Grab your camouflage, rifle and bow, you’re about to discover the beauty of wildlife captured in ink. From small hunts to big game, discover the kingly and timeless sport of hunting.
For ages, the art of hunting has put man’s competitive skillful tracking and watchful eye against an elusive target.
From wild animals or game, including deer to fox, wild boar, pig, duck and more, the pursuit has been enjoyed since prehistoric times.
In Mesopotamia sculptures, you’ll find war chariots with kings hunting big game animals like lions. While in Ancient Greece, the Aristocracy had considered hunting to not only be a manly sport, but also admirable practice for war in times of peace. Hindu scriptures also deemed it to be an honorable occupation for a man.
During early Medieval Europe times, Johannes Scotus Eriugena, the famous theologian, philosopher, and poet once claimed hunting to be one of the seven mechanical arts.
Sport aside, hunting also has a place in specific pagan religion rituals. Not to mention, competitions of European sport hunters of the 19th century, who pursued game for hopes of a trophy.
No matter if you hunt for food or for sport, one thing you can be sure of is to be inspired by these 70 best hunting tattoos for men. Each idea symbolizes the majestic beauty of the great outdoors paired with masculine hunter designs.
1. Deer Hunting Tattoos
The white tailed deer is by far the most abundant cervid—the family of animals that moose, elk and reindeer belong to—with numbers reaching one hundred animals per 1 kilometer in some parts of the United States. With Americans hunting and processing over 6 million white tail deer every year it is no surprise that many hunters choose to get this abundant prey animal tattooed on their bodies.
2. Hunting Compilation Tattoos
These tattoos take a collage like approach to create these large pieces dedicated to the menagerie of animals found in the wilds of America. From wolves and deer, to ducks and salmon, the variety of animals that hunters come into contact within the forests and plains of the US make for excellent subjects in these striking tattoos.
3. Duck Hunting Tattoos
Every year over 10 million ducks and water fowl are hunted in the United States, from California to New York, and just about everywhere in between. These majestic birds make for great tattoos thanks to the beautiful colors and patterns in their feathers as well as the opportunity to incorporate the gorgeous waterways that they call home.
4. Fox and Fowl Tattoos
While not a particularly common American pastime, there is a long tradition of fox hunting around the world, and they make great additions to tattoos thanks to their distinctive looks and associations with the spirits of the forest in stories and myths. Other birds, including turkey and pheasants are regularly hunted in the United States and make for great elements in tattoos.
5. Canine Companion Hunting Tattoos
Dogs have been hunting companions to man for thousands and thousands of years; in fact, it is widely accepted that the domestication of canines came about as a primitive hunting strategy. Whatever the case, hunting dogs are still common, most notably the bird dogs that track, point and set game for their hunters.
6. Hunters With Guns Tattoos
While bow hunting has continued to grow in popularity, hunting with rifles is still, by far, the most popular method. These powerful weapons make for striking tattoos thanks to the unmistakable lines of a rifle, along with the opportunity to add interesting details like reflections in the scope and wood grain textures in the stock.
7. Big Game Tattoos
From elk and bears, to moose and caribou, big game animals are some of the most prized quarry for sport hunters, and it is no surprise why. These powerful animals are fundamentally impressive thanks to their large size, strength and the visceral connection they have with the wilderness. For these same reasons they make for excellent subjects in tattoos.
8. Bow Hunting Tattoos
Growing in popularity, bow hunting provides people a deeper connection to the animals that they kill thanks to the shorter range and necessity to get much closer to the prey than those who hunt with rifles. Utilizing images of drawn bows and patient hunters in tattoos are a great way to show the world that you belong to this ancient club.
9. Innovative Hunting Tattoos
Tattoo artists are always looking to create one of a kind tattoos and through the use of unconventional compositions, expert application and black and gray as well as color ink, they are able to push the boundaries of what is possible in a hunting tattoo.
10. Hunting on the Wing Tattoos
Using bold black ink and interesting compositions, these tattoos make for the perfect commemorations to the birds that are such popular quarry with hunters in the United States. The stark black ink creates the unmistakable silhouettes of hunters bagging foul.
Hunting Tattoo FAQs
Why do bow hunters shoot from trees?
The nature of using a bow as a means to kill an animal is so much more difficult than using a rifle that bow hunters take every opportunity to put the odds in their favor, and treestands are one of the best tools they have.
This is because of the limited range of bows compared to firearms; rifles have a range somewhere between 50 and 300 yards, while with a bow anything above 50 yards is considered the edge of many people’s range. Treestands are excellent for bow hunting because they take the hunter out of the general field of view of most animals: deer and elk don’t usually walk around looking up in the trees. This means that the animals can get much closer to a hunter before they have any idea they are targets.
The biggest downside of using tree stands versus a more stalking intensive approach is that the hunter has to wait for the animal to walk past, which can make for some long, boring stretches sitting in a tree.
Enjoy these hunting tattoos? Check out the links below for more gallery examples:
