10 Things you must know about Eagle Mongolian

1. DID MONGOLS USE EAGLES?

In west Mongolia, the Kazakh buckthorn hunts with horses and eagles. This is an ancestral heritage passed down through generations.

According to one Kazakh eagle catcher, all Kazakh children enjoy eagle training and scouting. By the time they are 12 or 13, eagle catchers will have their own eagle.

2. WHAT IS EAGLE HUNTING?

Eagle hunting is a traditional practice of some Central Asian people. It is most often done in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Xinjiang in China.

Eagle hunters use trained golden eagles to help them hunt foxes, hares, wolves, and other small mammals. The eagle does not eat the prey; rather, it is a tool used by the eagle hunter to help providers find food for his family.

Mongolian Eagle hunting is a dangerous sport; not only is there a risk of being attacked by the eagle, but also of being thrown from the horse. Golden eagle hunters must be skilled in both riding and handling their eagles.

3. WHY DID EAGLE HUNTING START?

There are many theories about why eagle hunting started, but the most likely explanation is that it was a way to supplement the diet of eagle hunters during the winter months. In a region where food is scarce, anything that can help provide sustenance is valuable.

4. WHAT ARE MONGOLIAN EAGLE HUNTERS CALLED?

Burkitshi, or Eagle hunters provide Kazakhs with food in freezing winters for thousands of years. A pair of Eaglets are captured from their nesting sites on the edge of the mountain.

5. WHY DO MONGOLIANS HUNT EAGLES?

Kazakh ethnic people in the west of western Mongolia, Bayan Ulgii province, participate in an ancient sporting activity called eagle hunting i.e. falconry. Falconry is carried out in the Steppes of Central Asia in the last thousand years.

It was a way of life for the nomadic Mongolian eagle hunters. The Kazakhs in Mongolia are the only people who still use eagles to hunt prey.

6. HOW IS AN EAGLE TRAINED?

An eagle is not born knowing how to hunt; it must be taught. This process begins when the eagle is just a few months old. The eagle hunter will take the eagle out on horseback, and gradually introduce it to the sights and sounds of hunting. The eagle will learn to associate the sound of the horse’s hooves with the opportunity to hunt.

Over time, the eagle will become more confident and skilled in hunting. Once it is fully grown, it will be able to take down large prey such as foxes and hares.

7. WHAT KIND OF EAGLE IS USED FOR HUNTING?

The most common eagle used for hunting in Mongolia is the golden eagle. These eagles are native to the region and are well-suited for the climate. They are also relatively easy to train.

8. HOW DOES MONGOLIAN EAGLE HUNTING WORK?

The eagle hunter will ride his horseback out into the steppe, looking for prey. When he sees an animal, he will release his eagle, which will then chase and capture the animal. The eagle will then return to the hunter, who will give it a piece of meat as a reward.

9. What is the lifespan of a golden eagle?

In the wild, the golden eagle typically lives for around thirty years. However, eagle hunters will often keep them around for 10 years, then release them into the wild. Some eagle hunters have had the same eagle for over 35-40 years.