In Africa, sportsmen and hunters refer to the most dangerous animals as the "Big Five": cape buffalo, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and lions. There is some disagreement as to where each animal ranks, but its the predators that generally top the list - with rogues considered the nastiest of them all.
Rogues work alone. Cut off from their tribe, rogues forget fear. They forget survival instincts. They forget their code. A predator that forgets its code, strays from its natural path, is a danger to every other creature, even those of its own kind. Predator: Race War #0. Dark Horse Comics, 1993. Print.
Hunting / Breeding
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Life consists of two things for the Yautja: hunting and breeding.
Hunting is the activity of chasing and killing wild animals or game, especially for food or sport.
Trophy hunting is a form of hunting in which the hunter’s explicit goal is to obtain the hunted animal’s carcass or body part, usually the head or hide, as a trophy that represents the success of the hunt.
Poaching is the illegal take of game, though — like trophy hunting — it can be done for acquisition of coveted parts or products from the target species.
Canned hunting is the hunting of animals in an enclosure too small to allow an animal any chance of escape, hunting animals that are drugged or sedated, and/or hunting human-habituated animals. This could be said of the conditions in which the Yautja hunted within the walls of the Paloverde State Penitentiary in Arizona in 1992. Canned hunting is also commonly referred to as shopping and shooting, put and take, or captive hunting. Canned hunting operations, which are commonly referred to as shooting preserves, acquire animals through different means. They may breed wild animals themselves or animals may come from private breeders, animal dealers, circuses, or zoos. For the Yautja, this could be said of the Yautja's visit to Antarctica in 2004 to hunt the kiande amedha, with the humans caught in the middle of the conflict. Another example would be the Yautja's visit to the planet Ryushi when they seed the planet with kiande amedha Ovomorphs for their Hunt in 2224.
While the act of hunting for recreation has evolved over the course of history, the sport has always been popular for the status it imparts on a hunter. Historically, it was widely believed that a trophy could not be bought, but had to be earned with knowledge, skill, and experience in the name of sportsmanship.
The Hunt is sacred, the cornerstone of their race. In fact, the methods of Hunting and combat are known as the Path, and it has very specific rules to be followed.
This code appears similar to human warrior’s codes such as Bushido and chivalry in that it promoted bravery, martial skill, and loyalty to the pack.
A typical hunter does not need to be very experienced or skilled to obtain a trophy. Many physical-based challenges of hunting could be overcome with efficient killing technology and "road access." Modern trophy hunters thus have eliminated many of the physical challenges of hunting. It can therefore be surmised that modern day trophy hunters can attribute their success, here defined as killing their targeted prey, to having the requisite financial resources and not necessarily the hunting skills .
Each warrior has trophies on their walls on the homeworld. As proper, a warrior kept only those he thought worthy of his wall. Soft Meat skulls are highly prized, the centerpiece of the wall. To take a trophy of another Yautja, living or dead, is considered to be a great insult. For example, two Unblooded go on their first hunt. One Yautja takes on a kiande amedha and moth are mortally wounded. while the wounded hunter is dying, the other Yautja conveniently finishes off the prey and claims the kill as his own, abandoning the wounded Yautja. This is the most embarrassing crime, and the hardest to prove.
Leaders
Very similar to a pack mentality, the strongest and most efficient member of the group is the leader. This alpha male controls the actions of the group.
The Leader is always first to set foot on the Hunting grounds. Also, part of being a leader was not to seem excited by the prospect of a training Hunt, or at least show that excitement to others.
A good leader has many students still Hunting. The measure of a teacher was the life span of those he taught; the longer they lived, the better the teacher.
Only on the leader's command can the Yautja, after a training hunt, get their awu'asa. They run into the piles of equipment. There is always enough to suit them all, but they fight for the better trappings; the stronger male would get the prime supplies. That was always the way.
No one would start a fight without the Leader to witness it. Neither would they hunt without a leader's supervision.
