Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 puts the player in the shoes of Flint Abrahams, a famous hunter who travels around the world in search of hunting challenges. The player spends much time exploring the wilderness looking for traces of prey. Because they can be hard to make out, a Hunter's Sense is included to reduce the world to grayscales and make animals stand out. The game however maintains an arcade approach and lets the player shoot everything in his way, without regard for a patient approach.
The gameplay involves quick action with timed levels in Career mode, set all around the world. Larger animals such as bear or lions trigger automatic Hand-to-Claw Combat modes to fend them off through key presses. Another option is Adrenaline mode, where time comes almost completely to a stop, making it easier to line up shots and get kills.
Different equipment becomes available to assist in the hunt, including options where animals don't need to be killed – they can be tranquilized instead.