Eagle Hunting in Kazakhstan: Ethical Berkutchi Guide

Quick answer: Eagle hunting in Kazakhstan is a living western steppe tradition linked to Kazakh nomadic culture, best understood through trained golden eagles, winter festivals, and respectful local guides.

Kazakh eagle hunting is one expression of falconry, a living practice involving community knowledge, animal care and landscape. UNESCO element 01708, inscribed in its current multinational form in 2021, includes Kazakhstan; it does not certify individual tours, prove an exact national headcount, or establish a precise 4,000-year age for the present practice.

Eagle hunting is not a staged performance for cameras. It is a living tradition passed from father to son (and increasingly, daughter) for millennia. The berkutchi and his berkut (golden eagle) form a hunting partnership built over years of daily training, a bond that Kazakhs consider sacred. For travelers, witnessing this ancient art in person ranks among the most powerful cultural experiences Kazakhstan offers.

What Is Eagle Hunting (Berkutchi Tradition)?

Berkutchi (Kazakh: беркутші) means “eagle man,” the person who practices the art of hunting with a trained golden eagle. The tradition is also called qusbegi (құсбегі, “master of birds”) in formal Kazakh, though berkutchi is the most widely used term.

The tradition works like this: a berkutchi captures a young golden eagle, trains it over 1-3 years to hunt cooperatively with a mounted rider, hunts with the bird for 5-10 seasons, then releases it back to the wild at breeding age. The cycle then repeats with a new eagle.

Key elements of the berkutchi tradition:

• The eagle is a partner, not a pet. Berkutchi do not domesticate their birds. The eagle retains its wild instincts, and that wildness is what makes it an effective hunter.
• Horseback hunting. The berkutchi rides to elevated terrain, scans for prey, removes the eagle’s hood, and releases. The eagle strikes from above while the hunter gallops to the catch site.
• Seasonal practice. Hunting runs from October to February, when fox and hare fur is thickest and prey tracks show clearly in snow.
• Generational knowledge. Training methods, eagle-reading skills, and hunting terrain knowledge pass within families. Some berkutchi lineages trace back 10+ generations.

The tradition is central to Kazakh cultural identity. The golden eagle appears on Kazakhstan’s national flag, coat of arms, and currency, a direct reference to berkutchi heritage.

History of Eagle Hunting: Deep Roots, Cautious Dating

Ancient Origins

Falconry has deep roots across Eurasia, but the frequently repeated exact 4,000-year figure does not by itself prove continuous modern Kazakh practice. UNESCO’s Tamgaly record documents the archaeological landscape and its rock-art galleries, but it should not be stretched into a precise date for today’s berkutchi practice. This guide therefore separates broad regional history from modern community continuity.

Chinese historical sources provide the earliest written records. Han Dynasty chronicles (206 BC - 220 AD) describe the Wusun and Kangju peoples of the Kazakh steppe hunting with trained eagles. The practice was well-established across the Turkic and Mongol worlds by the 6th century, when the Gokturk Khaganate controlled Central Asia.

Mongol and Turkic Expansion

Eagle hunting reached its peak prestige during the Mongol Empire (13th-14th centuries). Genghis Khan himself was recorded as an enthusiastic falconer, and Marco Polo described the Great Khan’s hunting parties with thousands of birds of prey. The Mongol tradition directly influenced Kazakh berkutchi practices, as both cultures share the same core training methods, equipment terminology, and hunting protocols.

Under the Kazakh Khanate (1465-1847), berkutchi held respected social status. Skilled eagle hunters served khans as providers of fur and game. Eagle hunting competitions featured at major Kazakh celebrations and traditions, alongside kokpar (horseback polo) and baige (horse racing).

Soviet Suppression and Survival

Soviet collectivization in the 1930s devastated nomadic Kazakh life. Forced settlement, livestock confiscation, and the catastrophic famine of 1931-1933 (which killed an estimated 1.5 million Kazakhs) broke the generational chain of berkutchi knowledge.

