What class and level are you playing Akimbo? It sounds like you've played KB:TL a bit? If so then don't worry about the "very strong" and "lethal" army descriptions. Depending on their composition, they're often quit easily beatable if your tactically inclined.
As for the Elven Land Elon, I haven't seen Hunters very often.... There is one group of 3 shops where you first land that's easily accessable. There is also a merchant and 2 shops in the center of the island which are much harder to get to if you try the direct approach. So it may be a good idea to visit the astronomers hut behind the three shops as he has a quest for you to find a fallen metorite, which you'll find in the center there too. Once you bring the metorite back, he'll tell you need to get some tools from Montero.
If you cruise around the ocean to the second landing on the other side of the island, it's quite easy to kite the patrol there down the stairs and then quickly turn around and run back up. Similarly, once you get further along the path, the second patrol is also quite easy to get around. You just need to get it to follow you back to a wider spot on the path and it's easy to do a u-turn and give it the slip. Past the castle and down the stairs is where you'll find the merchants and the fallen meteorite.