OSRS Hunter’s Rumours Guide: How It Works, Rewards, and XP Rates
Hunter’s Rumours is a reward mechanic in Old School RuneScape that adds variety and bonus rewards to the Hunter skill. Instead of grinding the same creature repetitively, you pick up a rumour from an NPC about a specific creature, hunt that creature to fulfill the rumour, and collect a bonus reward on top of normal Hunter XP. This guide explains how the system works, which rumours are worth chasing, and how to incorporate it into an efficient Hunter skill training plan.
What Are Hunter’s Rumours?
Hunter’s Rumours are tasks given by specific NPC hunters found in various locations around Gielinor. Each rumour instructs you to hunt a particular creature — sometimes with a specific method or in a specific location. When you fulfill the rumour by catching the target creature, you can return to the NPC to claim a bonus reward.
The system was added to give Hunter training more variety and purpose beyond pure XP grinding. It also provides access to unique rewards through the Huntsman’s Kit and other drops that aren’t available through standard Hunter training.
How to Start Hunter’s Rumours
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Find a Hunter NPC who gives Rumours. These are spread across the game world in areas relevant to Hunter training. Key NPC locations include:
- Nardah (Desert area) — offers rumours relevant to desert creatures
- Eagle’s Peak — rumours related to northern hunting
- Piscatoris — rumours for creatures in that region
- Other Hunter-themed NPCs across various zones
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Accept a Rumour from the NPC. You can only hold one active rumour at a time per NPC. The rumour tells you what creature to hunt and sometimes specifies a method or minimum catch count.
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Complete the Rumour by hunting the specified creature. You don’t need to do all your hunting in one session — the progress carries over.
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Return to the NPC to claim your reward once the rumour is complete.
You can have multiple rumours active simultaneously from different NPCs, allowing you to work on several rumours during a single hunting session if the creatures are in the same area.
Hunter Levels Required
Different rumour NPCs have different Hunter level requirements, and individual rumours within each NPC’s pool also have level thresholds:
| Level Range | Rumour Type | Primary Creatures |
|---|---|---|
| 1–20 | Beginner | Crimson swifts, tropical wagtails, common kebbit |
| 20–40 | Easy | Ferrets, polar kebbit, spotted kebbit |
| 40–60 | Medium | Red salamander, swamp lizard, prickly kebbit |
| 60–80 | Hard | Red chinchompa, black chinchompa, dark kebbit |
| 80–99 | Elite | Black chinchompa (in wilderness), maniacal monkey |
Start with NPCs appropriate for your current Hunter level. Attempting rumours above your level causes the creature to be unhuntable with your current skill.
Rewards from Hunter’s Rumours
The primary rewards from completing rumours include:
Huntsman’s Kit: A tradeable container that holds various Hunter-related rewards. Opening it can give:
- Hunter potions (boost Hunter level temporarily)
- Chinchompa pouches
- Kebbit fur sets
- Uncut gems
- Occasional rare cosmetic items specific to Hunter
Bonus XP: Completing a rumour gives a bonus XP reward on top of whatever XP you earned during the hunt. The amount scales with the difficulty of the rumour.
Rumour Points: Some implementations of the system reward points exchangeable at a Hunter rewards shop for specific items. Check the current OSRS wiki for the active reward shop inventory, as this updates with game patches.
Unique Creature Drops: While hunting for a rumour, certain creatures have improved or additional drop rates for unique items. This varies by creature — check the specific creature’s wiki page.
Best Hunter’s Rumours for XP
For the fastest Hunter XP while doing Rumours, target creatures that are already the best XP per hour at your level. The Rumour bonus XP stacks on top of your normal grinding XP, so picking rumours that align with your regular training spot maximizes efficiency.
Optimal rumour choices by level:
- 40–60: Red salamanders near Ourania Altar — fast catches, good XP, rumour bonus is a nice addition
- 60–80: Red chinchompas in the Piscatoris Hunting Ground — one of the best XP rates in this range
- 80+: Black chinchompas in the Wilderness (if you accept the PvP risk) — best XP in the game but dangerous; alternatively, maniacal monkeys on Ape Atoll for safer high-level XP
For players avoiding the Wilderness, red chinchompas are the gold-standard rumour target in the 60–80 range and remain profitable.
Profitability of Hunter’s Rumours
Some Hunter creatures produce tradeable caught animals (chinchompas, specifically) that can be sold on the Grand Exchange. Red and black chinchompas are consistently in demand for ranged training throughout OSRS, making them profitable to hunt.
Profit per hour estimates (approximate, varies with GE prices):
- Red chinchompas (level 63 required): 150,000–300,000 gp/hr
- Black chinchompas (level 73, Wilderness): 500,000–800,000 gp/hr (with risk)
Rumour completion adds bonus rewards on top of this, increasing the overall value per session.
Common Mistakes
Taking a rumour above your level: You’ll arrive at the location and be unable to catch the creature. Check the level requirement before accepting.
Completing the rumour without returning to the NPC: The bonus reward is only received when you return to the NPC. Simply finishing the catch count doesn’t auto-complete — you must speak to the NPC.
Using the wrong hunting method: Some rumours specify a particular hunting method (e.g., box trap vs. net trap). Using the wrong method doesn’t count toward the rumour. Read the rumour description carefully.
Ignoring rumours during regular grinding: If you’re already hunting red chinchompas for XP, picking up the corresponding rumour first costs zero extra time and gives a free bonus reward. Always check rumour availability before grinding.
Tips for Efficient Rumour Farming
- Accept rumours from multiple NPCs simultaneously when the target creatures are in the same zone or nearby
- Prioritize rumours that match your current training spot — zero detour time means pure bonus value
- Use Hunter potions from Huntsman’s Kits to temporarily boost your level for better rumours
- Complete rumours during bonus XP events (Double XP Weekends) for maximum stacking
Hunter’s Rumours make the Hunter skill significantly more engaging and rewarding. They’re not required for 99 Hunter, but they add consistent variety and bonus income to what is otherwise a repetitive single-method grind.
