Hunter Guide 1-99
Birdhouses, Herbiboar & Hunters Rumours
Hunter is the ultimate passive skill - train it with 1-minute birdhouse runs twice daily, or go active with Hunters Rumours for up to 240K XP/hr. This guide covers everything from birdhouses to herbiboar profit methods!
📋 Table of Contents
🎯 Recommended Hunter Path
The Ideal Hunter Journey
Levels 1-9: Varrock Museum Quiz
Complete the museum quiz to skip to level 9 Hunter instantly (also gives 9 Slayer)!
Levels 9-72: Birdhouses (Passive)
Do 2 birdhouse runs per day (morning & evening). Each run takes 1 minute. Reach 72 in ~4 months with minimal effort!
Levels 72-99: Birdhouses + Hunters Rumours
Continue birdhouses + do Expert Hunters Rumours for fast XP (up to 240K XP/hr at 91+). Mix in Herbiboar for profit!
Why This Path is Best
Birdhouses are the most time-efficient way to train Hunter. You're not grinding for hours - just checking in twice a day for 1 minute each. Meanwhile, train other skills! At 72, Hunters Rumours adds variety and fast XP when you want to actively train.
🐦 Passive Birdhouse Training
What are Birdhouses?
Birdhouses allow you to train Hunter completely passively. Install 4 birdhouses, add seeds, then return 50 minutes later to collect XP. You don't even need to be online - they fill up while you're offline!
Requirements: Fossil Island access (Bone Voyage quest)
XP per run: 1,120 - 4,800 XP depending on birdhouse type
Time per run: 1 minute maximum
Growth time: 50 minutes
Birdhouse Types & XP
| Level | Birdhouse | XP per Run | Crafting Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Regular | 1,120 | 5 |
| 14 | Oak | 1,680 | 15 |
| 24 | Willow | 2,240 | 25 |
| 34 | Teak | 2,800 | 35 |
| 44 | Maple | 3,360 | 45 |
| 49 | Mahogany | 3,920 | 50 |
| 59 | Yew | 4,480 | 60 |
💰 Bonus: You also get bird nests containing seeds and rings worth 10-50K GP per run!
How to Do Birdhouse Runs
Step 1: Craft 4 birdhouses + bring 40 seeds (any seeds work - use cheap ones)
Step 2: Teleport to Fossil Island (Digsite Pendant)
Step 3: Visit all 4 birdhouse spots using mushroom transportation (takes ~1 minute)
Step 4: Dismantle old birdhouses, place new ones, add 10 seeds to each
Step 5: Return in 50 minutes for XP!
💡 Use Runelite's "Time Tracking" plugin to know exactly when birdhouses are ready!
🎯 Hunters Rumours (Varlamore Update)
What are Hunters Rumours?
Hunters Rumours are like Slayer tasks for Hunter! Talk to a hunter master in the Hunters Guild (Varlamore), get assigned a creature to hunt, find the rare variant, return for XP and rewards.
Requirements: Level 1 Hunter (but 72+ recommended for Expert contracts)
Time per rumour: ~8 minutes average
XP rates at 91+: Up to 240K XP/hr with proper blocklist
Rewards: Hunter XP, Hunter marks (buy items from shop)
Contract Tiers
Novice Rumours (Level 1+)
Basic creatures, lower XP rates. Good for starting out.
Adept Rumours (Level 40+)
Mid-level creatures, better XP rates.
Expert Rumours (Level 72+) ⭐
Best XP rates! Includes falconry kebbits (fast tasks). Set up a blocklist for optimal XP.
Blocklists are Important!
At Expert tier, set up a blocklist by using other hunter masters to "hold" bad tasks. This prevents your main master from assigning slow creatures. With a proper blocklist, XP rates jump from ~150K to ~240K per hour at 91+!
⚡ Fastest Active Training Methods
Levels 1-9: Varrock Museum Quiz
Complete the Museum Quiz in Varrock Museum to instantly reach level 9 Hunter (and 9 Slayer). Takes only a few minutes!
Levels 9-29: Feldip Weasels + Tropical Wagtails
Location: Feldip Hills (near red chinchompa caves)
Requirements: Noose wand (equip), Ring of Pursuit (10 charges per ring, 2K GP each)
Method: Track weasels using Ring of Pursuit (reveals path), attack bush at trail end
At level 20: Add 2 bird snares for Tropical Wagtails nearby
XP Rate: 14K XP/hr
Time: ~1 hour
Levels 29-47: Swamp Lizards
Location: Canifis (requires Priest in Peril quest)
Equipment: 3 ropes + 3 small fishing nets (for net traps)
Method: Set up net traps on small dead trees, catch swamp lizards
Traps: 2 at level 29, 3 at level 40
XP Rate: 60K XP/hr
Lizards needed: 253 to reach 47
Levels 47-60: Orange Salamanders
Location: Uzer Hunter Area (Fairy ring D-L-Q)
Equipment: 3 ropes + 3 nets, waterskins, desert clothing
Traps: 3 net traps
XP Rate: 70K XP/hr
Time: ~2.5 hours
Levels 60-70: Red Salamanders
Location: BEHIND ZMI altar (not in front!) in the Ourania Cave
Equipment: 4 ropes + 4 nets
Important: The spot behind ZMI altar is MUCH better than the front spot!
