In Red Dead Redemption 2 you will automatically have a $250 bounty on your head for Blackwater and the New Austin area (including Armadillo and Tumbleweed).
To remove the Blackwater Bounty in RDR2: Reach the Epilogue in the Story. You can pay it off beforehand at post offices but the status will remain “Wanted Dead or Alive” so people will shoot you on sight.
There’s no other way to remove the Wanted Dead or Alive Status – you simply have to reach the end of the game. You can already visit the area but the bounty hunters will very quickly kill you so it’s not feasible to search for collectibles there until you’ve beaten the game. After Chapter 6 the bounty will be lifted and you can finally explore the full map. If you go there before then, you will just get killed within a few minutes.
Here’s a look at Blackwater and the surrounding map uncovered:
For more guides check out our full Red Dead Redemption 2 Wiki & Strategy Guide.
RRAAGGGEEEE says
This Is completely wrong. You can go to the post office and remove each book to per county by paying cash.
RRAAGGGEEEE says
*bounty
PowerPyx says
You cannot remove the “Wanted Dead or Alive” until after the story. You are always wanted dead or alive and get shot on sight. Only way to remove it is to beat story.
AsterMorni says
Not for blackwater , no option to remove the bounty
Every halfwit says
Yes. The article literally states this fact, however, if you had actually read the writing on this page, you would know that the article goes on to literally state that your “Wanted: Dead or Alive” status will remain, and you will be attacked as soon as you enter the territory and likely be killed. Actually ‘everything’ the article states is true. I don’t know how you could possibly have been so totally and absolutely wrong in your comment lol.
EasyBoarder says
Impossible it seems. I’m still in the beginning of RDR2 on PC, just off the mountain. I have already paid off $260 bounty for blackwater, but they still come after me.
It’s a shame to read I have to finish the game first.
Roxx says
True, I payed the bounty and still got hunted down in Blackwater!
YoureWelcome says
So YOU were completely wrong? Thanks for clearing that up.
Mesa says
Im at chapter 2 and I have to meet Escuella right outside Blackwater. What do I do?
MSmi says
I’m in the same boat. It’s the next step for me. As soon as I cross the line they hurt me down and the option disappears. I’ve tried swimming across the water too. They still spot me. I’ve been searching every where with no solution.
Shootem_Badguys says
Go right outside of Blackwater to meet Escuella.
Chuck says
Just take a boat ?♀️ easiest way
Fred says
Go there at nite and be very cautious.
ezthesaiyan says
Stay to the left of the road. Bounty hunters stay on the roads mostly. So just stay off the road. You might want to go at a medium slow pace.
Don says
You can cross very close to Javierr location and when you cross the river watch for patrol
Charles Armentrout says
Has anyone figured out how to get to Javier? I still am having no luck.
Mike says
Approach from the East via a river crossing. There is a path up through the rocks with no patrol.
Edd says
Worked for me
Asia says
You have to go on the other side of where the guards would be. Climb a large rock and you’d have to travel by foot, or else the guards will hear and seek you out. Be cautious as you do this. Don’t go directly to the mission. You have to go around. I have bad explaining but YouTube can better help you as it helped me. I JUST got through, took me days to figure and get around. But it worked. Just have to sneak you’re way in
Nynaeve says
I’ve been having the exact same problem but I think I just figured it out. From the post office at Riggs Station, go northeast. From there, you have to ride your horse throughly the water and cross til you come up to a ledge where Javier is
Claude Speed says
You have two options to explore the whole map early:
1. Complete the story
2.Find the glitch (remember GTA III Callahan Bridge)
Riggan says
Can you elaborate on this? I remember the Callahan Bridge glitch in GTAIII, but how does that translate over to RDR2? I’d really like to be able to explore New Austin now versus when the game is over. Really disappointing Rockstar includes the area from the old game and basically taunts you with it the entire story and you can’t go there without getting killed.
Jake says
I tried boating down the river to do the legendary fishing. And my boat sank and I drowned immediately.
ciera says
hmmmm i never had that happend to me maybe ur game gliched
at that point
Spykitten says
Omg I sunk mine too and I drowned uggh . I didn’t notice I took water I’m while rowing.
Mike says
To get to Javier. I just rode in while wearing a the bandana over my face and didn’t get attacked.
Retr0 says
You just got lucky. With or without a bandana or mask, you’ll be hunted down and killed by a ton of bounty hunters in the New Austin region. When I crossed into New Austin, I was able to roam around for a little while before bounty hunters spawned and attacked me. I escaped, but about 10 minutes later, more spawned and attacked once more and I didn’t make it that time.
Sterling says
I couldn’t figure out how to get round the patrol either so I just went down to the river lookin place and stayed to the side of it and eventually got to Javier. Just work around the edges.
Easy Goings says
All you have to do is stay off the main road … that means to set your navigation to the location and ride strait to your location.
Reagan says
I am in chapter 4 so I completed this mission a while ago. I spent about 2 hours trying to ride in on the roads. My best advice has previously been stated so I shorten it up a bit. there are three steps to know about, and the first one is to not follow the roads and go in a straight line and avoid any important towns or railways. The second step is to go slowly at night time to avoid running into bounty hunters. You may choose to go by boat but every time I did I got shot at and killed from behind. My final tip is completely optional because it probably won’t help you from bounty hunters but make you feel better. Change clothes, horse, and wear a bandana just like a robbery. This will prevent them from recognizing you. These were my three, chapter 2 blackwater mission tips. Rember the last tip will not help your character but make you feel more sneaky and alert.
Cry13aby says
thats cool
Steve Tails says
The game wants you to boat in to Javier. As you circle southeast around the river boundary to the region with a bounty, you will find a canoe. Take that in with no problem. I still had my horse when I needed it. I forget whether it was teleported to me or whether it remained within calling range but I think it was teleported to me.