Legendary image of the eagle taking down a wolf…
Here, in the far west of Mongolia, in Kazakh territory, this culture, this myth, this symbiosis between the eagle and man is a daily reality.
Kazakh culture is entirely centered around the eagle; the Burgutchi, as they are called, are the lords of the arid valleys on the slopes of the Mongolian Altai.
Riding alone or in teams, they are the pride of a people.
At the edge of China and Russia, just a few dozen kilometers from Kazakhstan, the west of Mongolia is inhabited by several ethnic groups, with the Khalgas, Tuvas, and Kazakhs being the most prominent.
This makes Bayan Ulgii a cultural crossroads, giving this region a unique allure that remains relatively unknown and preserved due to its distance from the capital.
The most significant culture here is Kazakh. Having migrated from Kazakhstan in the late 17th century, the Kazakhs have settled in this semi-desert region and developed a distinctive culture—a sophisticated blend of Kazakh and Mongolian traditions—that creates a particularly strong identity and a pronounced hospitality, combined with a constant warmth that is truly charming.
In this harsh and wild land, the Kazakhs practice and preserve the art of eagle hunting.
Eagle hunting has been practiced in Mongolia for centuries; it is said that Genghis Khan maintained over 100 eagles for his hunts. Today, the Kazakh people in the west of the country are the only ones who continue this practice, with origins lost in the mists of time.
The Burgitchin, hunters as well as trainers, live in close relationship with their eagles—a symbiosis with the animal that combines respect and submission...without really knowing who submits to whom.
**Eagle Hunting**
Eagle hunting is an ancient tradition among cavalry tribes. The hunter must be able to move quickly with his eagle and climb to heights, requiring the speed and agility only a horse can provide.
The Kazakh people, who settled in the far west of Mongolia at the end of the 17th century, continue this traditional hunting practice today.
Eagle chicks are captured from their nests, usually during the summer. In the spring, the hunter locates an eagle's nest and waits until the chick is mature enough to be taken from its parents, but before it has fully developed its plumage.
Capturing the chick is a significant part of the tradition and a crucial moment in establishing the bond between the hunter and his eagle. Eagle nests typically contain two chicks, but usually only one survives. Hunters prefer to capture a female, as they are believed to be more aggressive than males.
Once brought to the camp, the chick is hooded and placed on a perch that prevents it from sleeping, aiming to disorient it and reduce its resistance. The chick is fed like its parents, which helps to calm it and reduce the stress of capture. This process gradually helps establish the bond between the chick and the hunter.
In the following months, the trainer will release the eagle towards pieces of meat placed a few meters away, with the eagle still tethered by a leash. The leash will be used until the eagle returns to the trainer on its own. The trainer spends much of the day building the relationship with the eagle, feeding and training it to hunt, while gradually increasing the eagle’s freedom. The rest of the time, the eagle is kept in a dimly lit place to maintain its visual acuity.
In Kazakh homes or yurts, there is often a special area designated for the eagle, ensuring it has as much peace as possible. Sometimes an entire yurt is reserved for the eagle, and it is not uncommon for a family to own multiple eagles.
Training lasts several months before the eagle gains enough experience for its first hunt. Young eagles are initially released to hunt small game, such as rabbits or hares, with fox hunting coming later.
In Ulgii, eagle hunting is practiced from October to late February, when the eagle's plumage is at its best and the fur of the game is of higher quality.
The first hunt for an eagle is a significant event in Kazakh life and culture. The Burgitchin set out on horseback, holding their eagle on their fist, and head towards a point where the bird can survey the entire valley.
The eagles remain hooded until the start of the hunt. At the valley's base, beaters make noise and strike their coats to flush out foxes and hares.
The hunter then removes the hood that prevents the eagle from seeing. Within seconds, the eagle's vision adjusts to the light, regaining its acute sight, which is almost ten times superior to that of a human.
The hunter keeps the eagle restrained with a small leash attached to its talon to prevent it from flying away and waits until it spots the prey. The eagle is then "released" towards its target. The eagle soars and then dives at the animal, reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h. Just before impact, the eagle pulls up and slows its descent, seizing the prey at the base of its neck, paralyzing it with the tip of its talons, which exert a pressure of over a hundred kilograms per square centimeter.
The talons penetrate the prey's vertebrae and thoracic cage, with the fatal blow usually delivered by the eagle's powerful beak.
The hunter must then quickly descend the hill to retrieve the prey and rewards the eagle with a piece of meat, before the eagle damages the animal too much.
The Kazakhs keep their hunting eagles for only seven or eight years before releasing them back into the wild to breed. Once an eagle is returned to the wild, the Burguichins head back to the mountains to find another eaglet, repeating these ancient practices and passing down this skill to their sons.
The legend of the eagle hunting a wolf—myth, legend, or reality?
Many accounts and ancient manuscripts describe this supreme hunt, where the lord of the sky confronts the lord of the steppes. This hunt was typically conducted in the vast plains of Aise, where hunters could first pursue the animal on horseback, weakening it through the chase before the eagles were set upon it.
In those times, the risk of losing an eagle was inconsequential...
It was an era when the fur of a wolf was valuable for making clothing necessary to endure the harsh winters, crucial for the survival of a tribe.
Today, Kazakh Burguichins are very reluctant to hunt wolves with their eagles and practice their art on other game, mainly foxes and hares.
Hunting the lord of the steppes requires a very powerful eagle, one that is aggressive and, most importantly, highly experienced.
The wolf is formidable, and even if the eagle gains the upper hand on impact, it is likely to be injured. Even minor injuries, such as a damaged talon or tendon, can render the eagle incapable of hunting in the future.
Although it is occasionally practiced, hunters take enormous precautions, sometimes using two eagles to tackle a wolf or choosing a young wolf, ensuring that a ground assistant can quickly intervene to assist the eagles and dispatch the wolf to avoid any risk of injury to the raptor.
Your Travel
The hunts take place after the first snowfall, so your stay will be in the heart of winter in the Altai foothills.
You’ll experience incredibly beautiful landscapes, but also biting, sharp cold. Although the air is particularly dry, making the cold less penetrating, expect to encounter very low temperatures.
It is also advisable to know how to ride a horse, though it is not a strict requirement.
Accommodations will be with local families, offering very little chance for privacy. However, this also means you will create unforgettable memories and have unique moments of exchange, sharing, and discovery. The purpose of this stay is not only to allow you to experience and participate in eagle hunting but also to immerse you in the world of the Kazakh Burguichins in Mongolia.
The warmth and ever-present kindness of your Kazakh hosts will offer you intense moments that you will need to fully appreciate and savor.
In Bayan Ulgii, the winter is harsh and severe, but there is no doubt that the Kazakh hospitality, whether in yurts or mud-brick houses, will warm the traveler who can appreciate the intensity of these experiences.
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