Kazakh national hunting art of berkutchi. National types of hunting of Kazakhstan. There are special accessories for hunting birds

Journalist The Steppe visited the final day of the republican fowl hunting tournament “Kyran-2018”and tells why the promised beautiful show evokes mixed feelings.

From February 8 to 10, golden eagles and hawks circled in the skies over Almaty. These berkutchi and sayatshi from 10 regions of Kazakhstan competed in hunting skills with birds of prey. For three days, the Almaty hippodrome became a hunting field. The last time the falconers' tournament was held here was in 1990.

Even on the approaches to the competition site, the following picture unfolded: in front of the entrance to the stands there was an ambulance, inside of which sat a strong man in national Kazakh clothes. The medic bandages his left hand, which is “decorated” with fresh bandages in two places - the golden eagle did his best. Putting his treated hand into a leather glove, the man hurried to the hippodrome.

More than 60 hunters with birds of prey - “sayatshy” - took part in the competition. Golden eagles catchers are traditionally called "berkutchi".

In the photo is the hereditary berkutchi Talembek Aisambek

The winged predators took a liking to rubber bearings, bushes and fences in the area in front of the stands while their owners were waiting for the competition to begin.

The organizers of the tournament - the Kyran Federation and the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of Almaty invited participants from Almaty, Zhambyl, Karaganda, Akmola, Atyrau, Kyzylorda, East Kazakhstan regions and Astana. For the first time, the tournament covered 10 regions of Kazakhstan. The public foundation “Heritage of Nomadic Civilization” was a partner of the event.

A participant from the Akmola region, Tastanbek Bergenbay, has been training with birds of prey since he was 7 years old. Now 28, he regularly performs with his golden eagle, Anrakai.

“Female golden eagles are more suitable for competitions: they are more powerful and aggressive than males,” says Tastanbek Bergenbay. - First, the bird is taught to respond to the voice of the golden eagle: one person holds the golden eagle on his hand, and the owner moves away to a certain distance and calls him. The bird begins to fly on command after two months of training. Then the golden eagle is taught to catch a dummy. A rider rides a horse and pulls a fox skin on a rope. The bird must grab it on the fly. If a golden eagle confidently catches a dummy, you can go hunting with it.”

A mandatory attribute of every berkutchi - biyalai- a glove made of thick leather that protects the hand from the sharp claws of a predator. Each of them has its own name. For example, the most powerful claw is called zhembasar. The golden eagle uses it to grab the victim. The predator uses the second largest claw to squeeze, the third to grab, and the last to help hold the prey from the other side.

On the first day of the tournament, judges assessed how participants interacted with birds of prey. On command, the golden eagle had to fly to its owner and sit on his hand while he was riding a horse. Participants with hawks and falcons competed together in a separate category. The Sayatshi stood motionless and called their birds from a distance. In the second stage, golden eagles chased hares, and hawks and falcons caught pigeons.

The Kyran 2018 tournament was the first competition for Arai Serikbaeva, a 20-year-old journalist who decided to master the art of hunting with a hawk. According to the participant, her grandfather trained golden eagles in his youth. The girl prepared for the competition for two weeks.

“In the past, game birds were kept by difficult people. At first they were tamed to survive. Later, it was mainly rich people who could keep winged predators: finding meat for birds every day is not easy, notes Arai. - My mentor gave me the hawk; the bird lives in his nursery. Before the competition, we went out of town with a hawk and let loose a dove, just like at a tournament. The bird of prey distinguishes the vocal waves of its owner. Hearing a sharp command sound, she obeys and also reacts to affectionate words. I was the first to perform, my hawk was a little confused, but we did it all.”

Golden eagles live for about 30 years; an older bird can be released into the wild. Previously, hunters took golden eagles directly from their nests in the mountains, but now this is prohibited. Winged raptors are purchased legally from nurseries. Each bird is assigned a registration number and assigned to the owner's passport.

According to tournament bronze medalist Gabit Tonat, a good golden eagle costs about a thousand dollars.

“The hardest thing was to catch the hare. He has a good view, and he jumps to the side when a golden eagle flies up to him,” says the finalist. - A bird needs to be prepared for competitions like an athlete. Feed her rabbit and fox meat every day. But it is difficult to find a fox in the city. The falcon is simpler; it feeds on wild pigeons. Keeping birds is expensive, it costs me about 100 thousand tenge a month ».

On the last day of the tournament, golden eagles caught foxes. Only seven participants made it to the finals. Each berkutchi climbed the tower, at a signal, removed the cap from the bird’s head and released it into the field, where the fox was already running.

The foxes were kept in cages, and those who released them did not want the animals to be photographed. When filming at close range, the conditions in which the animals are kept are immediately noticeable. In one of the two cages, along with a living fox, lay the corpse of its killed relative. The foxes, which were carried into the field and released at a signal, were also not treated on ceremony.

A lump comes to your throat when you see an animal trembling, either from fear or from cold, being held by the scruff of the neck. The beast released from the tower was clearly visible. Having overtaken the victim, the golden eagle could not kill it, but seriously injure it. In this case, the fox did not die immediately.

The nature of predators is to kill for food, but even in the wild their victims have a chance to escape, to fight for their lives. The final of the tournament was more like a show in which the fastest golden eagle won. It is unclear what the judges assessed in this case. Bird's predatory instinct and its reaction to a moving object? The last fox was caught outside the competition; she managed to escape from the golden eagle. True, the boundaries of her freedom were determined by the fence of the hippodrome.

Hunting with birds of prey is an ancient Kazakh tradition and an integral part of the cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. In 2016, falconry was included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Along with Kazakhstan, other countries were also awarded this nomination, where they have also been hunting with winged predators since ancient times.

