter theRanger Station and head upstairs, where the deer head will be to greet you.

Rental Cabins - Cauldron Lake

This one takes you back to Cauldron Lake. With the Bolt Cutters acquired in Return 5: Old Gods, you’re able to open the way to the Rental Cabins. To get this one, you’ll havetocomplete a Nursery Rhyme Puzzle.

Once you do, leave the Nursery Rhyme room anda Taken will bust down the doorin the cabin across, where the (theoretically) final deer head is kept.

What Next?

Once you interact with the last deer head, a small sound will play. This soundwill not be indicated by the subtitles.

Check-in with the deer head in the Mind Palace, which will tell you to check in with their twin in the other office. This refers to the deer head in the Elderwood Lodge - Bright Falls location. Go there.

What Do You Get For Finding All The Deer Heads?

If you leave the office through the bar exit, you’ll see a mysterious deer. Follow it, and it will disappear around the corner.

Go to the hallway where all the rental rooms of the lodge are, where you’ll see the deer. Close in on it, and it willgo into room 108 at the end of the hall, unlocking the door.

In the room is your prize, a trove of equipment!All kinds of ammunition, batteries, flares, and flashbangs–likely more than you’ll need for the rest of the game.

Sadly, there isn’t an achievement unlocked or more lore to be found, but at least the deer have ensured that you’ll be set for all future fights.