Hunting moonlight antelopes

Hunting Moonlight Antelopes

Hunting moonlight antelopes in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a lucrative money-making method that combines high-level Hunter skill training with decent profit potential. Introduced as part of the Hunter Guild content, this method involves capturing moonlight antelopes using pitfall traps to obtain their valuable antlers, which can be sold directly or fletched into bolts for additional profit. With the right setup, technique, and efficiency, players can earn substantial gold per hour while also gaining Hunter experience. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know to maximize your success with this method, from requirements and gear to hunting strategies and profit analysis, tailored for players looking to optimize their OSRS gold-making endeavors.

Overview

Hunting moonlight antelopes is a skilling-based money-making method that leverages the Hunter skill to capture these creatures found within the Hunter Guild. Requiring a minimum of level 91 Hunter, this activity uses the pitfall trapping technique, where players set up traps, tease the antelopes, and lure them into falling into the pits. The primary reward is moonlight antelope antlers, which can be sold on the Grand Exchange (GE) or processed into moonlight antler bolts for potentially higher returns, depending on market prices. This method stands out due to its guaranteed catch rate—unlike other pitfall-trapped creatures, moonlight antelopes are always successfully caught—making it a reliable and consistent option for players with high Hunter levels. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking a semi-AFK money-making method that also progresses their Hunter skill toward level 99.

Requirements

To begin hunting moonlight antelopes, players must meet specific skill and access prerequisites. Below are the mandatory requirements:

• Hunter Level 91: This is the minimum level required to hunt moonlight antelopes using pitfall traps.
• Access to the Hunter Guild: Players need to have unlocked the Hunter Guild, located south of Hosidius, which typically requires completing introductory Hunter-related tasks or having sufficient Hunter experience to gain entry.

Optional but recommended requirements for efficiency and profitability:

• Fletching Level 72: Allows players to fletch moonlight antelope antlers into moonlight antler bolts, potentially increasing profit margins.
• High Agility Level (70+): Improves run energy regeneration, reducing downtime when moving between traps and banking.
• Completion of Hunters’ Rumours: While not strictly necessary for hunting, completing at least some rumours can provide additional context or rewards that enhance the experience.

No combat skills are required, as moonlight antelopes cannot be attacked conventionally, though they may retaliate with minor melee damage (up to 5 hitpoints) if provoked during the hunting process.

Recommended Gear

Choosing the right gear is crucial for optimizing efficiency and comfort while hunting moonlight antelopes. The focus is on weight reduction, Hunter success boosts, and convenience. Here’s the recommended gear setup:

• Head: Graceful hood (weight-reducing) or Hunter’s cape (if 99 Hunter, for teleportation).
• Body: Guild Hunters garb or Graceful top (Guild Hunters garb boosts Hunter success slightly, while Graceful reduces weight).
• Legs: Guild Hunters trousers or Graceful legs.
• Boots: Graceful boots (lightweight and essential for run energy management).
• Cape: Hunter’s cape (for teleport to Hunter Guild) or Graceful cape.
• Neck: Bonecrusher necklace (optional, provides minor convenience if doing Master Rumours tasks).
• Hands: Guild Hunters gloves or Graceful gloves.
• Ring: Ring of endurance (extends run energy duration, highly useful for long trips).

Why this gear? The Guild Hunters outfit provides a small boost to Hunter success rates, though it’s less critical here since moonlight antelopes have a 100% catch rate. Graceful gear, however, excels for its weight reduction (totaling around -25 kg when fully equipped), allowing players to maintain run energy over extended periods. The Hunter’s cape is a luxury for those with 99 Hunter, offering a quick teleport to the guild for banking.

Inventory Setup

A well-planned inventory maximizes hunting efficiency by minimizing trips to the bank and ensuring all necessary tools are on hand. Here’s the optimal inventory setup:

• Teasing stick: Essential for provoking the antelopes to chase you into the trap.
• Knife: Used to carve logs into spiked pits for the traps.
• 24 Maple logs: Pre-bringing logs saves time compared to cutting them from roots in the guild (adjust quantity based on trip length).
• Hunter’s pouch and Large hunter’s pouch: Doubles inventory space for antlers, allowing up to 56 antlers per trip (28 per pouch).
• Chisel (optional): For fletching antlers into bolts on the spot, if pursuing that profit route.

Notes: If you don’t bring logs, a knife can still cut logs from roots within the Hunter Guild, but this slows down the process. The pouches are highly recommended to extend trips, as banking frequently cuts into profit per hour. If weight is a concern, prioritize logs and tools over extra items, relying on the Graceful gear to manage energy.