XP Rate: 110K XP/hr (at good spot)
Time: ~4 hours
Levels 70-99: Black Salamanders (Wilderness)
Location: Wilderness, east of Ferox Enclave
Equipment: 5 ropes + 5 nets (6 traps at 80 Hunter in Wilderness)
Risk: Low - only lose some nets/ropes if killed
PKers: Rare, and usually leave you alone since you're not risking anything
XP Rate: 140K XP/hr (160K at 80+ with 6 traps)
Slightly slower than black chins but more chill and no PKers
Alternative: Falconry Kebbits (43-72)
Hunt kebbits at Piscatoris Falconry area using a rented falcon (500 GP). Very click-intensive but good XP (78K XP/hr).
Dark and Dashing Kebbits are frequently assigned in Hunters Rumours and give great XP - never block these tasks!
🌿 Herbiboar (Profit Method)
Overview
At 80 Hunter (or 77 with hunter potion), Herbiboar is excellent for both XP and profit. Mains make ~500K GP/hr while ironmen collect ~20K herblore XP worth of herbs per hour!
Location: Fossil Island (Mushroom Meadow via mush tree)
XP Rate: 130-150K XP/hr depending on level
Profit: 500K GP/hr for mains, 20K herb XP/hr for ironmen
Method: Track herbiboar through trails, harvest for herbs at the end
Recommended Gear
• Magic Secateurs: +1 extra herb per harvest (increases profit)
• Graceful Outfit: Run energy restoration
• Stamina Potions: Essential - you'll be running constantly
• Herb Sack: Saves inventory space (optional but helpful)
How to Track Herbiboar
1. Turn on the "Herbiboar" Runelite plugin
2. Inspect the first highlighted object (blue = start)
3. Follow white-highlighted trails to next object
4. Repeat until you reach the tunnel (green highlight)
5. Attack tunnel and harvest the Herbiboar
Track 60+ herbiboars per hour with graceful + staminas!
🆓 F2P Hunter Guide
Hunter is Members-Only
Hunter is a members-only skill in OSRS. Free-to-play accounts cannot train Hunter or access any Hunter content.
Why Get Membership for Hunter?
- •Most Passive Skill: Train with 1-minute birdhouse runs twice daily while training other skills
- •Profit Potential: Herbiboar at 80+ Hunter offers 500K+ GP/hr while training
- •Fast Active Training: Hunters Rumours at 72+ offers up to 240K XP/hr
- •Chinchompa Hunting: Essential for end-game PvM supplies and profit from black chinchompas
🧮 Hunter Calculator
Track Your Progress
Calculate XP needed for your Hunter goals
Plan Training Methods
See exactly how many birdhouse runs or hours needed
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to train Hunter?
Passively: Birdhouses (1 minute per run, every 50 minutes). Actively: Hunters Rumours at 72+ with blocklist (240K XP/hr at 91+). For pure grinding: Black salamanders in Wilderness (140-160K XP/hr).
Are birdhouses really worth it?
Absolutely! Birdhouses are the most time-efficient Hunter training method. Each run takes 1 minute and gives 4,480 XP (yew birdhouses at 59+). Doing 8 runs per day = 36K XP for 8 minutes of work. That's faster XP/time than any active method!
What are Hunters Rumours and should I do them?
Hunters Rumours are like Slayer tasks for Hunter (added with Varlamore). At 72+ Hunter with Expert contracts and a blocklist, they offer up to 240K XP/hr - making them the best active training method. They're more engaging than grinding salamanders!
Can I make money training Hunter?
Yes! Herbiboar at 80+ Hunter gives ~500K GP/hr for mains (130-150K XP/hr). Black chinchompas in Wilderness are profitable but risky due to PKers. Birdhouses also give bird nests worth 10-50K per run as a bonus.
How many traps can I place at once?
You unlock +1 trap every 20 levels. Level 1: 1 trap. Level 20: 2 traps. Level 40: 3 traps. Level 60: 4 traps. Level 80: 5 traps. In the Wilderness, you get +1 extra trap (6 traps at 80 Hunter).
What should I do at level 1 Hunter?
Complete the Varrock Museum Quiz to skip straight to level 9 Hunter (and 9 Slayer). Then start doing birdhouse runs twice daily. This is the most efficient path for low-level Hunter training.
How long does 99 Hunter take with birdhouses?
Doing 2 birdhouse runs per day: ~4 months to reach 72 Hunter. Doing 8 runs per day: ~1 month to 72. From 72-99 with birdhouses + Hunters Rumours: 2-3 more months depending on activity. Total "work time": less than 30 hours!
📚 Related Guides
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