When the Leader enters a room, all heads bow. It is a sign of respect and submission
Challenging a Leader in anger is certain death, although a leader does not have to kill one of his own to prove anything.
When a pack challenges one's assumption to the role of Leader, the kiande amedha chiva (Hard Meat trial) would prove his worth.
There is only so much slack a Leader could give one who has broken the rules of the hunt, though, before the rope must be pulled taut. Then, the Yautja has to be destroyed. It is the law; a matter of honor.
A Leader should not make excuses; in hunting, they didn't matter - you died or you didn't.
A leader should handicap himself on a hunt by only using a spear or ki'cti-pa (wrist blades). Females smiled upon a brave male more often than they did others, and a Yautja did what a Yautja had to do to bolster his line. When the Final Hunt takes place, one should leave behind a legion of younglings.
Warriors and the Hunt
The first step in becoming a warrior was the agony of the pleating of their locks of tough, wire-like hair - a process that took months of ritual and scalp pain, performed in public sessions. If there was any sign of tears or even the tiniest voicing of pain, then the intricate weaving would be undone, and the candidate had to start from the beginning.
A true warrior never speak of their own battles. They allow others to tell the tale, holding a serious mandible at the embellishments they add in the singing of it.
The wedge of the older, glory-hogging go first in a hunt. All were equal in honor, all were esteemed. However, the Yautja are much like Earthly predator packs. The members jostled for dominance, and the older, smarter, and more experienced members are generally either given deference or simply plowed past the more awkward young members.
Even the brave must know when to run away from danger. Stupid men are not brave, they are simply dead. (Predator: Big Game TPB)
The older the Yautja, the less likely it is to use firearms. Any Yautja can shoot something to death, but it takes a real warrior to kill with knives and bare hands. For the same reason, not all Yautja use their stealth suits. The truly brave (stupid?) Hunt the kiande amedha with only their bladed gauntlet.
The very last man had the least honorable position in battle, albeit a necessary one.
Good warriors stayed open to new information.
Beings of other races who prove worthy on a Hunt may well be accepted into the Yautja society. Such adopted beings are Blooded like a normal warrior. Of course, many Yautja, especially the young, resent the fact that a non-Yautja runs with them.
Insult no other hunter unless you are prepared to back your words with actions. If you are not, submit immediately.
Too long in one place creates stale kv'var (exercises). It blunted the warrior's soul, and made the Path rocky and illusory.
The Hunt
Hunting
Greek historian Xenophon argued that hunting is an asset to society, in that it promotes the well-being and health of the hunter.
Human hunters of larger game (like deer) employ four techniques:
- Still-hunting, used when game is known to be in the area but no specific animal is in sight, involves following tracks and looking for signs such as antler-shredded trees or urination areas. The hunter moves quietly, on the alert to shoot should the quarry be sighted.
- When stand hunting, the hunter takes position along a game trail and waits for the quarry to go by.
- Stalking is done when a game animal is sighted but is out of range. In this case, the hunter tries to move into rifle range while remaining hidden and downwind of the quarry.
- In driving, or beating, a group of hunters moves through an area deliberately making noise and trying to frighten game animals in the direction of other hunters.
"I wondered what it would be like to hunt something that was capable of hunting me: the challenge, the danger. To put yourself on an equal footing with nature.." Aliens vs Predator #0
Hunt Guidelines
During the hunt, Yautja employ a silent system of hand gestures to communicate with each other. This "sign language" is very simple and only capable of relating simple messages or ideas.
The hunter must be sure that his prey is considered game, and lawful to kill. It is dishonorable to Hunt something that is not a threat; those who have done no harm should have no harm done to them.
Never kill a non-fully grown member of an intelligent species, they are harmless. Penalty is combat to the death.
On a hunt, it is criminal to leave even a single prey behind.
When hunting for food, take only the weak. This is to purify the species' line.
The Yautja will generally ignore unarmed Oomans, especially women. If a person is skilled enough to be dangerous without weapons, the Yautja will be more than happy to fight. Of course, they consider a Kiande Amedha dangerous anytime.
