Art of hunting with Golden Eagle

In Kyrgyzstan, central Asia, the area around the lake of Issyk Kul is known for its hunters with falcons and golden eagles.  The Kyrgyz tradition dates back 900 years to the time of the Mongol invasion in the area.  Hunting with one of nature’s most formidable bird’s of prey – the golden eagle.

The primal culture of hunting is practised the world round, while hunting with birds of prey is not only more challenging but it also offers a glimpse to another time.

This style of hunting is a difficult sport, as it takes three to four years to teach a bird to hunt.

The bird must always be taught by the same man, and that man should be with the bird at all times, in order to get the bird used to the voice of the “berkuchi” – its master, its friend and teacher.

To prepare the bird for hunting professional golden eagle hunter, Mirlan Kalilov, says he doesn’t give the bird anything to eat, to clean his system. He needs to keep the bird hungry and fit, so that it could fly easily.

Both falcon and golden eagle attack and kill their prey instantly, breaking its neck or spine and leaving only barely visible marks on the fur of the prey, so the fur and skin are left practically intact.

The hunter has to keep his bird on a stretched arm.

The prey of falcons could be small rodents, rabbits, and foxes, but for such a powerful bird as the golden eagle it could be bobcats, roe deer, and even young wolves stranded in deep snow in winter.

Hunting season usually starts at the end of October or beginning of November and lasts for four months.

The Golden Eagle

A superb hunter the golden eagle possesses lethal talons that can carry animals as large as foxes effortlessly into the air. Examples of their still larger prey include deer, lambs and young goats but these are usually not slain by the eagle but eaten as carrion.
Domestic animals such as dogs are not excluded from the skilled hunter’s talons.

They possess incredibly keen eyesight and are easily able to scan far enough to spot a rabbit, lizard or a mouse two kilometers away. Their hearing is also excellent because they need to be able to hear the cries of their young when they are flying some distance away from the chicks.

The golden eagle has over 2,000 feathers, from small, downy ones for keeping the bird warm when it’s riding the often freezing thermals to large broad flight feathers. They take immaculate care of them, preening meticulously. Considering that they have a wing span of up to two meters this is not a task to underestimate.

Their mating habits are amazing because they dance in the air, enticing each other by soaring, swooping, chasing and diving until eventually they lock talons and spiral down to earth.

It is not difficult to understand why numbers are dwindling when it is considered that each pair of golden eagles requires 3,000 acres of land for their hunting territory. As man demands more land for himself terrain is spoiled for hunters like the eagle.

In a nearby woodland area I sometimes see an eagle, wings spread out, gliding on the fresh breezes. As its piercing cries conjure up bygone times when our ancestors were forest dwellers peaceably co-existing with these wondrous feathered creatures my heart is wrenched with sorrow that in the future we might cause their extinction. Yet they are not considered to be under threat of it currently and the golden eagle has soared back from near extinction in certain parts of the world. There is still time for us all to respect the environment that we share with them so that we all may survive for many years to come.

Accommodation

We use comfortable 4  star hotels in Ulaanbaatar, capital city and good service Ger camps throughout countryside.

Food

The hierarchy of foods in the Mongolian diet

The meat-dependent diet arises from the need for hearty food to stave off the cold and long winters. Traditionally nomadic herders, Mongolians have for centuries been dependent on mostly animal products for their dietary staples.

Mongolians traditionally have turned to foods that are high in protein and minerals, relying less on more seasonable foods like vegetables and fruits. This means a diet heavy on meat and dairy products, the latter when sour in the summer time thought to clean the stomach. It isn’t just about meat though. Mongolians do also eat cereal, barley and natural fruits and plants native to the country.

Out of necessity Mongolians have found creative and ingenious ways to use the milk of all five of the domestic animals in the country: sheep, cattle, goats, camels and horses. Orom is the cream that forms on top of boiled milk; aaruul are dried curds and can be seen baking in the sun on top of gers in the summer; eetsgii is the dried cheese; airag is fermented milk of mares (female horses); nermel, is the home-brewed vodka that packs a punch; tarag, is the sour yogurt; shar tos, melted butter from curds and orom, and tsagaan toss, boiled orom mixed with sometimes flour, natural fruits or eezgii. The method of drying the dairy products is common in preparing them. The Mongolians prepare enough dairy products for the long winter and spring.

While in the countryside we serve you western and eastern European and Mongolian type of food.

photos by T.Bayanjargalan

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It took me 2 weeks to physically recover from our trip, the memories will stay for ever. Thank you so much for looking after us and showing us your amazing country, thank you for always doing it with a smile and bringing much laughter.

It was a very special trip that will have always have it’s own place in my

memory and

my heart

JULIE BEECHER

Thanks for everything!

Wonderful experience!

Michael Hudson

The recce to Mongolia was an unforgettable experience.

The vast open Steppe, the friendly local people, the history, the horse race, the tiny, tough ponies and the food – especially the authentic fare we were able to sample like goat, curd cakes and airac!

An ideal trip for those wanting their first taste of a horse trekking adventure.

Didi Goodenough

Mongolia is for those who really want to get away from it all rather than just talking about it…..we covered mile upon mile of the most stunning wilderness scenery, with strictly no mobile phone or email reception to interrupt the reverie for the best part of two weeks.

Bliss. We hardly stuck to the itinerary, but it didn’t matter one jot in a place like Mongolia. The highlights? Camping at some or other place, the land underfoot was carpetted with edelweiss, with a stunning sunset, campfire….and a

bush shower!!! The perfect night in Mongolia.

Nicolette Krajewski

Tom, Tulga and his team were excellent, very knowledgeable and friendly, and anxious to share their knowledge. The organisation appeared seamless – accommodation, food, vehicles, horses, camels all appeared on time and as expected. Forget boiled greasy mutton and no vegetables – we ate very well indeed with plenty of salads.

The cook team would erect their tent at lunchtime in the middle of nowhere and produce a three course meal in no time at all! Even the dreaded fermented mare’s milk proved drinkable. Sharing eclipse glasses with the local population was an unforgettable experience and we hope it was for them, because otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to see it from beginning to end. And the greatest impression of all was the vast beautiful emptiness of the country…

Janet Locke

We learned a lot about Mongolia – and how nice Mongolian people are! It was a great holiday and we loved it all. The ger camps were better than I had expected and the facilities were better too than I’d imagined, having stayed in yurts previously in Kyrghizstan. We were very comfortable in all the ger camps…

We were hugely impressed by Tulga’s team when we were at the eclipse ger camp and when we were camping – I’ve never seen such excellent wilderness loos (with seats!) and his showers were a thing to marvel at.

Peter & Jenny Alderson

The itinerary went through a number of iterations before the tour and it was an excellent

introduction to a fascinating country… To experience Mongolia, horse ride over the Mongolian steppes and live in

gers – it could not have been a better introduction to such a fantastic landscape and people.

Roger & Lyndsey Jones

My trip to Mongolia was amazing. The landscape was beautiful and I felt that I was on top of the world most of the time. The people were so warm and genuine. This was my first trip abroad on my own and Tulga and Dowa, our guides, and Nagi, our driver, made me feel so safe and secure that all my anxieties disappeared as soon as I met them.

It was a pleasure to see how the nomads live and to be invited into their lives for a short time. Mongolia is so beautiful and peaceful – I can’t wait to go back again.

Lisa Fry

Just to say the time spent with you in Mongolia was fantastic.

I can never express the gratitude I feel for such an outstanding and exciting time,

it will take a while for me to adjust to ordinary life in the UK. I couldn’t stop talking!

Jenny Smith

I loved my holiday it was wonderful, and I keep telling everyone to go to Mongolia.

Naadam in Bulgan was amazing experience!

Patricia Bernard

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Send  your inquiry to;

Mr. Tulga

Bayangol District, 6r khoroo, Aminii Oron suuts 11 7B
Ulaanbaatar 44 P.O. Box 793 Mongolia
Tel/fax: + 976 11 68 82 56
Mobile: +976 9904 0894

info@nomadictrails.com

www.nomadictrails.com

Private Groups

If you have a group of friends or relatives, or are part of a club or organisation, and would like to travel on a private tour organised by Nomadic Trails – either using an existing Nomadic Trails itinerary, guide and departure date or by tailor-making a trip of your own – we’d be happy to help.

In fact, we feel this offers the best of both worlds, enabling you to tailor-make your holiday, travel when you like, and with exactly who you want!

Not only that but by arranging your own group you can qualify for significant discounts.

If you manage to get 10 passengers we will give 1 place free of charge;

if you get 8 passengers we will give the lead booker a 50% discount;

and if you get 6 passengers we will give the lead booker a 25% discount.*

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