Fantasy Guide to Hunting, Hunting Parties and All that
Often in period dramas and historical fiction, the past time of the hunt and pursuits of that nature, are shown to be a pastime of the royal, nobility and wealthy. Hunting is essentially the capture and killing of an animal in a sports-like pursuit which is mainly done as a show of prowess and skill.
Why Hunting is Used as a Pastime
Hunting like most pursuits of the wealthy is all about showing off essentially, with the landowner wanting to display the wealth of their land and hunters vying to show off their ability against one another. The bigger the prey, the bigger the bragging rights, the more elusive the prey the most skillful the hunter, the more difficult the chase, well you get the picture. Hunting also would provide the landowner and hunters with meat for their larders, which would be served in the house or perserved, with the pelts and items like bone and antlers or horn sold on or displayed or put to use somewhere in the house. This is less of a pastime if the family was poorer, it may be their only hope for survival but in the case of grand homes and families, it is less about providing food and warm, again more about the pagentry of the hunt and chase. Hunting is not only for the bragging rights or to fill the table. Some cultures use hunting as a means to clear the land of pests who sometimes can harm livestock or damage agricultural land. While necessary, sometimes these rituals are given a flare in order to lend a certain tone to the venture rather than the mass killing of the animal at hand.
Rabbit Season/Duck Season
The season in which it is legal to hunt which sort of animal is fairly established today but in a historical setting, most cultures did have acceptable times in which to take game, understanding the need to allow repopulation- though exceptions do exist, where a species was hunted to extinction due to its value as a prize. Even without a legal framework, any culture even a fictional one, would understand the need to allow for an uninterrupted breeding season to allow for numbers to grow. In the UK as an example, Pheasant are hunted 1 Oct – 1 Feb, Red Grouse: 12 Aug – 10 Dec, Black Grouse: 20 Aug – 10 Dec, Duck & Goose 1 Sept – 31 Jan, Brown Hare 1 Sept – 31 Mar, Rabbit has no closed season as they are “pests”. Deer species and genders have different hunting seasons: Red Deer, Sika, Fallow Bucks are hunted between 1 Aug – 30 Apr, Red, Sika, Fallow Does are hunted between 1 Nov – 31 Mar, Roe Bucks 1Apr – 31 Oct, Roe Does 1 Nov – 31 Mar, Chinese Water Deer 1 Nov – 31 Mar, Muntjac have no closed season as they are classed “invasive species”. Other rules include the prevention of killing on Sundays or Christmas Day and the firing of guns is prohibited one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Hunting is not simply just heading out, chasing some animal and killing it. There are numerous kinds of hunting:
Stalking: Stalking is tracking game on foot, using skills in stealth, wind direction and camouflage to sneak up on prey. It is best suited to deer, antelope or wild boar
Still Hunting: Is like Stalking, only that there is a lot more stopping and watching, suitable for deer, elk and smaller game.
Stand Hunting: Stand hunting is exactly as it sounds, it is staying in a fixed position and waiting for game to naturally cross your path. It is a predictable sort of hunting that hinges on knowledge of movement amongst animals, usually deer or even bear.
Driven Hunting: Is similar to stand hunting, only people called beaters create noise in order to drive prey into the crosshairs of waiting hunters. This usually suits pheasant, boar, and deer.
Ambush Hunting: This kind of hunting sees hunters taking up positions near feeding areas or known watering holes and then launching an attack on the animals. Usually used on deer or boar.
Tracking: Tracking animals by the tracks they leave behind, is an old practise and really showcases a hunter’s knowledge of the land, the prey they are chasing, their skills in noticing patterns and wind direction.
Trapping: Maybe a less active hunting technique but it is effective as the animal is immobilised so a hunter can take it down. This is less common amongst nobility and royalty as there is no “sport” in it but is usually done when culling is being undertaken or commons are hunting or a poacher is around.
Calling: Calling is the use of vocal calls or even devices to mimic and attract animals who they are preying on. This is most effective with most waterfowl, deer and turkey
Falconry: Falconry is the hunting of prey with the use of trained birds of prey which has rich origins in the Middle East, Europe and Asia to take down small prey or even other birds.
Hunters tend to target certain animals in their areas or even those that are not local in order to claim the biggest bragging rights. Prey can be determined by season, which we looked at below but are also decided on other facts such as difficulty, availability and their value. Since this is a fantasy guide, I will frame the next list in a matter of common prey by habitat or biome just to give a vague idea of prey common in those areas:
Tundra: Would have sparse wildlife and harsh conditions but reindeer, caribou, hare, ox and certain bird species would be around to huntl
Boreal Forest: These are northern forests, often snowy and cold, where large game would be prowling around such as hare, wolves, moose, elk and wild big cats. Bears may also be around.
Temperate Forest: Temperate forests would be warmer, featuring deer, turkey, bears, raccoon, squirrel.
Grasslands / Savanna: Grasslands are teaming with wildlife such as impala, antelope, gazelle, wildebeest, bison, grouse and other fowl.
Desert: Deserts offer sparse protection and vegetation for animals but there would still be animals available to hunt such rabbit, small mammals, lizards, snakes, birds and wild dogs,
Rainforest: Thick with vegetation and cover, full of wildlife. There would be numerous animals to hunt here such as large mammals like boar and tapir, but also many birds and primates.
Wetlands: The wetlands are usually teaming with fowl, making birds like duck, geese or swans more common prey in those areas. But mammals such as muskrats and beavers can also be hunted and trapped.