The tradition survived in pockets:

• Eastern Kazakhstan (Katon-Karagai, Altai region), where mountainous terrain preserved traditional lifeways
• Bayan-Olgii, Mongolia, where the largest Kazakh diaspora community maintained berkutchi traditions unbroken
• Kyrgyzstan, where Kyrgyz eagle hunters preserved parallel traditions in the Tien Shan mountains

Post-Independence Revival (1991-Present)

Since Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, berkutchi practice has appeared in competitions, demonstrations, and heritage work. In the bounded review completed July 10, 2026, Firecrawl discovery checked the UNESCO 01708 record and RU/KZ search results but did not identify a current primary national census. The evidence log records that cutoff; this is not a claim that no registry can exist.

How Berkutchi Train Golden Eagles

Training a golden eagle demands daily commitment over 1-3 years. The methods have remained largely unchanged for centuries.

Capturing the Eagle

Berkutchi traditionally capture young female eagles (2-4 years old) from mountain cliff nests in late spring or summer. Females are strongly preferred because they are 30-40% larger than males and significantly more powerful hunters. A mature female berkut weighs 5-7 kg with a wingspan exceeding 2 meters; males rarely exceed 4 kg.

Some modern berkutchi work with captive-bred eagles, but many practitioners insist that wild-caught birds possess superior hunting instincts. Kazakh law permits licensed berkutchi to capture eagles for traditional hunting purposes.

The Taming Process (Manning)

The first weeks are the most intensive. The freshly captured eagle is aggressive, frightened, and powerful enough to cause serious injury. The berkutchi must:

1. Carry the eagle on the glove (tom-aq) for hours daily to build physical familiarity and exhaust the bird’s fear response
2. Feed by hand exclusively to establish the berkutchi as the sole food source
3. Expose gradually to stimuli like horses, dogs, other people, movement, and sounds
4. Speak and sing to the eagle. Berkutchi traditionally sing specific songs to their birds, believing the eagle learns to associate the hunter’s voice with safety

This phase typically takes 2-4 weeks. The eagle is considered “manned” when it sits calmly on the glove, accepts food without aggression, and tolerates the berkutchi’s touch.

Recall and Lure Training

Once manned, the eagle learns to fly to the berkutchi’s glove on command. Training begins at short distances (2-3 meters) and extends to 200+ meters over weeks. A shirga (a fox-skin lure dragged behind a horse) teaches the eagle to pursue, strike, and hold prey on the ground.

Field Hunting

The final stage takes the eagle into real hunting terrain on horseback. Helpers flush foxes or hares from cover; the berkutchi releases the eagle from an elevated position. A fully trained berkut can spot prey from over a kilometer away, dive at speeds exceeding 240 km/h, and hold a struggling fox until the hunter arrives.

The entire process, from capture to reliable field hunting, typically takes 1-3 years. An exceptional berkut may hunt cooperatively for a decade before the berkutchi releases it back to the wild at breeding age (around 12-15 years old).

The Hunting Season and Process

Eagle hunting season runs from October through February, peaking in December and January. The timing is deliberate:

• Fur quality: Fox and hare pelts reach peak thickness in deep winter, making them valuable for traditional Kazakh clothing
• Visibility: Snow cover makes prey tracks easy to read and animals easier to spot against the white landscape
• Eagle condition: Golden eagles are naturally more active and aggressive hunters in cold weather
• Terrain access: Frozen rivers and hardened ground allow horseback access to remote hunting valleys

A Typical Hunting Day

A berkutchi hunting day follows a centuries-old pattern:

1. Pre-dawn departure. The berkutchi rides out with the hooded eagle on his glove, accompanied by 1-3 beaters (helpers on horseback or foot).
2. Positioning. The berkutchi climbs to a ridge or elevated terrain overlooking a valley or gully where prey shelters.
3. Flushing. Beaters ride through the valley below, driving foxes and hares from cover.
4. Release. When prey appears, the berkutchi removes the eagle’s hood (tymaq) and launches the bird with an arm thrust.
5. The strike. The eagle drops from height, accelerating in a long stoop to strike prey with its talons, capable of exerting over 400 PSI of grip force.
6. Recovery. The berkutchi gallops to the catch site, rewards the eagle with a piece of meat, and secures the prey.

