I know there are alternatives, that's the reason why I haven't died.
But are you conceding that hunting is an inferior way to get food? That looks kinda unrealistic, and a huge turnoff for a game with this setting...
I did kill an elk, but I met it by chance, tracking looks useless otherwise. I also killed a hare because I sneaked on it while it was sleeping, otherwise it's impossible to hit small animals with missiles; and they leave no tracks, at least without snow (I haven't reached my first Winter yet). I also killed a squirrel because it kept escaping in circles, I don't know if that was because there were no more trees adjacent...?
I've read about trap fences, I'll try them... But I'm very disappointed if hunting by itself is so difficult. Actually I tried a small trap fence using trees instead of fences, I thought it should have worked...
About plants and mushrooms, is there a way to know if they're poisonous? I've read somewhere that it may be better to boil some.