You’re wandering through the dirt of Blaine County, maybe dodging a stray Cougar or just trying to lose a three-star wanted level, and then your phone pings. It’s an email from vanderlinde@eyefind.com. If you’re a Red Dead Redemption fan, that name hits like a freight train. If not, it’s just a weird black-and-white photo of a rock or a bridge. This is the start of the treasure hunt GTA 5 players have been obsessed with since the Doomsday Heist update dropped back in 2017.
It’s not just about the money. Honestly, the 250,000 GTA dollars is nice, but the real prize is the Double-Action Revolver. It’s gold. It’s flashy. It bridges the gap between the high-octane chaos of Los Santos and the dusty trails of the Old West.
Getting the Email and Starting the Hunt
The trigger is random. You just have to be in a GTA Online session. There isn't some secret button to press or a guy you need to talk to at a bar. You wait. Eventually, that email pops up with a grainy photo attached. This photo represents one of 20 possible locations scattered across the map.
Rockstar didn't make this easy. The locations range from the peaks of Mount Chiliad to the salty shores of the Alamo Sea. You’ll see a yellow circle on your mini-map, but that circle is huge. It covers a massive chunk of terrain. You’ve basically got to play detective. Listen for the sound of wind chimes. It’s a faint, metallic jingling that gets louder as you approach the clue.
Most people just fly a Buzzard or an Oppressor Mk II around until they hear the noise. It works. But if you're doing this on foot, prepare for a hike. The clue itself is always a small note pinned to an object—a tree, a rock, or even a piece of rusted machinery.
The 20 Possible Starting Spots
I’m not going to list them like a dry textbook. That’s boring. Just know that if your photo shows a bridge, check under the Underpass in the Tataviam Mountains. If it looks like a white cross, head to the graveyard by the Great Chaparral Church. Some spots are way more annoying than others. The Cassidy Creek location is notoriously frustrating because of the verticality. You’ll think you’re right on top of it, but the note is actually tucked into a tree trunk halfway down a cliffside.
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Once you find that first note, the game stops being random. It gives you three specific markers on your map. No more guessing.
The Three Clues: A Macabre Trail
After that first note, you’re looking for three specific items: a corpse, a bloody shovel, and an empty gun case. This is where the treasure hunt GTA 5 vibe gets a little dark. You aren't just looking for gold; you're following a trail of a deal gone wrong from decades ago.
The corpse is tucked away in a cave. You’ll find it in the Tongva Hills. It’s a bit eerie. The body is wearing old-timey clothes, a clear nod to the Van der Linde gang. Then there’s the shovel. It’s usually found in a wrecked house or a beach hut, often near Sandy Shores. It looks like it was used for a shallow grave, which adds to the mystery. Finally, the empty gun case. It’s sitting in the shade of a tree in the Grapeseed area.
Finding these three doesn't give you the gun immediately. Instead, it unlocks the final location. A new marker appears on the map, usually near the outskirts of the city or in the middle of the wilderness. This is where you find the chest.
Unlocking the Double-Action Revolver
The chest contains the Double-Action Revolver. It’s a beauty. High polish, ornate engravings. But wait. There’s a catch.
To actually keep the money and unlock the gun for use in Red Dead Redemption 2 (if you have a linked Rockstar Games Social Club account), you have to complete a challenge. You need 50 headshots.
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Don’t do this against other players. You’ll die. A lot. Instead, just go on a bit of a rampage against NPCs. The easiest way? Start a mission that doesn't have a time limit or a "wanted level" mechanic, like some of the Gerald missions. Or just head to the pier and start popping off. It sounds grim, but 50 headshots go by fast.
Once that 50th headshot registers, a notification pops up. $250,000 hits your Maze Bank account instantly. That’s the real "treasure." For a new player, that’s an Office or a high-end apartment. For a veteran, it’s a drop in the bucket, but the revolver itself is a fun novelty to keep in the weapon wheel.
Why People Still Struggle With This
Usually, it's the audio. If you play with music on high or game volume low, you’ll never find the clues. The wind chimes are your only real guide once you're inside the yellow circle.
Another issue is the Social Club sync. Back when this first launched, everyone was worried their progress wouldn't carry over to RDR2. Honestly, sometimes it doesn't. If you don't see the gold revolver in your RDR2 inventory after doing the challenge in GTA, check your Social Club settings. Make sure both games are tied to the same email. It’s a common headache.
Also, some players get glitched out where the email never sends. If that happens, try switching sessions or completing a quick job. The game needs a "refresh" sometimes to trigger the vanderlinde script.
Dealing with the "Cassidy Creek" Headache
If your first photo is Cassidy Creek, my condolences. It’s the hardest one. The clue is on a tree, but there are about five billion trees in that canyon. Look for the bridge. The tree you want is on the north side of the river, up on a ridge that overlooks the water. If you find yourself swimming, you've gone too far down.
The Actual Value of the Hunt
Is it worth it in 2026? Yeah, probably. GTA Online has moved on to multi-million dollar heists and flying cars, but the treasure hunt GTA 5 remains a rite of passage. It’s one of the few things in the game that feels like actual world-building rather than just a grind for cash.
It also connects the "Rockstar Universe" in a way that’s subtle. You aren't seeing Arthur Morgan fly a jet, but you are holding a piece of his world.
Moving Forward With Your Loot
Once you have the cash and the gun, don't just let the money sit there. If you're a newer player, use that $250k to invest in a CEO Office. It’s the gateway to the rest of the game's businesses. If you already have everything, well, the revolver looks great in a gun locker.
If you're looking for more, remember that this wasn't the only hunt Rockstar added. There's also the Navy Revolver hunt (the Los Santos Slasher) and the Bounty Hunting missions for Maude. Each of these follows a similar "find the clue" format and pays out decent money.
To make the most of your hunt, follow these steps:
- Check your email regularly until the vanderlinde message appears.
- Turn up your SFX volume so you can hear the chimes.
- Use a helicopter to scout the yellow circles quickly.
- Farm NPCs for headshots in a low-risk environment to trigger the $250k payout.
- Link your Social Club account before you finish to ensure the RDR2 cross-unlock works.
The hunt is a bit of a grind, but it’s a one-time thing that provides a solid boost to your bank account and a legendary piece of hardware for your collection. Just watch out for the griefers while you're standing still reading notes in the desert.