A productive day might yield 1-3 foxes. The fur is used for traditional clothing, and the meat is shared among the hunting party. Some berkutchi also hunt corsac foxes, hares, and occasionally wolves (though wolf hunting requires an exceptionally large and brave eagle).

Where to See Eagle Hunting in Kazakhstan

Almaty Region (Most Accessible)

The easiest place for visitors to experience eagle hunting is in the villages and mountain foothills east of Almaty. Several established berkutchi offer regular demonstrations and immersive experiences:

Demonstration (1-2 hours): Watch a berkutchi work with his eagle: flying, recalling to the glove, lure chasing. Excellent photo opportunities. Cost: obtain a current written operator quote.

Extended demonstration: Activities, horse riding, release, and any visitor handling are conditional. Require operator confirmation of lawful permissions, bird registration, welfare procedures, insurance, weather, and explicit visitor authorization. Obtain a current written quote.

Full-day field program: Before any hunting activity, require the operator to confirm the current lawful season, target species, bird registration, hunting permits, zone restrictions, weather, animal-welfare procedures, and what the visitor may legally do. Obtain a written quote; there is no universal availability window.

Nura Village (Almaty Oblast)

The village of Nura (not to be confused with the Nura River in central Kazakhstan) in the Almaty region has become a hub for berkutchi tourism. Several families here have practiced eagle hunting for generations and now welcome visitors. The setting (dramatic mountain valleys with snow-capped peaks) adds to the experience.

Eagle Hunting Festivals and Competitions

Competitions and demonstrations are announced by organizers for specific dates and venues. A past Sayat program, Nauryz appearance, or World Nomad Games schedule is not proof of an annual event. Verify the current organizer, location, admission, transport, and animal-welfare rules before planning a trip around one.

Eastern Kazakhstan (Katon-Karagai)

The Katon-Karagai district in the Altai Mountains is sometimes included in cultural itineraries, but “most authentic” is not a measurable category and no single modern district can be asserted as the origin. Verify current air and road connections, protected-area rules, host availability, and travel time for the exact date.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Status

In 2021, UNESCO inscribed the current multinational Falconry, a living human heritage element, which includes Kazakhstan among 24 participating states. The record concerns community knowledge and practice; it does not rank national traditions or certify commercial experiences.

What UNESCO recognition means in practice:

• Recognition. The practice is documented as part of a multinational heritage element.
• Safeguarding. Participating communities and states describe measures intended to support transmission.
• No tour certification. The listing does not approve an operator, price, event, or handling session.
• No automatic permit. Wildlife, bird registration, hunting, and protected-area rules still apply.

Kazakhstan has separately nominated specific elements of berkutchi culture for additional UNESCO recognition, including the traditional knowledge systems surrounding eagle training and the musical traditions associated with eagle hunting.

Kazakhstan vs. Kyrgyzstan vs. Mongolia: Eagle Hunting Compared

Eagle hunting exists across Central Asia, but each country’s tradition has distinct characteristics:

Aspect	Kazakhstan	Kyrgyzstan	Mongolia (Bayan-Olgii)
Practitioners	No current census used	No current census used	No current census used
Ethnic group	Kazakh	Kyrgyz	Ethnic Kazakhs
Primary terrain	Steppe and mountain foothills	High mountain valleys (Tien Shan)	Altai mountain plateaus
Main prey	Fox, hare	Fox, hare, marmot	Fox, hare, wolf
Major festival	Sayat (Almaty region)	World Nomad Games host	Golden Eagle Festival (Olgii, October)
Tourist accessibility	High (Almaty-based)	Moderate (Bishkek-based)	Low (remote western Mongolia)
UNESCO status	Included in element 01708	Included in element 01708	Included in element 01708

Key distinction: Mongolia’s Bayan-Olgii eagle hunters are ethnically Kazakh. They are the descendants of Kazakhs who migrated to western Mongolia centuries ago. Their berkutchi tradition is essentially the same as Kazakhstan’s, making Mongolia’s famous Golden Eagle Festival a Kazakh cultural event, despite being held in Mongolia.

