Woods isn't a GPU vending machine like Interchange — it's a low-PvP scav-farm and boss-loot map. The roubles here come from three places: killing Shturman at the Sawmill for his guaranteed stash key and a graphics-card chance, running hidden stashes and Scav loot with almost no PvP, and clearing the ZB-014 bunker / USEC camp supply crates. Do it right and Woods is one of the safest consistent rouble maps in Escape from Tarkov 1.0.5 — exactly why it stays busy heading into the Season 1 "Kord Breach" launch.
Quick answer: The fastest money on Woods is a Shturman boss run at the Sawmill — he drops a guaranteed Sawmill (Shturman's stash) key, his signature SVDS, and has a chance to drop a graphics card. For low-risk income, run hidden stashes + Scav House + USEC camp as a Scav and extract through ZB-016 or Outskirts — roughly 100k–300k roubles a raid with minimal fights. Bring a cheap kit; Woods is a sniper map.
This guide covers the exact money routes, where Shturman spawns, which extracts to plan around, and how to stack Woods raids into a steady rouble engine. Every number is checked against the official Tarkov Wiki and `tarkov.dev` for the current 1.0.5 build — and yes, Tarkov is on the seasonal model now (no traditional wipe), so a strong Woods routine carries straight into your permanent character. For the cross-map picture, pair this with our best loot runs in Tarkov and how to make money fast guides.
Why is Woods good for making money?
Woods is large, open, and sniper-friendly — which scares off a lot of geared PMCs and leaves the loot for players who move smart. It rewards a slow, low-contact playstyle: you can fill a backpack from hidden stashes and Scav spawns without ever firing a shot, then walk to an extract. Three things make it a money map:
- A high-value boss with a fixed home. Shturman sits at the Sawmill almost every raid he spawns, so the boss loot is predictable — you always know where the payday is.
- Cheap, repeatable Scav runs. Woods has one of the calmest Scav experiences in the game; hidden stashes and loose loot stack up fast on a free Scav character.
- Supply-crate clusters. The ZB-014 bunker and USEC camp hold medical and ration crates that barter and sell well, with low PvP traffic.
The trade-off: Woods has no single mega-loot room like Interchange's tech stores or Reserve's marked rooms. Your roubles come from volume and the boss, not one jackpot container. If you want pure container-farm maps, see our Interchange money guide and Reserve map guide instead.
Where does Shturman spawn and what does he drop?
Shturman holds the Sawmill — the fenced lumber yard near the center of the map by the big lake. He patrols the timber sheds and the high ground around them with two guards armed with SVDS marksman rifles, and the squad fights at range, not up close.
As the official Tarkov Wiki describes his squad, they "prefer to keep their distance, as they are not suited for close quarters combat. They also like to take positions between hard cover, or camouflage themselves with the environment." Translation: don't run into the Sawmill swinging. Hold an angle from the tree line, drop the guards first (their SVDS hits hard), then push Shturman.
The loot that matters:
| Drop | Detail | Why you want it |
|---|---|---|
| Sawmill (Shturman's stash) key | Guaranteed off Shturman's body | Opens his cache of high-value loot |
| SVDS marksman rifle | His signature weapon | Sells / barters well |
| Graphics card | Chance drop | One of EFT's best money items |
| Loose loot + guard gear | 2× SVDS + kits | Stacks the haul |
His stash key can also spawn in the Sawmill itself — players report it on top of a tire next to a wood log pile — so even on a raid where he doesn't show, the key (and the stash) can still be yours. Shturman carries roughly 812 HP across his body parts (versus about 435 on a normal PMC), so bring penetrating ammo and don't expect a one-tap.
Spawn chance fluctuates. On a standard 1.0.5 patch Shturman sits around 25–35%, but BSG routinely boosts boss spawns during events (rates spiked far higher during the recent Woods event). Because spawn % shift patch-to-patch, re-check `tarkov.dev` before you commit a kit to a boss run. For the full roster — spawn rates, HP and tactics on every boss — see our Tarkov bosses guide.
Is the Shturman run worth it?
For a geared player, yes — the guaranteed stash key plus a GPU chance makes him one of the better rouble-per-minute bosses, and he's tied to a boss-hunting quest line. If you're not confident in the fight, a boss carry is the clean way to bank the key and loot without feeding a kit to a guard's SVDS.
What are the best low-risk loot runs on Woods?
If you'd rather not fight, Woods is built for the patient looter. These are the calm rouble routes:
- Hidden stash circuit (Scav or PMC). Woods is dotted with fixed hidden stashes — logs, tree stumps, and bushes that hold ammo, meds, and barter items. With a map that has stash callouts you can chain a dozen of them on one loop for 100k–250k roubles and almost zero PvP.
