The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word KESTRELS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
K
E
S
T
R
E
L
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Hunters" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hunters = kestrels.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does KESTRELS mean?
KESTRELS noun- Any of various small falcons of the genus Falco that hover while hunting.
- The common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus.