The 99 Nights in the Forest Deer Quest flips the game’s entire dynamic on its head. The creature that has spent months hunting players around the map is suddenly the one who needs help, and this guide walks you through exactly how to save it, step by step, without wasting trips back to camp.
What Triggers the Deer Is Hurt Quest?
This storyline arrived with the Deer is Hurt update, and it kicks off automatically the moment you load into the game while the update is active. You will see an opening cutscene showing the Deer, previously unkillable and one of the most feared entities in the forest, getting attacked by a mysterious winged creature with purple fur.
The attack is severe enough to injure something that no player weapon has ever been able to damage, which immediately raises the stakes on this 99 Nights in the Forest deer mission.
Once the cutscene ends, you do not need to do anything special to begin the quest. It starts the second you gain control of your character again.
Where to Find the Injured Deer
After the cutscene, head east from your starting campfire. You will come across a small forest clearing where the Deer is lying on a visibly damaged patch of ground, unable to move. The scene is hard to miss once you get close: one antler is completely missing, the other is cracked, and one of its legs is broken.
A few players have also reported finding the Deer nearby after upgrading their campfire to level 2, so if you do not spot it right away heading east, try progressing your base slightly and checking the area again. Since server layouts can shift a little between playthroughs, exact distance may vary, but the general direction and appearance of the location stays consistent.
What You Need Before Starting the Deer Quest
This 99 Nights in the Forest Deer Quest is resource heavy, and running back to camp mid rescue is both annoying and risky. It is worth gathering everything in advance so you can complete the whole sequence in one trip.
Here is what you should bring:
- At least one to two Bandages, used to repair the Deer’s damaged antler
- A Medkit, used to fix the Deer’s broken leg
- A solid supply of meat, roughly 10 to 25 pieces depending on your playthrough
- A reliable weapon, in case wolves or owls interrupt you mid rescue
- Purple Fur, which can be found near the Deer itself or scattered outside the nearby cave
If you are playing in the Medic or Supporter class, gathering bandages should be fairly easy. Otherwise, you can find them by fishing, searching the Clinic, checking structures around the map, or crafting them at the Tool Workshop.
Step by Step: How to Save the Deer in 99 Nights in the Forest
Once you have your supplies and have located the Deer, follow these steps in order.
| Step | Action | Item Needed |
| 1 | Repair antler and leg | Bandage and Medkit |
| 2 | Feed the Deer | 10 to 25 pieces of meat |
| 3 | Hand over tracking item | Purple Fur Tuft |
| 4 | Follow the Deer | None |
| 5 | Watch the cave confrontation | None |
| 6 | Claim your reward | None |
Step 1: Repair the Antler and Leg
The Deer has two major injuries that need to be treated before anything else can happen. Use a Bandage to repair the damaged antler, and use a Medkit to fix the broken leg. If you are playing in a party rather than solo, you may need two bandages instead of one, since the healing requirement can scale slightly with group size.
Step 2: Feed the Deer
Once the physical injuries are patched up, the Deer still needs to recover its strength. This is where meat comes in. Feed the Deer meat gradually, since each piece only heals it a small amount. Most playthroughs require somewhere between 10 and 25 pieces total, so it genuinely pays off to stockpile meat before you start. You can gather meat by hunting animals around the forest, including rabbits and wolves.
Step 3: Hand Over the Purple Fur Tuft
Once the Deer is fully healed, the final and most important step is giving it the Purple Fur Tuft. This item allows the Deer to begin tracking down whatever attacked it. You can find Purple Fur near the Deer’s original location, as well as scattered outside a nearby hidden cave. As a small bonus, this item can also be used as campfire fuel if you happen to gather extra.
Step 4: Follow the Deer to the Cave
After receiving the Purple Fur Tuft, the Deer will get up and start moving, leading you deeper into the forest toward a hidden underground cave. Stay close during this section, since this is where the quest’s climax takes place.
Step 5: Watch the Final Confrontation
Once you reach the cave, a cutscene triggers showing the winged attacker emerging from the darkness. The Deer enters an aggressive state, described by players as glowing red eyes, and engages the creature in a short battle. After the fight ends in the Deer’s favor, you gain access to the cave.
Step 6: Claim Your Reward
Inside the cave, a special reward chest becomes available, marking the completion of the entire deer quest 99 nights in the forest storyline.
Should You Actually Save the Deer?
Given the Deer spent months as one of the scariest threats in the game, it is a fair question. The answer is yes, and it is genuinely worth the effort. Once saved, the Deer becomes a permanent ally that appears at your campfire during cultist raids, charging directly into battle and killing hostile cultists before they reach you.
It also tends to scare off other threats simply by being nearby, which makes nighttime survival noticeably easier. This is also the only point in the game where the Deer willingly steps into firelight and fights on your side rather than against you.
Tips to Make the Deer Quest Easier
- Try completing the quest during the day rather than at night, since owls, wolves, and other hostile wildlife become more dangerous after dark
- Gather all your supplies before approaching the Deer so you are not forced to backtrack mid rescue
- Bring strong or bright weapons if you are worried about being surrounded by wolves during the meat feeding phase
- Stay close to the Deer once it starts moving toward the cave, since falling behind can cause you to miss the final cutscene
- If you are struggling to survive the nights in general while gathering supplies, consider checking the carnival for tickets that can unlock special items from the Haunted maze
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. How do I start the Deer Quest in 99 Nights in the Forest?
A. It starts automatically once the Deer is Hurt update is active. A cutscene plays the moment you load into the game, showing the Deer being attacked.
Q. Where is the injured Deer located?
A. Head east from your starting campfire. You will find it lying in a small clearing on a visibly damaged patch of ground.
Q. How much meat do I need to heal the Deer?
A. Typically between 10 and 25 pieces, since each piece only restores a small amount of health.
Q. What does the Purple Fur Tuft do?
A. It allows the Deer to track down the winged creature that attacked it, leading you to a hidden cave for the quest’s final battle and reward.
Q. Is it worth saving the Deer?
A. Yes. Once saved, the Deer becomes a powerful ally that defends your campfire during cultist raids and helps scare off other threats at night.
Q. Can the Deer Quest be completed solo?
A. Yes, though playing in a party may slightly increase the number of bandages or resources needed compared to a solo playthrough.