Kyrgyz eagle hunting shares common Turkic roots with the Kazakh tradition but developed separately in the high-altitude Tien Shan environment, where different prey species and terrain shaped distinct hunting techniques.

Famous Eagle Hunters

Aisholpan Nurgaiv and The Eagle Huntress

The most internationally known berkutchi today is Aisholpan Nurgaiv (born 2001), a young Kazakh woman from Bayan-Olgii, Mongolia. The 2016 documentary The Eagle Huntress followed 13-year-old Aisholpan as she trained with her father Nurgaiv to become one of the first known female eagle hunters.

The documentary was a global hit. Narrated by Daisy Ridley, it grossed $4.1 million worldwide and introduced millions of viewers to the berkutchi tradition. According to National Geographic’s coverage of eagle hunting in Central Asia, the tradition has seen renewed global interest partly driven by Aisholpan’s story. Aisholpan won the eagle hunting competition at the Golden Eagle Festival in 2014, competing against 70 male hunters.

The role of women in eagle hunting: While berkutchi has been historically male-dominated, Aisholpan’s success has inspired a wave of young women across Kazakhstan and Mongolia to take up the tradition. Historians note that women likely participated in eagle hunting in earlier centuries (petroglyphs at some Central Asian sites show female figures with birds of prey), but the practice became exclusively male in recent centuries. Today, at least a dozen female berkutchi are actively training and hunting in Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Sailau Akhmet

Sailau Akhmet is one of Kazakhstan’s most respected living berkutchi, based in the Almaty region. He has trained over 30 eagles during his career spanning four decades and has won multiple national eagle hunting competitions. He is also one of the primary berkutchi who works with international tourists and documentary filmmakers, making him an ambassador for the tradition. His family has practiced berkutchi for at least seven generations.

Dalel Manas

Based in eastern Kazakhstan, Dalel Manas is known for hunting wolves with his golden eagles, one of the most difficult and dangerous forms of berkutchi practice. Wolf hunting requires an exceptionally large and brave eagle, plus a fearless berkutchi willing to gallop into close quarters with a cornered wolf. Dalel’s exploits have been featured in Kazakh media and international wildlife documentaries.

How to Arrange an Eagle Hunting Tour

Booking an authentic berkutchi experience requires some planning. Here is a practical guide:

From Almaty (Easiest)

1. Book through a reputable tour operator. Look for operators who name their specific berkutchi partners and avoid generic “eagle show” listings. GetYourGuide and Viator list several verified options.
2. Season and legality: confirm the current lawful season, species, bird registration, permits, zone restrictions, and weather with the operator.
3. Transport: Confirm the pickup point, vehicle, destination, route, driving conditions, and return time in writing; do not assume hotel pickup is included.
4. What to bring: Warm layers (winter tours can hit -20°C), camera with telephoto lens, gloves, sunglasses for snow glare.
5. Budget: obtain a current written quote covering group size, transport, activity and cancellation terms.

Independent Arrangement

For travelers who prefer to arrange directly:

• Contact the Almaty Tourism Board for berkutchi recommendations
• Ask guesthouses in the Almaty mountain villages (Talgar, Esik, Turgen), as locals can connect you with nearby berkutchi
• Visit during Nauryz (March 21-23) for free public demonstrations in Almaty and Astana

Multi-Day Cultural Tours

Some operators offer multi-day cultural tours of Kazakhstan combining falconry-related activities with other experiences. Obtain a current written quote that identifies duration, route, transport, activities, animal interaction, permits, cancellation, and what is not included.

