I've played 2 hunters to hero (Jurloah, nexun, and Keijrai, battle scout) and another one in battle to mid 40s (cloud berserker). Jurloah was after Nep beefed up some of the skills, rightly so, and hunters felt more than adequate and versatile enough to compete and win some at hero.

I've also fought and played alongside Gougof, dwarf hunter. Hunters are rocking and fun to play now. You should give it a whirl!

An animist in the right hands is super nasty too. See Carriil of late, or Korin before him (similar build).

**No one is underestimating wolf kinship, it's a nice ability. But it's also easy to avoid once called if you keep your wits.

***Insects and wasps can be called together.

Last thing is I have done research on ranger builds and almost all of them were of 1 of 2 builds:

1- felar savage evil high dam ambush/snare/ambush/savage blow
2- felar evil explorer high dam pursuit (and often insects)