I freeze as Mickey points toward a shimmer in the dark mine, and I know the valley has misplaced more than a dog. You can feel the urgency—Pluto’s collar is scattered across memories and errands, and every step matters. I stayed with the mission until the last photo was taken; now I’ll walk you through the parts that trip players up.
My desk was a mess of screenshots and post-its — How to complete The Moose Hunt quest in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You want Pluto back and you want the quest finished without circling the same objectives three times. I’ll move fast and keep it practical: prerequisites, Merlin’s spell, the Vitalys Mines search, and the final display that brings everyone together. Read this while you have the game open on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, or the Epic Games Store; I write with the game’s UI in mind so you can follow along in your Wardrobe and inventory.
How do I start The Moose Hunt quest?
Start by checking your friendship rewards and Mementos. The Moose Hunt triggers only after you complete a chain of friendship quests and memento-collecting tasks—this is the gate Mickey walks through before the search begins.
The first night I chased a single clue through three biomes — How to start The Moose Hunt quest in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Think of this as a checklist you must clear before the quest appears. If one item is missing, the mission won’t trigger after finishing A Curious Dish with Lady.
- Unlock Lady and Tramp and finish their initial storyline.
- Complete the quests The Spaghetti Incident, Life’s a Meatball, and A Curious Dish.
- Collect every required Memento: The Secret Journal, The Kaleidoscope, The Birthday Party Invitation, Nostalgic Instant Photos, New Comfort Bear (via the Special Plush Bear Sewing Machine), and Pluto’s Collar.
- Finish the The Memento questline.
If you’re missing any Mementos—many tied to friendship levels—focus on those villagers first. Pluto’s recruitment is the payoff for finishing a lot of small, personal stories.
What items does Merlin need for the spell?
Merlin asks for a mix of craft materials and the Mementos you’ve earned. You’ll probably already have what’s required; if not, check storage and your toolshed.
I found Merlin hunched over an odd machine — Talk to Merlin
When The Moose Hunt is active, find Merlin and speak with him about what you and Lady discovered. He connects the dots between your Mementos and the strange portal that appears next.
I dug through every chest on a rainy afternoon — Gather items for Merlin’s Memento spell
Merlin’s spell needs a small hoard of resources plus the story items you collected. Open your inventory and make sure these are ready:
- 10 Vitalys Crystals — Mine in Vitalys Mines.
- 15 Stone — Mineable from rock spots across biomes.
- Special Plush Bear Sewing Machine — Merlin gives this as the enchanted replacement for the New Comfort Bear after you finish Joy and Sadness’s Create A Bear quest (friendship level 10).
- The Secret Journal — Reward from Jasmine’s level 10 friendship quest, Wild, Wild Wishes.
- Kaleidoscope — From Alice’s level 10 friendship quest, Very Merry Unbirthday.
- Birthday Party Invitation — From Cogsworth and Lumiere’s A Guide to Better Castle-Keeping after Belle and Beast are in play.
- Nostalgic Instant Photos — From Cinderella’s level seven friendship quest, A Dream Come True.
- Pluto’s Collar — Reassembled during A Curious Dish.
I walked beneath a waterfall to reach a hidden shaft — Meet Merlin in the Vitalys Mines
The secret meeting point sits under the north waterfall in Sunlit Plateau. Give Merlin the items and prepare for the portal to appear somewhere inside the Vitalys Mines.
Where is Pluto found in the Vitalys Mines?
After Merlin casts the spell, follow Mickey into the mines. He’ll pause by a glowing blue portal; Pluto is trapped in front of it, tangled in vines. Talk with Mickey there to set up the next step.
I had to change my companion mid-quest — Equip Pluto as a Companion
After the dialogue, Pluto and the portal vanish but you’ll feel his presence nearby. Open your inventory, go to the Wardrobe page, pick the Merlin quest icon, and equip Pluto as a Companion. He’ll follow and interact with certain villagers like Mickey.
The whole valley gathered around a simple shelf — Place the Memento Display Shelf anywhere in the valley
Exit the mines and place the Memento Display Shelf in your village. The villagers who helped collect Mementos will assemble for a group photo; take a snapshot with them to move to the final conversation with Merlin. The shelf acts as a small monument to everything you completed.
Return to Merlin for the final chat and the quest will complete. Pluto is then available in your Wardrobe and as a tactile companion who reflects the friendships you built.
I treated the hunt like a dog-eared map and followed the landmarks; the pieces snapped together one after another, like a key jiggling in a lock. Which moment from the quest felt the most personal to you: the mementos, Merlin’s spell, or the final group photo?