In a feudal society or in a hierarchical society, the right to hunt is often reserved for certain classes to protect the illusion of wealthy and privilege and also to keep the poor from getting ahead of themselves and making a buck off one of the landowners’ bucks. There was often groups of people who got around the ban, called poachers who would illegally hunt and tap animals within the boundaries of privately owned land which often carried severe penalties though the need was born out of necessity and survival for some. Estates that abut would also have clear boundaries to where they had to stop hunting and chasing prey. If a deer crossed the boundary, it was no longer your deer it was the neighbours. Other rules around hunting could include what animals one was allowed to hunt. Certain breeds or genders of animals might be reserved for the highest in society. This could also span the consumption and wearing of by-products from hunts, such as pelts, furs and meat.
Hunters would use weapons when hunting to safely and cleanly dispatch prey. Many cultures adapted different weapons to hunt over the centuries, to hunt in different situations and follow different prey.
Spears: Can be used for throwing or thrusting at long distances. These would be effective for large prey. And have been used since ancient times.
Bows and Arrows: Another ancient weapon that has still use even in the modern world. Bows allow hunters to target and kill from a distance with greater accuracy.
Clubs: Can be used to kill an animal especially a trapped one, such as fish or seals.
Slings: A cord fitted with a pouch to enable the hunter to throw stones at high speed and force, effective for birds and small mammals.
Crossbows: Like the bow, the crossbow allows a hunter to keep a distance away but also target prey accurately. Used to hunt large prey like deer, boar, and sometimes birds.
Bolas: This is a contraption of three weights tied together by cord and slung at the legs of animals to trip them up, to slow or halt them.
Blowguns: These are tubes used to fire poisoned darts at animals, tluses for smaller animals such as birds.
Boomerangs: Curved wooden implements that are flung at prey, to bring them down or injure them, that return due to motion.
Harpoons: Jagged spears that are used when hunting marine animals.
Hunting parties can be as large or as small as you like, but nearly all parties would involve a core group of hunters and support staff. Hunting is a dangerous business so no noble or royal would venture out alone with a friend. A commoner may hunt alone but it is unadvisable due to the dangerous of the act of hunting and if they were doing so illegally on private land, it is always best to have somebody to watch your back.
The Core Group: The core group usually involves the landowner, their family, their guests who can be neighbours or even visiting royalty or nobles (just really anybody invited over) and of course, anybody they are looking to impress, this is all a big show after all. At court, this also might include ambassadors and any notable nobles.
Security: When heading out into the woods or the jungle or the desert, it is best to bring along people who make sure you are safe throughout. Bodyguards and other retainers would accompany the party to ensure any important people come out alive. History has been rewritten with the mysterious trip into a river or a stray arrow or a wild boar slicing one up.
Professionals: Now, while the core group will have hunting skills and experience, there would be people there who are professional hunters to guide or help them take down prey. The Master of the Hunt is in charge of the plan of the hunt, then the implementation of the plan and what they need to do, hunt and need. Huntsmen would help track the game, Beaters would drive animals out of cover so hunters can chase and capture them. Falconers would care for and supply the birds. Dog Handlers would manage the dogs for tracking and chasing. Grooms who cared for horses would come along to ride with the guests and care fir horses if needed. Gamekeepers would also be present to ensure the hunting grounds are well supplied and picked well.
Other staff: If the hunting party was large enough, there would be a base camp where tents would be set out for changing and then dining for lunch or a meal, usually with entertainment. Cooks and catering staff would come to prepare the food for everyone. Servants such as valets and squires to assist with clothing, weapons, and any needs. Entertainment such as musicians, jesters and ministrels would play at feasts. People would be there to tend fires and lantrines and the like. Physicians who also come to help anybody in need of care.
Dangers around Hunting (or how to Hunting scenes can aid the Plot)
Like I said above, hunting isn't exactly a danger free hobby. Hunting trips can be used to kill off characters or injure them or even be used to isolate them.
Animal Attacks: Sometimes thr animals hit back. And you can't blame them, they are just trying to survive. A character can be bored by a boar, charged by a stag, attacked by predators such as wolves or bears or lions. Animals who are injured also pose danger, due to the animal being afraid which makes their next moves unpredictable. Venomous animals also pose dangers especially if their victim is far from medical help.
Weapons: Sometimes it's the weapons brought to the hunt that poses danger. Bullets, arrows, rocks, bolts and spears can fly in wrong directions or can be used to take out people and make it look like an accident.
Horses: Hunts on horseback allow the hunter to chase any prey at speed but that leads to its own dangers. People can fall off horses, be crushed by falling horses or the horse can get spooked and bolt or even throw a rider.
Terrain: Sometimes it's the terrain that kills you. Dense wood, steep cliffs, ravines, bogs or rivers, venturing out into the wilderness is it's own danger. Mix that with risk of intense weather any hunter will have to take account of their terrain in the way they dress and move across the land. This is why plans and the use of guides is important.
Traps: Traps and snares set by hunters can also pose danger to hunters. A hunter could come entangled in trip lines and shares or even fall into pit traps and deadfalls.
Getting Lost: Getting lost and losing your bearings can also pose danger to your character. They could get separated from their parties which might lead them stumbling into danger or into a situation where they have little to survive on or protection from the elements. It would be a good way to get rid of a character without somebody to technically blame.