It is considered a great honor by the Yautja to participate in the hunts, which obtain the Queen from which they obtain their supply of Ovomorphs. To obtain a live Queen, the Yautja hunting party must venture into an Kiande Amedha crèche, succeed in defeating all the Queen's warrior drones, and then subdue the Queen herself. Many of these parties never return.
When working discreetly, the Yautja tend to take their trophies and dispose of the bodies cleanly.
When a hunt needs strategy and tactics, strength did not make up for stupidity.
"Classic predator move - stake out the trail and wait for the prey to run straight into your arms." (Predator: Captive)
Move well or die; this is the main lesson of the hunt. There is no room for error.
Yautja will make good Hunting by stocking an area. They will capture a Queen (no easy feat) and harvest the Ovomorphs. These Ovomorphs are then scattered in an area with suitable hosts. After a few days, the Yautja will come in and Hunt the bugs. With the bugs' known penchant for survival, this results in the inevitable spread of kiande amedha around the galaxy.
Fight until death or victory. If you are given mercy, accept it, you dishonor a greater warrior than yourself if you do not.
Those who defeat Yautja in a fair hunt and show mercy are to be considered equals. The Yautja must either kill himself and their prey (preferring to die than to live in shame), or treat the prey as an equal. To kill another Yautja intentionally, however, is the worst crime. This excludes self-defense and killing a foe in a wrestling match to settle a dispute.
However, some cowards prefer to live in obscurity rather than die. This is considered to be dishonorable and suicide is then "assisted" by an Arbitrator. It is far better to be brave and die than be cowardly and survive by hiding from the enemy.
There are no rules in war. Fight to win, and do not hesitate.
Skinning
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On numerous occassions, corpses are left hanging out in the open as a warning or message to others that the Yautja is hunting them, taunting its prey.
As a hunter, a Yautja skins only some of his catches - similar to human hunters, using the skin (or pelt) as a trophy. Only important prey are targeted specifically to collect the skull.
Also, the Yautja may feed on their unimportant victims, as skinning and hanging corpses is part of the process of curing the meat for consumption (CityHunter visited the slaughterhouse to eat). However, the corpses discovered have no bite marks or missing pieces, which points away from use of hanging victims as food.
It is also a possibility that the Yautja is "marking" their hunting ground by leaving the corpses hanging.
Trophies and Trophy-taking
[The group finds a monolith with a pile of skulls and bones at its base]
Stans: What the hell is that?
Isabelle: Who would do this?
Mombasa: Whoever they are, they take trophies. In my culture the warrior with the greatest trophies commands the most respect. Predators. 20th Century Fox. 2010. Movie.
"Incapable of rage or fear or pity, unable to understand that what [the Yautja] had done to the dead was a vile dishonor.."
When coming upon game wounded by another hunter, and the animal is dying without sport, show honor to another's kill. If the game still shows sport, it is to be a joint trophy.
Do not join another's hunt, or hunt in their territory, without their permission. All trophies taken by this manner are stolen trophies, and shall be dealt with by the rightful one.
The highest insult in Yautja society is to be killed by another Yautja who then smashes your skull rather than claim it as a trophy. It is a way of saying you were not worthy. This is a tremendous dishonor to the family and Leader of the Yautja thus killed. On the converse, it is a great honor to have your skull displayed by your killer, as it shows they considered you a noble conquest.
"A warrior's place is in battle. A hunter's place is in the hunt. Take the hunter from the hunt and he loses his way." "In any hunt, the hunter and the prey are drawn together by forces beyond their understanding. It is the way of the world. Often, the time isn't yet right for the hunter to hunt. Or for the prey to die. That too is the way of things." Predator: Big Game TPB
It is only acceptable to give a trophy to another if done as a sign of utmost respect, or to replace a ritual weapon.
During a hunt, the main prize is to be treated honorably, subordinates are nothing, eliminate them ruthlessly.
Trophy Rooms
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A Yautja's status and pride is measured by the power of the creatures it Hunts. The Yautja claim the skulls of their prey as trophies. Always take a trophy. There is nothing worth more. Such trophies are treated with great honor, and they are polished and displayed at home. The trophy skull of an Ooman is the centerpiece of any collection.
Zeta Site Trophy Room
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The Zeta site trophy room on LV-1201 was located in the ruins of an ancient Engineer structure. The ancient Yautja discovered the structure in 1730 and the Yautja built their own facility on top of the Engineer ruins. The facility contained an impressive looking trophy room.
On display were:
- 3 human skulls
- 2 kiande amedha skulls
- The head of the Queen.
- Other golden skulls of unknown origin.
Springheeled Jack's Trophy Room
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Springheeled Jack was a nickname given to the Yautja who terrorized London in 1896. Unlike most Yautja, he chose to display his trophies in the sewers of London outside of his ship (hidden in a nearby tunnel) and contained about a dozen human skulls. There were also a few weapons from his fallen enemies, like a scimitar. The Predator was defeated by Captain Soames in the same sewers.
Lost Tribe Trophy Room
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This trophy room from 1997 was located in the Lost Tribe ship under Los Angeles discovered by Detective Mike Harrigan while pursuing City Hunter.
It contained the skulls of:
- King Willie
- a creature similar to a T-Rex with Yautja mandibles
- a kiande amedha head
- Other skulls of unknown origin.
Alaskan Trophy Room
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In 1997, a nature-loving Yautja visited the Denali National Park in Alaska with his spaceship. The Yautja hunted deer and grizzly bears and kept these trophies in his trophy room on-board the ship. The room also contained a throne-like chair decorated with human skulls.
The Yautja then fought a grizzly bear one last time and lost the fight. Being severely wounded and feeling dishonored, he blew himself up in the spaceship along with his many trophies.
Scout Ship Trophy Room
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The trophy room from the scout ship that separates from the mother ship in 2004 contains many different trophies. It also contained a workbench for cleaning trophies. The trophy room was destroyed together with the ship on Earth by Wolf during his cleanup mission.
Wolf's War Room
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Wolf kept his trophy room in his penthouse-like apartment on Yautja Prime in 2004, filled with the masks and weapons from conquered enemies, including other bad-blood Yautja.
On Earth, he was not able to take trophies, as it was his duty to clean up the mess of other Yautja.
Earthrealm Trophy Room
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After defeating an opponent and ripping their head off, the Earthrealm Yautja placed their skull inside a sleek looking trophy room, presumably on-board his spaceship.
It contained the skulls of:
- A mutated T-Rex (similar to the one displayed in the Lost Tribe's trophy room)
- A Tyranid
- A skull from the Diablo universe.
Wildlands Trophy Room
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The locals in Bolivia complained about the jungle moving and people disappearing. A squad of Ghost Recon soldiers investigated the scene and found a Yautja ship, skinned bodies and a Yautja trophy wall in the jungle filled with the skulls and spines of slaughtered narcos and rebels.
The Yautja was mortally wounded by the Ghost Recon squad and chose to blow himself up.
Afganistan's Trophy Room
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The Afghanistan Yautja collected human weapons in addition to skulls. His collection consisted of AK47-s, bazookas and even motorbikes. He stored his mementos in a hidden cave in the mountains which was discovered and looted by humans later.
Scarface's Trophy Room
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Scarface had a simple looking trophy room in his ship that contained 12 skulls of different crime bosses from the Neonopolis city where Scarface hunted in 2030. Though he had hunted kiande amedha, he only displayed human and Yautja skulls. The biggest Yautja skull in his collection belonged to Stone Heart, a cybernetically enhanced Predator.
Big Mama's Trophy Room
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Big Mama must have visited some parallel universes during her hunts, as she had a very exotic trophy wall on-board her ship in 2198. It contained:
- 2 kiande amedha warrior and one Queen skulls
- Skulls of what appears to be Batman, Cyclops and Magneto
- The apparent clawed hand of Wolverine.