Hunting Location

Moonlight antelopes are exclusively found underground in the Hunter Guild, located south of Hosidius in Great Kourend. To reach this spot:

1. Teleport to the Hunter Guild: Use the Hunter’s cape teleport (if available) or a Quetzal whistle (charged via Hunters’ Rumours rewards).
2. Alternative Travel: Take a Xeric’s Talisman to Xeric’s Glade, then run south, or use the Hosidius teleport and head southwest.
3. Navigate Underground: Once inside the guild, proceed south past the moonlight moths to the moonlight antelope hunting area.

This underground section features multiple pitfall trap spots surrounded by roots for log gathering. The area is compact, making it easy to set up multiple traps and move between them quickly. Its proximity to a bank (via teleport or guild exit) further enhances its suitability for long hunting sessions.

Hunting Technique

The hunting process for moonlight antelopes follows the pitfall trapping method, refined for efficiency. Here’s the step-by-step technique:

1. Set Up Traps: Use a knife on logs to create spiked pits at designated pitfall spots. Ideally, prepare 2-3 traps in advance to cycle between them.
2. Tease the Antelope: Equip the teasing stick and click on a moonlight antelope to provoke it, causing it to chase you.
3. Lure to Trap: Run toward a set trap and jump over it (click the opposite side). The antelope will attempt to follow and fall into the pit.
4. Collect Loot: Dismantle the trap to retrieve the antlers and any additional loot (e.g., raw moonlight antelope meat).
5. Repeat: Reset the trap with another log and move to the next antelope. If using multiple traps, alternate between them to maintain a steady rhythm.

Key Detail: Unlike other pitfall creatures (e.g., horned graahks), moonlight antelopes have a 100% catch success rate, so every lured antelope will be caught, eliminating RNG frustration. The antelopes may attack for up to 5 damage if you linger too long, but this is easily avoided by jumping quickly.

Profit Potential

The profitability of hunting moonlight antelopes hinges on the value of their antlers and the optional fletching into bolts. Here’s a breakdown based on typical rates and market trends as of early 2025:

• Catch Rate: Average players can catch 200 antelopes per hour, while skilled players with optimized setups can reach 300+ per hour.
• Loot: Each catch yields 1 moonlight antelope antler (primary profit item) and occasionally raw moonlight antelope meat (minor value).
• Antler Value: Assuming antlers sell for 10K GP each on the GE, 200 catches yield 2M GP/hour, and 300 catches yield 3M GP/hour.
• Fletching Option: Fletching antlers into 12 moonlight antler bolts (requires chisel) can increase profit if bolts sell higher per antler equivalent (e.g., 12 bolts at 1K GP each = 12K GP per antler). At 300 antelopes/hour, this could push profits to 3.6M GP/hour, minus chisel and banking time costs.

Table: Profit Scenarios

Note: GE prices fluctuate, so always check live prices before committing. Fletching adds time (1.8 seconds per antler, or ~1,800 bolts/hour), which may reduce catches slightly but can boost GP if bolt prices hold.

Tips for Efficiency

Maximizing your hourly profit and experience requires fine-tuning your approach. Here are top efficiency tips:

• Pre-Bring Logs: Carry 24 Maple logs per trip to avoid cutting roots, saving 5-10 seconds per trap setup.
• Use Pouches: Equip both hunter’s pouches to double antler storage (56 total), reducing banking frequency.
• Multi-Trap Setup: Maintain 2-3 active traps to minimize downtime; tease a new antelope as soon as one is caught.
• Fletch on the Move: If fletching bolts, do it while running between traps to avoid idle time in the “Make-X” interface.
• Optimize Pathing: Stick to a tight loop around trap spots to conserve run energy and reduce travel time.
• Bank Strategically: Use the Hunter’s cape teleport or Quetzal whistle to bank quickly at the guild, then return via the same method.
• High Agility: Levels above 70 ensure run energy lasts longer, especially with Graceful gear equipped.

Pro Tip: If antler prices drop, consider stockpiling and selling later, or switch to bolts if their market value exceeds the antler-to-bolt conversion rate.

Additional Considerations

Before diving into hunting moonlight antelopes, weigh these additional factors to ensure it fits your goals and playstyle:

• Market Volatility: Antler and bolt prices depend on demand for the hunters’ sunlight crossbow and PvP/PvM usage. Monitor GE trends to avoid selling at a loss.
• Skill Goals: This method offers ~50K-70K Hunter XP/hour (depending on catch rate), making it a solid training option alongside profit.
• Competition: The Hunter Guild can get crowded, especially after updates. Hop worlds if trap spots are contested.
• Alternative Methods: Compare this to hunting black chinchompas (higher profit but riskier due to Wilderness) or sunlight antelopes (lower level, less profit) to see what suits you best.
• Health Management: Antelopes deal minor damage if provoked too long. Carry a few pieces of food (e.g., cooked moonlight antelope from loot) if you’re low on hitpoints.

Final Thought: This method shines for its reliability and simplicity, but its profitability scales with your ability to execute efficiently and adapt to market conditions. Test it with a small sample (e.g., 1 hour) to gauge personal results before committing long-term.