OSRS Hunter Guide 1-99

Build a high-confidence Hunter training plan

Updated August 2026

Hunter works best when you choose a lane first: passive birdhouses, active rumours, or profit-focused herbiboar. Pick your route, maintain cadence, and re-plan only at key level breakpoints.

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17 sections

What Is Your Best Hunter Method Right Now?

Choose your route based on active time, click tolerance, and account goals. Commit to one lane through your next milestone instead of constantly switching methods.

Choose Your Planning Track

Passive MainBirdhouse RunsHighest XP per minute played with minimal active session time.Low
Active XPHunters RumoursStrong sustained XP with variety once contract and blocklist setup is done.Low to Medium
Fast GrindBlack SalamandersHighest active low-level to mid-level pace, but click and risk heavy.Low
Profit RouteHerbiboarBalanced late-game XP with consistent GP return for mains and low pressure play.Low

Build My Hunter Plan Start with prebuilt routes

Method Comparison Arena

Compare speed, effort, and risk so your chosen route matches how you actually play.

High-Confidence Training Routes

Route 1Time-Efficient RouteMuseum skip -> birdhouses daily -> rumours at 72+Outcome: 99 with low active time

Route 2Active XP RouteEarly birdhouses -> salamander bridge -> rumours coreOutcome: Fast active progression

Route 3Profit RouteBirdhouses baseline -> herbiboar focus at 80+Outcome: XP + GP growth

Route 4F2P RouteLow-level box traps with strict unlock targetsOutcome: Budget account progression

Milestones That Matter

9: Quest skip and setup complete.
59: Yew birdhouses increase passive returns.
72: Rumours route powers up active sessions.
80: Herbiboar opens high-value training.
99: Final Hunter completion goal.

Execution Checklist

Choose passive, active, or profit lane first.
Protect birdhouse run consistency in your schedule.
Set level checkpoints before changing methods.
Re-plan at 72 and 80.

📈 Training Progression 1-99

Every viable Hunter method from level 1 to 99, ranked by efficiency and accessibility. Choose methods that match your playstyle - passive birdhouses, active grinding, or profitable hunting.

Method	Levels	XP/hr	Notes
Natural History Quiz	1-9	Free (instant)	Varrock Museum; skip early levels entirely
Bird House Trapping	9-44/80/99	15-25k/hr	Passive; run every 50 min; pairs with any other skill
Feldip Weasels	9-15	13k/hr	Tracking; Feldip Hills
Ruby Harvests	15-25	20k/hr	Bird snaring; Feldip Hills
Sapphire Glacialis	25-39	28.5k/hr	Butterfly netting; Rellekka
Embertailed Jerboas	39-43	50k/hr	Box trapping; desert area
Falconry	43-49	60-70k/hr	+100-200k GP/hr profit; Piscatoris
Razor-backed Kebbits	49-73	130k/hr	Tracking; fast XP bridge to endgame
Drift Net Fishing	44-99	60-165k/hr	Requires 47 Fishing; trains both skills
Hunters' Rumours	72/91-99	235k/hr	Guild tasks; best active XP with blocklist
Black Chinchompas	73-99	265k/hr	+2M-3M GP/hr; Wilderness risk (PKers)
Herbiboar	80-99	80-120k/hr	+300-500k GP/hr; requires 31 Herblore
Stymphike Hunter	76-99	120-130k/hr	Vampyrium (Blood Moon Rises). Stage 1: Letvek bait (76). Stage 2: Spear Stymphikes (82). ~120k XP/hr at 82, ~130k at 97. ~170–330 Stymphike feathers/hr. Active spear = full XP; hide for auto-spear = relaxed.

🔓 Hunter Unlocks by Level

Hunter techniques unlock progressively. Knowing what unlocks when helps you plan efficient training segments and avoid wasting time on under-leveled methods.

