Mastering AFK Hunter Methods in OSRS: From Birdhouses to Rainbow Crabs
For Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players looking to efficiently train Hunter while generating passive income, there’s a series of AFK (away-from-keyboard) methods that scale beautifully from early to late levels. Starting after the completion of the Bone Voyage quest at level 50 Hunter, players gain access to Fossil Island’s birdhouse trapping system, a method widely regarded as one of the most consistent XP and money-makers in the game, and a reliable way to supplement your gameplay if you choose to buy OSRS gold.
Birdhouse Trapping on Fossil Island
Birdhouse trapping is an excellent early-to-mid Hunter method. To begin, players need four birdhouses suited to their Hunter level and ten low-level herb, allotment, or hop seeds per birdhouse. The fastest route is to teleport to Fossil Island using the Dig Site pendant, then navigate via the Mushroom transportation network. The first location is Verden Valley, home to two birdhouse spots. Each run takes approximately two minutes, and the cooldown between runs is 50 minutes, allowing for up to 12–16 runs per day if executed consistently.
Experience gains vary with birdhouse level: at level 5, each birdhouse grants 280 XP for a total of 1,120 XP per run, whereas at level 90, each gives 1,200 XP, totaling 4,800 XP per run. Beyond XP, birdhouses occasionally yield bird nests containing seeds, eggs, rings, or clue scrolls-these nests are the source of significant profit. Interestingly, Jagex estimates that 75% of all Hunter XP comes from birdhouse trapping, highlighting its effectiveness.
Pirate Foxes: Level 57 Hunter
Once you reach level 57 Hunter, deadfall traps become available for catching pirate foxes. The fastest approach is teleporting with a fairy ring code (AJP) and running southwest to locate the traps. While each trap allows only one setup, the method is highly AFK-friendly: simply check the trap and reset it every 30 seconds. Essential gear includes a costume needle or thread for high-alk, an axe for chopping logs, and a knife. Wearing Candron Headgear tier two or higher doubles log yield, significantly reducing downtime. Each successful capture awards 222 XP along with fur, meat, and bones. Four furs can be combined into a small meat pouch and high-alked for roughly 1,800 GP, making each fox worth about 450 GP. Though slower than birdhouses-roughly 20,000 XP and 40,000 GP per hour-this method remains convenient for semi-AFK play.
Maniacal Monkeys: Level 60 Hunter
By level 60, players who have completed Monkey Madness II can catch maniacal monkeys. Required items include a knife, nature runes (or tabs), a mud staff for Bones to Bananas, and the Crocodile Grigree. Using a glider from the Duel Arena and the monkey bars, players navigate to the patrol area. Like pirate foxes, only one trap can be set at a time, but each catch awards 1,000 XP. XP scales with level: level 60 nets 60,000 XP/hour, level 70 yields 70,000 XP/hour, and levels 90–99 provide 100,000–120,000 XP/hour. Occasionally, a rare monkey tail may drop, currently valued around 750,000 GP on the Grand Exchange. Monkey tails also provide passive crafting XP when cut with a knife.
Rainbow Crabs: Level 77 Hunter
At level 77, players can target rainbow crabs on Crown Jewel Island, a method introduced with Sailing. Traps require 64 Sailing and 10 Construction to set up, and bait comes from fine fish offcuts, obtainable from raw high-level fish or the Grand Exchange. Five traps are needed per island setup, and they catch roughly 700 crabs per hour. Inventory management can be enhanced by turning caught crabs into stackable crab paste using a pestle and mortar. With crabs valued around 2,000 GP each, this method generates over 1.3 million GP/hour, in addition to steady Hunter XP.
Conclusion
By following this progression-birdhouses at Fossil Island, pirate foxes, maniacal monkeys, and finally rainbow crabs-players can efficiently AFK train Hunter from level 50 to 99 while earning substantial income. These methods are highly scalable, require minimal click-intensive attention, and reward patience, making them ideal for both casual and dedicated OSRS players. With the right setup, gear, and route optimization, you can turn your Hunter training into a profitable and relaxing in-game routine, while also providing a steady source of items to convert into cheap OSRS gold.