Hunting

Hunting is an ancient business. People hunted not only to get something to eat. For Kazakhs it was a kind of entertainment. It was a test for their adroitness, courage, gun mastery and physical ability. While hunting many wonderful and useful skills are brought up. Returning back home after hunting, a hunter always made a special gift to aksakals. It is one of many traditions for the respect of older people’s. The hunter must be praised; he was one of the most respected people in the family.

There are different types of hunting. One of them is salburyn. It is a winter hunting entertainment. Men with their hunting birds went for hunting for a few days. Everybody wants to show their birds are the best. In winter all hunters look forward to “sonar” which is a particular kind of weather. Even the great poet Abai wrote some verses about it. Wolves and foxes in such weather usually stay in their holes. The trained hunters make them go out and the hunting begins. The bag is shared equally. A part of it is put aside for aksakls and is given respectfully to them.the educational role of this custom consists of respecting seniors and showing generosity.

Another interesting and exiting type of hunting is sayatshilyk. This ancient kind of hunting is more that a thousand years old. Hunters are called Kusbegi or Berkutchi. It is known the Kazakhs use eight kinds of birds for hunting, among them are eagles, falcons and hawks. But the most favorite was and still is a Golden eagle. The Golden Eagle’s training is a refined art. It needs tolerance, knowledge of special methods, endurance and bodily strength. The experience of eagle’s training passed through many generations. The training of these birds lasts for several years. The success depends not only on the ingenuity of the bird but also on the training mastering talent of its master. One of the leading roles is the personal relationship between the bird and its master.

Golden eagles have a high sense of self-respect and never forgive unfair and rule attitude towards them. If they are taught very well they are devoted to their master till the end of their days. People hunt with eagles usually in plains or hilly places. The hunting takes place in the winter time.

Some time ago hunting with catching birds was rather widespread in Kazakhstan. Now very few people are mastering this art. There was a period of time when it seemed that Kusbegi and Berkutchi disappeared. There are only a few people left in the country who master the art of birds training and go on hunting with them. Now this art is gradually becoming more and more popular. The ancient art of hunting has survived and continues to develop.