The Berkut: Golden Eagle Facts

The golden eagle (berkut) is the foundation of the tradition. Here are the key facts about this remarkable bird:

Characteristic	Detail
Scientific name	Aquila chrysaetos
Kazakh name	Беркут (Berkut)
Wingspan	1.8-2.34 meters
Weight (female)	5-7 kg
Weight (male)	3-4.5 kg
Dive speed	240-320 km/h
Grip force	400+ PSI (10x human grip)
Eyesight	4-8x sharper than human vision
Lifespan (wild)	25-35 years
Hunting career	5-12 years with berkutchi

Golden eagles are apex predators with no natural enemies in the Kazakh ecosystem. Their combination of size, speed, intelligence, and trainability makes them uniquely suited to cooperative hunting with humans. No other bird of prey has the strength to reliably take foxes, the primary quarry of the berkutchi tradition.

The berkut holds deep symbolic meaning in Kazakh culture. It represents freedom, power, and the connection between the nomadic Kazakh people and the vast landscapes they inhabit. The eagle on Kazakhstan’s national flag flies with wings spread toward the sun, a direct reference to the berkutchi’s bird soaring above the steppe.

Eagle Hunting Vocabulary

Understanding these Kazakh terms will deepen your experience when visiting a berkutchi:

Kazakh Term	Pronunciation	Meaning
Беркут (Berkut)	behr-KOOT	Golden eagle
Беркутші (Berkutchi)	behr-koot-SHEE	Eagle hunter
Құсбегі (Qusbegi)	koos-beh-GEE	Master of birds (formal title)
Том-ақ (Tom-aq)	tom-AHK	Leather glove/gauntlet worn on the arm
Тымақ (Tymaq)	tuh-MAHK	Leather hood placed over the eagle’s eyes
Тізгін (Tizgin)	teez-GEEN	Jesses, leather straps on the eagle’s legs
Ширға (Shirga)	sheer-GAH	Fox-skin lure used in training
Балдақ (Baldaq)	bal-DAHK	Wooden Y-shaped rest for the eagle arm, mounted on the saddle
Сaят (Sayat)	sah-YAHT	The hunt itself; also the name of eagle hunting festivals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is eagle hunting in Kazakhstan?

Kazakh berkutchi tradition involves community knowledge for training and working with golden eagles. UNESCO includes Kazakhstan in its multinational falconry element. Training, working life, sourcing, registration, welfare, and release practices vary and must not be reduced to one unsupported lifecycle timetable.

Where can I see eagle hunting in Kazakhstan?

Experiences and competitions are periodically available in the Almaty Region and elsewhere, but hosts, villages, dates, and activities change. Ask a local tourism office or transparent licensed operator for the current location and confirm whether the program is a demonstration, training session, competition, or hunt.

How much does an eagle hunting tour cost in Kazakhstan?

There is no universal tariff. Obtain a current written quote covering transport, duration, group size, activities, cancellation, animal-handling rules, and any relevant permits.

What type of eagle do Kazakh hunters use?

Kazakh berkutchi exclusively use the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), called berkut in Kazakh. Female eagles are preferred because they are significantly larger and more powerful than males, females weigh 5-7 kg with wingspans up to 2.34 meters, versus 3-4.5 kg for males. The golden eagle can dive at 240-320 km/h and exert over 400 PSI of grip force, making it powerful enough to take foxes and even wolves.

Is eagle hunting in Kazakhstan recognized by UNESCO?

Yes. Kazakhstan is one of 24 states in UNESCO's current Falconry, a living human heritage element 01708, inscribed in 2021. The recognition concerns the multinational heritage practice; it does not certify a commercial operator or rank one national tradition above another.

Who is the most famous eagle hunter from Kazakhstan?

The most internationally famous eagle hunter is Aisholpan Nurgaiv, a young Kazakh woman from Mongolia's Bayan-Olgii province, whose story was told in the 2016 documentary The Eagle Huntress. In Kazakhstan itself, Sailau Akhmet (Almaty region) is one of the most respected living berkutchi, with four decades of experience training over 30 eagles. Dalel Manas (eastern Kazakhstan) is known for the rare practice of hunting wolves with golden eagles.

Last reviewed: July 2026