- Scav House & eastern structures. The cluster of small buildings in the east holds loose loot and crates — a fast, safe fill for a free Scav run.
- USEC camp. Tents and supply crates here spawn medical and ration items plus duffel bags — reliable barter-and-sell value.
- ZB-014 bunker. Northeast bunker with supply crates; the back room needs the ZB-014 key but rewards military loot. It doubles as an extract.
- Convoy / trucks. The vehicle line spawns loose loot and ammo boxes worth grabbing on the way past.
Run these as a Scav whenever you can — free kit, free loot, and you keep everything you extract with. Funnel the roubles into your hideout (the Bitcoin farm and Intelligence Center pay you back); our hideout upgrade order shows what to build first.
Which Woods extracts should you plan around?
Woods is big, so pick your loot route backwards from an extract. The ones worth knowing:
| Extract | Side / area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RUAF Roadblock | North | Common PMC extract, no requirement |
| UN Roadblock | North-west | Reliable, no requirement |
| ZB-016 | East | Open PMC extract |
| ZB-014 (Bunker) | Northeast | Loot room + extract (key for back room) |
| Outskirts | South-west | Near common spawns |
| Bridge (Car) | North | Vehicle extract, costs 3,000 roubles |
| Old Station | East | Situational |
Plan a stash loop that ends near ZB-016, Outskirts, or RUAF Roadblock so you're never carrying a full bag across the whole map. Always confirm the live list on your in-game map — extract availability rotates by spawn side and some are Scav-only.
How much money can you make per Woods raid?
Honest ranges for 1.0.5, assuming the flea market and seasonal economy at the time of writing (values move, so treat these as guidance, not gospel):
- Quiet Scav / stash run: ~100k–300k roubles, near-zero risk.
- Full PMC loot loop (no boss): ~200k–400k roubles depending on stash spawns and crates.
- Successful Shturman kill: the stash key + stash contents + SVDS, and on a GPU drop you're well past 500k for the raid.
Woods won't out-earn an Interchange tech sprint on a perfect run, but its money-per-risk is among the best in the game because you so rarely have to fight. Stack three or four calm Woods raids and you've out-banked one high-variance Labs run without the keycard cost. If you want the roubles now instead of grinding raids, you can buy Tarkov roubles at a safe rate and skip straight to the gear and hideout.
Skip the grind — Tarkov services that pay off:
- Tarkov Roubles — instant delivery — safe · best rate · fast
- Tarkov Quest & Kappa Boost — clear boss & task chains, skip the grind
- Tarkov Leveling Boost — power-level fast · secure
How to turn Woods into a rouble engine
The repeatable loop: Scav in for free loot → bank stashes and crates → extract early → re-run. When Shturman is up and you're geared, take the boss for the key and GPU chance. Keep your kit cheap (Woods kills you at range, not in your face), prioritize extracting over greed, and feed every haul into your hideout and flea trades. Do that and Woods becomes the steady, low-stress backbone of your economy — the map you run when you want roubles without the heart attacks of Streets or Labs. For the next map over, our Shoreline money guide and Customs map guide round out the rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Shturman spawn on Woods? Shturman holds the Sawmill — the fenced lumber yard near the center of the map next to the large lake. He and his two SVDS-armed guards patrol the timber sheds and the high ground around them. He doesn't roam far from the Sawmill, so that's where you set up.
What is the Shturman stash key and where do I get it? It's the Sawmill key (Shturman's stash key), which opens his loot cache. Shturman drops it guaranteed when killed, and it can also spawn in the Sawmill area itself — players commonly find it on top of a tire next to a wood log pile. The stash holds high-value loot, so the key is the main reason to fight him.
Is Woods good for low-level players or Scav runs? Yes. Woods is one of the calmest maps for Scav runs — you can loop hidden stashes, the eastern Scav House structures, and the USEC camp for 100k–300k roubles with almost no PvP. It's a great low-pressure way to build a starter stash without risking your own gear.
How much can I make per raid on Woods? A quiet Scav or stash run nets roughly 100k–300k roubles; a full PMC loot loop runs 200k–400k; and a successful Shturman kill (stash key, stash contents, SVDS, plus a graphics-card chance) can push the raid well past 500k. Values shift with the flea market and the current season's economy.
Does Tarkov still wipe before Season 1? No — Tarkov 1.0 moved to a seasonal model. Your permanent character does not reset; only the optional seasonal character resets when a season ends. Season 1 "Kord Breach" is expected in early July 2026, so the roubles and gear you farm on your main account now stay with you.
What's the safest extract for a loot run on Woods? Plan your route to end near ZB-016, Outskirts, or RUAF Roadblock — all are common, no-requirement PMC extracts close to looting routes. The Bridge (Car) extract costs 3,000 roubles but is fast. Always confirm what's live on your in-game map, since availability depends on your spawn side.