Level	Unlock	Description
1	Bird Snaring	Catch crimson swifts and other low-level birds
10	Box Trapping	Catch ferrets and chinchompas; 1 trap active
20	Net Trapping	Catch salamanders; now 2 active traps
27	Falconry	Hunt kebbits with a rented falcon at Piscatoris
29	Tracking	Track kebbits and herbiboar via trails
31	Deadfall Trapping	Set log traps for large prey
53	Pitfall Trapping	Catch horned graahks and other pitfall creatures
63	Red Chinchompas	Best mid-game profit hunter; Feldip Hills
80	Herbiboar	High-profit tracking on Fossil Island; 31 Herblore required
76	Letvek Baiting	Vampyrium (Blood Moon Rises). Box-trap Letvek for Stymphike bait. Stage 1 of Stymphike Hunter.
82	Stymphike Spearing	Vampyrium. Use Letvek bait to lure and spear Stymphikes. Active spear = higher XP; hidden auto-attempt = relaxed. Stymphike Feathers for Venator kills.
87	Black Chinchompas	Highest XP and profit; Wilderness only (PKer risk)

📜 Quest Requirements

Several quests unlock essential Hunter areas and creatures. Complete these early to avoid being locked out of key training methods.

Bone Voyage

Unlocks Fossil Island - required for bird houses, drift net fishing, and herbiboar. The single most important Hunter quest.

Eagles' Peak

Unlocks box trapping for chinchompas (red at 63, black at 87). Essential for both profit and endgame ranged ammo.

Priest in Peril

Grants access to Morytania, including Canifis swamp for lizard net trapping and the Feldip Hills route.

Jungle Potion

Unlocks Karamja Hunter areas with additional creature variety for mid-level training.

Children of the Sun

Grants access to desert Hunter areas, including embertailed jerboas and orange salamanders.

🎯 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 9-49: Deadfall Traps

Deadfall traps got a major buff in August 2026: two traps from level 1 (Maniacal Monkeys excluded), 75% log preservation, and catches in 8 ticks instead of 15. This is now the clear early-game path. Optionally add birdhouse runs for nest profit.

Levels 49-72: Razor-backed Kebbits

With a noose wand, Ring of Pursuit, and stamina potions, razor-backed kebbits reach up to 130-140K XP/hr - the strongest mid-game method and no longer outclassed by birdhouses.

Levels 72-99: Hunters Rumours (or Black Chins)

Expert Hunters Rumours with a blocklist give 160K XP/hr at 72, up to 250K at 99. Black chinchompas (73+) reach 145-225K XP/hr solo but with Wilderness PKer risk. Mix in Herbiboar for profit!

💡

Why This Path is Best

The August 2026 birdhouse nerf (15-60% XP cut, ~50% nest buff) made active Hunter the only real training route. The silver lining: deadfalls, falconry, kebbits, and aerial fishing all got buffed in the same update, so every stage of the path above is stronger than it was before. Birdhouses remain worth doing for nest money alongside it.

🐦 Passive Birdhouse Training

What are Birdhouses?

Birdhouses are a passive Hunter money method. Install 4 birdhouses, add seeds, then return 50 minutes later to collect nests. They fill up even while you're offline. After the August 2026 update their XP was cut by 15-60%, but nest output rose ~50% - so they're worth doing for profit, not training.

Requirements: Fossil Island access (Bone Voyage quest)

XP per run (post-nerf): 179 - 4,800 XP depending on birdhouse type

Nest buff (Aug 2026): ~50% more nests, less variance between runs

Time per run: 1 minute maximum

Growth time: 50 minutes

Birdhouse Types & XP (August 2026 Rates)

Level	Birdhouse	XP per Run	Change
5	Regular	179	-60%
14	Oak	269	-60%
24	Willow	358	-60%
34	Teak	448	-60%
44	Maple	664	-55%
49	Mahogany	960	-50%
59	Yew	1,469	-40%
74	Magic	3,295	-15%
89	Redwood	4,800	Unchanged

💰 Nests are the real reward now: roughly 50% more nests per run (seed, ring, and egg nests), still worth 10-50K GP per run at current prices. Full analysis in our Birdhouse Nerf post.

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!

💰 Most Profitable Hunter Items

Hunter offers strong profit at nearly every level range. Below are the highest GP/hr methods - choose based on your risk tolerance and current level.

Item	Level	GP/hr	XP/hr	Risk
Black Chinchompas	73	1.5M-3M/hr	150-300k/hr	High (Wilderness PKers)
Red Chinchompas	63	800k-1.5M/hr	120-200k/hr	None
Herbiboar	80	500k-1M/hr	80-120k/hr	None
Falconry	43	300k-600k/hr	50-80k/hr	None
Bird Houses	5	100k-300k/hr	20-40k/hr	None
Drift Net Fishing	44	200k-400k/hr	30-50k/hr	None

🆓 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

📊Open Hunter Calculator

🎯 Pro Hunter Tips

Eight proven tactics that experienced hunters use to maximize XP, profit, and efficiency.

1. Bird Houses Are Essential

Run bird houses every 50 minutes for passive XP that adds up to millions over time with virtually no active effort.

2. Chinchompas Are King for Profit

Black chinchompas at 73+ dominate profit charts. Red chinchompas at 63+ offer strong, safe money for mid-levels.

3. Hunters' Rumours for Speed

At 72+ with a proper blocklist, rumours outperform every other active method - up to 240k XP/hr at 91+.

4. Herbiboar Synergy with Herblore

Herbiboar drops herbs that directly fuel Herblore training. Train both skills simultaneously for maximum account efficiency.

5. Use Multiple Traps at Once

Every 20 levels adds another active trap. At 80 Hunter you control 5 traps - always maximize your active traps for best rates.

6. Falconry Focus on Kebbits

Dark and dashing kebbits assigned in rumours give excellent XP. Never block falconry tasks - they're among the fastest completions.

7. Bank Presets for Quick Setup

Save gear presets for each method: birdhouse runs, salamander nets+ropes, and chinchompa box traps. Swapping methods takes seconds.

8. Tick Manipulation with Black Chins

Advanced players can 1-tick reset box traps for faster chinchompa catches, pushing XP rates even higher at the cost of intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

01What's the fastest way to train Hunter?

Actively: Hunters Rumours at 72+ with a blocklist (160K XP/hr at 72, up to 250K at 99), or black chinchompas at 73+ (145-225K XP/hr solo) if you accept Wilderness risk. Mid-game: razor-backed kebbits at 49+ reach 130K XP/hr. Birdhouses are no longer an XP method after the August 2026 nerf - they're a nest-money run now.

02Are birdhouses really worth it?

Yes, but for money, not XP. The August 2026 update cut birdhouse XP by 15-60% while buffing nest output by ~50%, so they're now a passive profit run (nests still sell well) rather than a training method. For Hunter XP, active methods like deadfall traps, kebbits, and Hunters Rumours are faster.

03What 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!

04Can 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.

05How 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). Exception: deadfall traps now allow 2 traps from level 1 (Maniacal Monkeys keep a 1-trap limit).

06What should I do at level 1 Hunter?

Complete the Varrock Museum Quiz to skip straight to level 9 Hunter (and 9 Slayer). Then use deadfall traps - you can place two from level 1 since the August 2026 buff, with faster catches and 75% log preservation. Birdhouses are optional for nest profit, not XP.

07How long does 99 Hunter take now that birdhouses were nerfed?

Birdhouses are no longer a viable training path after the August 2026 XP nerf, so the old "do birdhouses passively to 72" plan is gone. Instead: deadfalls and kebbits take you to ~49, razor-backed kebbits (130K XP/hr) to 72, then Hunters Rumours (160-250K XP/hr) or black chins to 99. Total active time to 99 is roughly 60-90 hours with the best methods.

08What's the most profitable Hunter method?

Black chinchompas at 73+ Hunter offer the highest profit at 1.5M-3M GP/hr, but come with Wilderness PKer risk. For safer profit, Herbiboar at 80+ yields 500K-1M GP/hr with no risk and supplies herbs for Herblore training. Red chinchompas (63+) are a strong mid-level option at 800K-1.5M GP/hr with zero risk.

09What is Stymphike Hunter?

New in June 2026 with The Blood Moon Rises quest. It's a two-stage Hunter activity in Vampyrium: capture Letvek bait at 76 Hunter, then use it to lure and spear Stymphikes at 82 Hunter. Can be played actively (higher XP) or passively (auto-attempt from hiding). Also yields Stymphike Feathers exchangeable for off-task Venator Slayer kills.

📚 Related Guides

🧪

Herblore Guide

Use herbs from Herbiboar to train Herblore efficiently

⚔️

Slayer Guide

Similar task-based progression with Slayer training

🧮

Hunter Calculator

Calculate XP needed and plan your Hunter training path

Ready to Master Hunter?

Use our tools to track your birdhouse runs and calculate your path to 99 Hunter!

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Darren

Darren started playing the original RuneScape 2 back in the day and came back when Old School RuneScape launched. He's played on and off over the years and built OSRSToolkit to give players a single place to find reliable tools, calculators, and guides — all informed by real in-game experience.