These skills are used to help the elf hunt, and live off the land. Almost every elf must use these at one point in their lives, but not all of them are required to continue doing so if they have other things they are good at.
Cooking
Though not truly a skill which is required for Otherforest Elf survival (they often eat meat raw) it is certainly a nice skill to add to all that hunting and running around. At a high level of ability, the elf would be called upon to be the local equivalent of the chef for many people. Hosting parties and impressing girlfriends is often easier when you can cook! Remember however that elves don't have any electrity, no microwaves or things like that. They can use the elf equivalent of hibachi, grills, stone built ovens for baking breads, or even make sushi if they live close by the sea.
Hunting
This is a general skill used to determine if the elf can go out alone hunting and come back with something good to eat or not. It also depends upon their weapons skills and the area, time of year and such. But mostly, this score will either put food on the table or let them go hungry.
Perception
This is the use of all the elf's senses to notice things around them. It is considered an "All Type" skill, because it can be considered Mental (using your brain to sense things), Physical (sensing the physical world around you) and Survival (because that's what it's used for mostly). Some elves have a better sense one way or another. One elf might be able to see farther, another can hear a softer noise, yet another might be able to feel the warmth left from a passing creature, or taste a minimal level of taint or poison in something. Elves are far better at smelling things than humans from Earth are, so they are usually able to sniff at the air and smell something even before they might hear it coming! Most elves are good at perception, however some are quite fantastic, while others are merely "average". Those with the best Perception ability are often called on to lead hunts or to scout out areas of land before others cross it. It does not only use the basic senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch) but also some elves combine it with their Magic Feeling, or other Natural powers of sense.
Stealth
This is the ability to remain silent and unseen, when someone or some thing is looking for you. The ability to cross a bare meadow without being noticed, to not disturb a leaf on the ground in autumn, leave no tracks in the snow, or to blend in the shadows in a crowded area. It is what all predatory animals use when they are hunting: hunkering down in the grass and only moving when they won't be seen, waiting for the right moment to strike, using camoflaged colors on clothing is an elfin trick, disguising scents by rolling in dung or mud (used by lions, believe it or not!), all sorts of tricks are used to remain unseen. Most young animals have a built-in stealth mode, since they are colored like the ground or terrain they're born in, etc. But this skill is used by elves consciously, they can alter their appearance, smell, what they're wearing, how they walk, and such, to a great extent!
Tracking
This is the ability to locate and understand tracks of animals, people or other trackable things. With enough practice, an elf can track even old trails or ones which have been purposefully covered up. It is the skill which an elf might use when playing Hide and Find, or just trying to locate someone who's gotten lost.
Weaponry Skills
These are skills which are obviously required to use a weapon while hunting or fighting. Elves don't often fight one another unless they're really angry or just faking it and sparring to get better at their chosen weapons.
Attack - natural weaponry
Natural weapons include those which Self Shapers grow on their bodies: claws, teeth and other things. With this skill they know how to use their body as its own weapon, hunting like an animal. It can also be used by elves who fight with their fists, hands or feet as a 'martial arts' form, including grappling and wrestling, kick-fighting, and brawling type attacks. A good skill means this elf is adept at swinging and impacting with whatever piece of their body they have chosen.
Attack - close range melee weapon
These weapons include small knives, small clubs or items placed on the fists like cat-claw gloves. The range is only as far as the elf can reach plus the short length of the weapon. This attack amount is also the ability to hold on to the weapon if it is knocked out of their hand. Successfully using this skill helps when hunting small prey, hitting something hard enough to kill it or making a cut in exactly the right spot.
Attack - medium range melee weapon
The weapons of choice for most hunters are medium ranged, such as long swords or spears (mostly spears), large clubs, staff weapons and things which are at least as long as an elf's arm. It effectively doubles their range while using a weapon like this. This type of weapon usually does a lot more damage than a close-range one. The skill when used well can allow a one-hit kill when hunting, or place the attack in an area on the animal that won't damage the hide if they need it for armor or clothing.
Attack - close range missile weapon
These weapons include throwing knives, whips, and other hand-held items which are swung around or thrown for a short distance. They rely upon the strength of the user, only. The ability to throw a small knife or bullet directly at its target, or strike just the right place with a whip. This skill is also generally used with small nets to entangle prey.
Attack - medium to long range missile weapon
The weapons which use a bow-string or other such means of increasing the strength or distance that the missile will travel. Crossbows, bows, bolos (weighted ropes), and large multiple-person nets are all included in this skill. It requires a strong person to use a bow, but when a bow is made specially for the user, it can be made very accurate. With a good skill level, an elf can hit a bulls-eye from even a great distance. Elves are very good at this in general and most elves do use a bow or crossbow while hunting.
Parry - any weapon
Many elves do not use this skill, except when sparring. A parry is simply using a weapon to block something from hitting you, instead of attacking with it. Using a staff or a shield is easiest, though small bladed weapons can also be used. Some elves use a short sword or knife in one hand, and a longer one in their stronger hand, and only parry with the short weapon. Generally speaking, it's a better idea to remain farther away and not have to parry at all... Especially when elves are as small as they are, and hunting large prey. Unless the elf is REALLY kick-ass good at this skill, missiles like arrows or crossbow bolts can never be parried. Some elves CAN do it. Probably not yours.
Shield Use
Very few elves use a shield, but some will go on hunts for very large or dangerous prey, and it gives them a good advantage at it. Pretty much a shield will be put on the off-arm of the user, leaving their weapon arm free to strike. It is a whole different skill than Parrying, to be able to use a shield with great ease. Many different types of shields are available, so choose well...
Armor Use
Remarkably few elves use armor on top of their normal clothing when they hunt. Some just like walking around in shiny metal stuff. They're considered kinda wierd. But, if they know how to use it, and know the limits of their armor, they can walk into a fight or hunt and get picked up, bitten, clawed at, and chewed without taking any real damage. The skill here is knowing when to back off, how to fix it on the fly if it gets damaged or loose, and what not to choose to fight with your particular armor level.
Other Survival Skills
Some other skills are crossover-skills with Physical or Mental. They include but might not be limited to Climb, Dodge, Jump, Animal Lore, Ride, Throw, Trapping, etc.