Golden Eagle Hunting in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan eagle hunting. Hunting Kazakhstan

Hunting with birds and hounds has always been considered an art. The actual course of hunting, graceful movements of animals, emotions and passions of the hunters made it a festival. A steppe hunter derived great pleasure from the tandem of a dog and a hunting bird.

The Sunkar nursery working with almost all kinds of hunting birds operates in the Alma-Arasan gorge near Almaty. In 160 km from Almaty there is Berkutchi (Eagle hunting) museum where complete information about the histoiy of this kind of national hunting is available.

Golden eagle hunting is one of the oldest ways of food hunting. Our ancestors in Eurasian steppes mastered eagle hunting several thousand years ago, in the Andronov age. A proof of this fact is Bronze Age petroglyphs.

In the west of Kazakhstan (in Atyrau region in Aktobe gorge) the second Golden Man was found. His precious golden eagle was buried beside him.

Eagle hunting was mainly practiced in the northern and central regions of Kazakhstan while in the south hunters preferred to use hawks and falcons. Each bird was intended to hunt a particular type of animals. Apart from foxes, golden eagles usually catch corsacs and hares. Strong, rapacious, well-trained eagles proved good for hunting hoofed animals and even wolves. Hawks are used for geese and bustards. Sparrow-hawks are as a rule used for hunting hares while goshawks are used for quails. Falcons and merlins proved to be excellent for hunting smaller birds. In the past, hunting birds were extremely expensive: a good golden eagle could cost 5-6 camels and a falcon cost 1-2 camels.

Eagle hunting season starts with first night frosts and continues from November through February. This schedule was set in olden days because furry animals have the best fur in winter. Falcon and Merlin hunting starts in late September when birds are preparing for migration and lasts until the first snow falls.

Tazy are hounds

As a result of several centuries of selection, people of the region developed a special breed of hounds. Its distinguishing features are an outstanding ability to chase a prey, sharp-sightedness, and speed. Mostly, tazy are used to hunt hares, badgers, marmots, foxes and wolves without guns. Tazy are beautiful, graceful and elegant dogs with a sense of dignity. Tazy can be translated as "clean". Kazakhs of the past maintained a special treatment for these dogs: tazy was designated a special place in a yurt covered with a warm soft cloth and a special felt sack was taken for each hunting to keep the dog warm during hunting. As a legend talks, an excellent tazy was accepted as bride-money estimated at 47 horses.

Traditional hunting

People from all over the world come to Kazakhstan to obtain valuable horns of hoofed animals. Thanks to giant deers inhabiting the Jungar Alatau, Kazakhstan has acquired worldwide reputation of "a country for hunting". Hunters from overseas are delighted with horns of the Tien Shan maral. They may weigh up to 11-15 kg and can be very ramose. Trophies of Kazakhstani safari are elks, roe deers, wolves, saigas, wild boars, jeirans, and Karaganda, Jungar and Tien Shan argali (Central Asian sheep).

The Kazakh names of Golden Eagle. Long since Golden Eagle is used as hunting bird. The hunting with Golden Eagle is specific, at the present time, is supported by the experts - hunters (berkutchi). A hunting with Golden eagle requires special knowledge and patience. The hunters - berkutchi names Golden Eagle depending on age: till 1 year - balapan, 2-year's - kantubit, 3-year's - tyrnekl, 4-year's - tastulek, 5-year's - muzbalak, 6-year's - koktubit, 7-year's - kana, 8-year's - zhana, 9-year's - maytubit , 10-year's - barkyn, 11-year's - barshyn, 12-year's - shogel.

Hunting with Golden Eagle is one of the most unique features of the Kazakh life. The hunter is named kusbegi or berkutchi. The experience of wild birds training was gained by Kazakh kusbegi by centuries, the secrets were impacted from the father to the son and kept deep secret. At the present time we can meet few people with such name. These masters have innate gift of wild birds training. For hunting they tame falcons, golden eagles and eagles. Names of birds are given depending on their appearance and battle characteristics. The hunting with Golden Eagle are during ten centuries.

Was considered, to present the teenager a nestling of hunting bird, means, to wish to him to begin courageous, strong dzhigit. To train golden eagle - it is the high art. The caught bird gradually accustom to the owner. For it berkutchi some nights doesn't close eyes and interdicts to sleep golden eagle. The bird can take feed ( bits of uncooked meat) only from hands of the owner. After bird will get used to the hunter - berkutchi, his horse and dog, berkutchi begins to train to hunt for stuffed fox and only then the real hunting begins. Specially trained golden eagle hunts for small animals: rabbits, foxes, partridge, black hazel grouses.

Equipment for a hunting with hunting birds. For hunting with hunting birds specially prepare equipment: a coverlet, cap, couch and leash. Bardak - special wooden prop for a hand - try without it to bring on the stretched out hand a bird of weight 6-7 kg! Shyrga - skin of hare or fox is filled with straw. This is manual for a bird. The hunter drags along shyrga with long rope along steppe and teaches golden eagle to attack prey. Kusbegi must have inexhaustible patience and persistence.

Joint project of OrexCA.com and KTA & KAGIR. Information is taken from CD "All about tourism in Kazakhstan"