Since our last article on the 8 best hunting movies to watch was such a hit, we figured we’d cover 9 more great movies that feature hunting as a core part of the movie!
I personally love watching how Hollywood and various movie studios portray hunting after being out in the wild on my own for so long. Sometimes they nail it, and sometimes it’s really silly, but either way, it’s always entertaining to watch our sport represented on TV!
Here are 9 more of my favorite movies that include some fun traditional hunting scenes, in no particular order:
#9 The Bear (1988)
Ever wondered what hunting is like from the other point of view? This timeless 1988 movie follows the story of an orphaned bear cub and his new buddy, a fully grown adult grizzly bear as they face the dangers of wildlife and hunters.
The hunting scenes are crazy well done, and follow the perspective of both the hunters and the hunted – putting a lot of effort into highlighting the danger and morality of our sport.
Be warned though; you’re gonna sympathize with the bear — and this movie is part of the reason why I am so against trophy hunting grizzlies (sue me).
You can catch the entire movie for free on YouTube right here.
#8 The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Possibly one of the greatest movies of all time, the Last of the Mohicans tells the story of Hawkeye, a European man raised by the Mohican tribe in the middle of the French-Indian war.
In addition to the absolutely amazing war scenes and storylines, the movie has a bunch of hunting scenes that feature deer and other wildlife. It’s not a main part of the plot but rather is used to show Hawkeye’s skills and his connection between the characters and the land.
#7 Dances with Wolves (1990)
A beautiful story with a truly spectacular soundtrack of a Civil War soldier befriending a tribe of Sioux Native-Americans. The movie is amazing on its own but also features a really important buffalo hunting scene that actually drives the plot forward.
Hunting was, and still is, a core part of Native-American culture. The scenes show the tribe’s hunting techniques and highlight the cultural importance that buffalo had to their way of life.
Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
“And some say he’s up there still,”
Jeremiah Johnson tells the story of a Mexican-American war veteran who turns into a mountain man. He travels the country, living in the wilderness and surviving only through hunting and sheer will. Truly a story about the survival of the fittest.
Throughout the movie, you get to see him hunt elk, deer, and other game. I love this movie for many reasons, but for hunting, I especially love that it is an integral part of the story. The hunting scenes showcase his evolution into a seasoned hunter and his struggle to coexist with nature. One of the best hunting movies out there.
The Yearling (1946)
Old but gold!
… and a movie that will truly tear your heart to pieces, almost 80 years later.
A young boy adopts a fawn as a pet, and the hunting scenes are of the boy’s father teaching him how to hunt deer for survival.
It’s a wonderful movie as it truly manages to emphasize the harsh realities of life and the necessity of hunting.
Never Cry Wolf (1983)
Do you think you could ever survive 6 months alone in the American North-West with nothing but a backpack and rifle? Luckily, you don’t have to! But this movie truly highlights what that is like.
The movie follows a biologist who heads out into the wilderness to study the caribou population that has been declining because of wolf attacks. The hunting scenes are spectacular and center around the main characters’ attempts at surviving by emulating wolves’ hunting habits.
This movie also has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a rare thing to see! It deserves it a lot, and in addition to showcasing the beautiful land of hunting that is Alaska, will make you rethink your entire existence.
The Eagle Huntress (2016)
Imagine if you could go and hunt, not just alone or with a dog, but with a GOLDEN EAGLE?? Well, this documentary is about a 13-year-old Mongolian girl training to become the first female in twelve generations to become an eagle hunter.
She’s not hunting the eagles, oh no. She is using eagles as a tool to hunt other animals. It is absolutely badass and the hunting scenes are amazing.
True Grit (2010)
I’ve seen this movie like, 20 times. At least.
The story follows a young girl who enlists the help of a tough bad-ass U.S. Marshall to track down her pops murderer. The story itself is great, and on the journey are numerous hunting scenes, surrounding the topic of food and survival and emphasizing the harsh reality of life in the wild, wild West. Yee-haw.
Open Season (2006)
If you’re looking for a hilarious hunting movie to watch with your kids (or alone, we won’t judge) you should really check out this fantastic 2006 animated movie. I’m not usually a big animated movie kinda guy, but this one made me cackle a lot.
The story is about a domesticated grizzly bear who ends up stranded in the woods with a deer in the middle of hunting season. The main plot is about him and all his new woodland buds outsmarting hunters, and the movie puts an absolutely hilarious take on traditional hunting.
Into the Wild (2007)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve definitely heard the story of Christopher McCandless (Aka Alexander Supertramp). I actually had to read the book in AP English back in my High School days.
The story is a must-see, and truly fascinating – better yet there are a bunch of hunting scenes, including our main characters’ attempt to hunt game through survival, how to cure and take care of his kills, and how to ethically use nature to our advantage.
If you haven’t seen it yet, you simply have to now. And if you’ve already seen it, watch it again!
There you have it, the 9 more hunting movies for you to enjoy!
Disagree with the list, or have any additions? Let us know!
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Happy hunting!
