Hunter
Key facts
Hunters track and pursue animals with the intention of trapping or killing them. They hunt animals for the purpose of gaining food and other animal products, recreation, trade or wildlife management. Hunters specialise in the skill of tracking down and shooting animals with weapons such as rifles and bows. They also use devices to trap animals for similar purposes.
Hunters are skilled professionals who track and pursue animals, utilizing a range of techniques including firearms, bows, and trapping devices. The work often involves navigating challenging terrains, understanding animal behavior, and adhering to strict regulations. While the goal might involve trapping or killing animals, hunters frequently contribute to wildlife conservation efforts and population control.
- • Tracking and locating animals using various methods and observation skills.
- • Employing firearms, bows, or traps to capture or harvest animals, adhering to safety protocols and legal requirements.
- • Monitoring animal populations and habitats to inform wildlife management strategies.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers — 17 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Czechia, Hungary, Spain.
Longest-running shortage: Spain, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | — | −4.6% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
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Future Outlook for hunter
The outlook for hunter reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could hunter change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- ensure compliance with environmental legislation
- apply forest legislation
- comply with wildlife hazard management programmes
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- perform forest analysis
- assess harvesting impact on wildlife
- monitor forest health
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Energy & Natural Resources
A typical day as a hunter
09 09:00 · Morning assess harvesting impact on wildlife
10 10:30 · Mid-morning develop wildlife programs
12 12:00 · Midday hunt animals
14 14:00 · Afternoon trap animals
15 15:30 · Late afternoon assist forest visitors
17 17:00 · Wrap-up comply with wildlife hazard management programmes
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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trap animals
Use devices such as animal traps to catch or kill wildlife. Trap the animals for the purpose of gaining food or animal products, pest control or wildlife management.
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organise game shoots
Plan shoots of game, such as grouse, pheasant or partridge. Prepare the invitations. Brief the participants before the shoot begins. Provide advice on gun safety and etiquette.
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hunt animals
Hunt animal wildlife and birds. Track, pursue and kill the animal in a humane way, according to animal and environmental legislations. Use weapons such as hunting rifles, crossbows or trapping devices to kill or trap the hunted animal.
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assess harvesting impact on wildlife
Monitor wildlife populations and habitats for the impact of timber harvesting and other forest operations.
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monitor forest health
Monitor forest health to make sure all necessary actions are taken by the forestry workers team.
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monitor wildlife
Conduct fieldwork to observe wildlife.
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ensure compliance with environmental legislation
Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
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comply with wildlife hazard management programmes
Ensure that animal hazard management programs are carried out appropriately. Consider the impact of wildlife on the performance of transport or industrial operations.
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perform forest analysis
Develop situation analysis reports on biodiversity and genetic resources relevant to forestry.
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apply forest legislation
Apply laws that govern activities in forest lands in order to protect resources and prevent harmful actions such as forest clearing and logging.
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protect health and safety when handling animals
Protect health and welfare of animals and their handlers.
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develop wildlife programs
Educate the public and respond to requests for aid and information about an area's wildlife.
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promote environmental awareness
Promote sustainability and raise awareness about the environmental impact of human and industrial activity based on the carbon footprints of business processes and other practices.
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assist forest visitors
Answer questions from campers, hikers and tourists. Provide directions.
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dispose of dead animals
Dispose of dead animals which are not considered a source of meat. Bury or cremate the animal based on the wishes of the owners or on other criteria.
animal hunting
The techniques, procedures and legislations concerning the hunting of animals such as wildlife and birds for the purpose of gaining food and animal products, recreation, trade and wildlife management.
camouflage
The different kinds of materials and specialised clothing used for concealment of people, vehicles or other equipment.
European firearms-control legislation
The regulation regarding the acquisition and possession of weapons on a European Union level by means the Directive 91/477/EEC and the Directive 2008/51/EC.
understand game species
Understan biology and ecology of relevant game specieis including game birds, deer, and fisheries.
wild game meat food safety requirements
The food safety management procedures and national requirements for wild game meat.
wildlife
Undomesticated animal species, as well as all plants, fungi and other organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems such as deserts, forests, rain forests, plains, grasslands and other areas, including the most developed urban areas, which all have distinct forms of wildlife.
wildlife projects
Wildlife and animal conservation projects, which aim to protect and preserve ecosystems and habitats of a wide range of animals under threat from urbanisation.
types of arrows
Arrows are selected for different purposes such as hunting a specific kind of animal or for target shooting. They can present various features and advantages depending on different factors such as the material used for the shaft that can be made of carbon, wood or aluminium, or the arrow fletching which can be straight, helical or spiral.
- ecosystems
- forest conservation
- forest ecology
- health, safety and hygiene legislation
Path to become a hunter
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Upper secondary education
208 programmes in 21 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 22 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Master of Science (Wildlife Conservation & Management)
University College Dublin · Ireland
Malta
These are 6 of 230.
Sources
- 1. Source: Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Education), CRICOS, data.gov.au, CC BY 2.5 AU. Data as at 01/09/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 2. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
- 3. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 4. Course information from Qualifax (qualifax.ie), Quality and Qualifications Ireland
- 5. Source: YÖK Atlas, Council of Higher Education (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
- 6. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does hunter fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of training or experience is typically needed to become a hunter?
Are hunters always employed, or can they work independently?
What are the typical working conditions for a hunter?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data