Route answer
Required item chain: Military preparation plus the separate Scientist whale chain. Target: Mutated Bowhead Whale final encounter. Finish the hand-in to reach Final military hand-in / ending check.
Step-by-step route
- Accept and complete the active Military Officer objective, returning when the dialogue updates.
- Restock a strong firearm and a deep ammunition reserve before the late encounters.
- Continue the separate Scientist route to obtain the Fish Bucket / Whale Bait; the military objective does not replace that chain.
- Defeat Bowhead Whale and preserve its body instead of selling or abandoning it.
- Use the preserved body for the final mutated-whale route, then confirm the Deadliest Catch hand-in or achievement check.
Do not lose the hand-in
Physics piles, the sale counter and co-op inventory confusion can all destroy a clean quest run. Name one item carrier, store important bodies away from ordinary fish, and use Save/Main Menu/Quit after a confirmed hand-in.
Verification note: Community sources disagree on a few lure and trophy names. This page uses paired terms rather than pretending one unverified label is official.