Hunting-Inspired Dog Names for Outdoorsy Pups

Adopting a fun-loving pup to join you on outdoor adventures? If you’re welcoming a dog in the sporting group, hound group, or any classic hunting breed into your life, consider choosing a hunting dog name. For inspiration, you can draw on themes such as the wilderness and nature, tracking and hunting terms, legendary or mythological hunters, and earth-toned or hunting-related colors. 

To find the perfect name for your new pal, check out our list of 200-plus hunting dog names for outdoorsy pups.

Popular hunting dog names

If you’re looking to really capture your pup’s hunting prowess, endurance, or love of exploring the backwoods, consider these classic and popular hunting dog names.

• Ace

• Rocky

• Hunter

• Duke

• Jake

• Tucker

• Colorado

• Boomer

• Dash

• Ranger

• Rex

• Lynx

• Yukon

• Remington

• Archer

• Tank

• Moose

• Bear

• Racer

• Logger

• Otis

• Blaze

• Winchester

• Bandit

• Smoky

• Shadow

• Flint

• Flash

• Scope

• Quarry

Female hunting dog names

For female hunting dog names, consider words that reference their tracking skills and love of the outdoors, highlight the lovely earthy tones of their coat, or celebrate hunting goddesses.

• Copper

• Sage

• Pine

• Dakota

• Misty

• Neith — the ancient Egyptian goddess of hunting, war, and weaving

• River

• Ember

• Raven

• Foxy

• Arrow

• Diana — the Roman goddess of the hunt, nature, and the moon

• Taiga

• Midnight

• Magic

• Dawn

• Arduinna — the Celtic woodland goddess of wild nature and hunting

• Ghost

• Fern

• Luna

• Artemis — the Greek goddess of hunting, the moon, and wild animals

• Mystery

• Ravine

• Skadi — the Norse giantess and goddess of hunting, winter, and mountains

• Whisper

• Rain

Male hunting dog names

For your male pup, consider names that embody their love for the hunt, are inspired by nature, or reference hunting gods in mythology. 

• Trigger

• Bramble

• Bolt

• Horus — the ancient Egyptian god of the sky, war, and hunting

• Winchester

• Maverick

• Gauge

• Runner

• Pan — the Greek god of the wilderness, shepherds and flocks, rustic music, and hunting

• Oak

• Brute

• Phoenix

• Rogue

• Steel

• Arawn — a mythological Welsh figure who is king of the Underworld and also associated with hunting

• Bog

• Tundra

• Crow

• Thicket

• Badger

• Camo

• Dynamo

• Creek

• Everest

• Buck

• Falcon

Puppy names for hunting dogs

Puppy names are all about sounding cute and emphasizing your canine companion’s wiggly, playful, and adventurous nature. When considering puppy names for hunting dogs, consider outdoorsy words with a cute, youthful ring to them or reference baby animals.

• Fawn — a baby deer

• Pebble — for a small dog who is full of character

• Colt — a male baby horse

• Filly — a female baby horse

• Twig — for your dog who is slight but full of energy

• Kit — a name for some young animals, such as foxes, badgers, ferrets, and squirrels

• Chip — for an energetic and upbeat hunting dog

• Fledgling — a baby bird

• Scout — like a Girl or Boy Scout

• Piglet — a baby pig and a cute name for a hunting dog with a big appetite

• Joey — baby marsupials, such as possums, kangaroos, and wombats

• Bud — a budding new flower

• Cub — a name for some young predatory mammals, including wolves, bears, and lions

• Snow — perfect for a white or pale cream-coated pup with a soft, refreshing personality

• Pup — an on-the-nose choice for an adult dog with puppy energy

• Moss — soft yet resilient, a great name for an especially snuggly hunting dog 

• Pinkie — refers to baby rodents, and fitting for a dog with short, light-colored fur and pink skin

• Sprout — an adorable name for a springy, energetic, and charming hunting pup

• Chick — a young bird

• Fry — a baby fish

• Puggle — a baby platypus or echidna

• Dew — a cute name for a lively, bright-eyed hunting dog

• Chirp — a good choice if your hunting pup makes short, higher pitched, and choppy vocalizations

• Acorn — a charming choice for small hunting dogs, such as a Rat Terrier or a Beagle

• Clover — a cute name for a tender and gentle outdoorsy pup

• Breeze — for a dog who has a light and refreshing personality

• Maple — a sweet pup who loves spending time in the woods

• Cricket — a cute name for an energetic hunting dog who loves jumping around

Hunting hound dog names

Hounds are classic hunting dogs, well-loved for their incredible sense of smell, determination, endurance, and deep bays and howls.

• Ol’ Red

• Blue

• Redbone

• Banjo

• Yeller

• Boone

• Hawk

• Echo

• Bay

• Whiskey

• Canyon

• Tracker

• Dusty

• Pepper

• Thunder

• Rust

• Crockett

• Holler

• Whistle

• Bull

• Cedar

• Huck

• Old Dan

• Little Ann

• Timber

• Ridge

• Cowboy

• Flame

Duck-hunting dog names

Some breeds are all about swimming, water games, and wetland hunting. Wetland and duck-hunting dog names are especially fitting for retrievers, spaniels, and pointers.

• Delta

• Bayou

• Drake

• Mallard

• Pintail

• Marsh

• Cattail

• Cypress

• Marble

• Dabbling

• Wigeon

• Gadwall

• Reed

• Eider

• Harlequin

• Merganser

• Ruddy

• Canvas

• Teal

• Scooter

• Willow

• Lily

• Ripple

• Cajun

• Sedge

• Everglade

• Woodie

Badass hunting dog names 

If you’re searching for a name as tough and badass as your best hunting pal, check out the following. 

• Grizzly

• Havoc

• Wrecker

• Diesel

• Tank

• Mountain

• Flash

• Lightning

• Bullseye

• Rambo

• Bruiser

• Gunner

• Thor

• Hercules

• Bullet

• Buckshot

• Courage

• Braveheart

• Winter

• Tornado

• Hurricane

• Wolf

• Kodiak

• Storm

• Riptide

• Striker

• Outlaw

• Phantom

• Brimstone

Commonly asked questions

How to choose a rescue dog?

To choose a rescue dog who will fit well into your family, consider your lifestyle, how often you’re home, which activities you want to do with your adopted pup, and how much time you have to focus on them. These questions can help you choose a dog by considering their breed’s traits, needs, and personality, as well as your lifestyle and home setup.

What to know about adopting a working dog breed?

If you’re thinking about adopting a working dog breed, such as a Border Collie, it’s important to make sure you have the time, space, and energy to meet their needs. These dogs often do best in homes where they have plenty of mental and physical enrichment, and daily access to outside spaces.

What is a powerful name for a dog? 

Looking for a powerful name for a dog? Consider names such as Athena, Kali, Titan, Zeus, and Cyclone.

References

American Kennel Club. (n.d.). Sporting Group Study guide. https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pdf-doc-ppt/sporting_group_study_guide-1.pdf

American Kennel Club. (n.d.-a). Hound Group – American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hound/

Waterfowl ID: Discover all types of ducks, geese & more | Ducks Unlimited. (n.d.). https://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id