That same year, Sony Pictures produced a documentary film, The Eagle Huntress, about the berkutchi girl Aisholpan Nurgayipkyzy, an ethnic Kazakh living in Mongolia. As Zakon.kz wrote about this, the director of the film admits that at the time of production of the film based on the life of Aisholpan, he tried to reduce some scenes to a minimum, for example, scenes of sacrificing rams or killing foxes. Such fragments, according to Otto Bell, can shock people who are not familiar with such traditions, the director explains.

The tournament took place within the framework of the program for modernizing public consciousness “Rukhani Zhangyru”. The winner was 13-year-old berkutchi Beksultan Seitzhan from Almaty region. In addition to the certificate, he was awarded 200 thousand tenge. The second and third place winners received cash prizes in the amount of 150 and 100 thousand tenge. The organizers of “Kyran 2018” note that the main goal of this event is to revive the tradition of holding national tournaments in Almaty, including falconer competitions, and, starting this year, to traditionally hold it every year.

By the way, in the article by the head of state “Looking into the future: modernization of public consciousness” there is the following formulation: “but modernization also means that a number of archaic habits and preferences that do not fit into the global world must be left in the past.”

Since ancient times, the Kazakh people have led a nomadic lifestyle, engaging mainly in hunting. Harsh conditions and difficult life taught the Kazakhs to live in harmony with nature, respect its beauty and treat animals and birds well. They took special care of their faithful companions - the greyhound, the golden eagle and the fast horse. Therefore, traditional Kazakh hunting has its own traditions and rituals.

Berkutchi are experienced catchers

They usually went hunting with birds of prey - sayat, as well as greyhounds - tazy. The people especially revered experienced catchers and educators of birds of prey - golden eagles. There are many legends to this day about the most famous hunters and their pets.

So the golden eagle “Sarykus” (Red Bird) of the hunter Tineya “went” to foxes, deer, wolves and even deer. And the hunter Jalair Shora was well versed in birds, immediately determining the age and type of the bird of prey just by looking at it.

Berkutchi usually went hunting one by one or in a whole group. The hunter's job is very difficult, because he had to outwit the beast using all his knowledge, experience, perseverance and courage. Beaters (owners of greyhounds), shooters, assistants and even singers, musicians and folk epic storytellers also took part in the hunt.

Golden Eagles

Hunters tamed a variety of birds for hunting, but only the golden eagle or steppe eagle was considered the strongest, most dexterous and intelligent. It is not for nothing that Kazakh hunters call him the “bird god”. Preference was given to eagles living in the highlands, because they are larger, hardier and stronger. Only the appearance of the bird inspires respect - it is a proud posture, straight shoulders, a keen and penetrating gaze.

But catching such a bird is not so easy, not to mention taming it. Taming and training wild golden eagles is a very dangerous and difficult task, requiring courage, endurance and great patience. But the results will definitely justify themselves, since a trained golden eagle will catch up with any living creature and easily outwit a wolf and even a fox.

The Kazakh people have a variety of ancient traditions, rituals and national customs. The people of the steppe have always been hospitable and good-natured, they loved and valued freedom, their land and culture. One of the obligatory actions for any celebration was traditional hunting.

Features of Kazakh hunting

Hunting for Kazakhs- an ancient and revered ritual. Since ancient times, the hunter was called “kus-begi” or “berkutchi”. These are human hunters who use the help of birds of prey. Such people are excellent trainers. The experience of taming and training birds of prey for hunting was passed down from generation to generation. This knowledge is invaluable for the Kazakhs. Golden eagles have a special talent and gift for properly raising and training birds of prey such as golden eagles, eagles, falcons and hawks.

There are special accessories for hunting birds.

1. A cap that covers the eyes of birds and brings them to a calm state.

2. A tether is a special rope that is attached from the hunter’s hand to the bird’s leg, teaching it to return and stay near its owner.

3. The bed and cover, the location of the predator on the human forearm, is specially made so that the claws do not damage the hand.

A properly trained bird can freely hunt hares, hazel grouse, partridges, foxes and even wolves.

Hunting with birds of prey is an integral part of Kazakh culture. In the old days, a trained hunting bird and a fast horse were true wealth for a Kazakh.

The hunt itself takes place in this way: the hunter sits astride a horse, and on his hand is a specially trained bird. Already at a gallop, the man takes off the bird’s cap and raises his hand, thus guiding the bird. Then the hunter follows her, identifying the prey.

Hunting is national pride in Kazakhstan. This folk pastime emphasizes the personal qualities of the hunter, allowing him to demonstrate his personal qualities and skills in controlling both a horse and a bird. Not a single serious national holiday takes place without hunting.

Hunting is not only a competition between those who know how to shoot, stay in the saddle and control a hunting bird. This is a tribute to ancient customs, ancestors and our own cultural heritage.

Both men and women can be hunters. There were no age preferences in this entertainment. Traditional hunting is a universal folk event, entertainment and competition. It is in the blood of the Kazakh people and is treasured as the greatest value of the entire culture.

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Kazakhs- free children of the great steppe, hunting animals and birds is literally in the blood of this people. However, nomadic lifestyle, taught them to live in special harmony with nature, to appreciate and respect its beauty, which brought an ancient occupation with its own rituals and traditions.

Since ancient times the most favorite The Kazakhs' trade was traditional hunting with birds of prey - sayat And baiting of prey by steppe greyhounds - cans.
In the conditions of a harsh nomadic life, the steppe people certainly had no time for excesses. Apparently, this is why they treated their faithful companions so carefully - the frisky horse, the brave golden eagle and the hot greyhound.

Enjoyed special respect among the people experienced catchers And falcon educators - « berkutchi" Until now, rumors about famous hunters and their unsurpassed pets live in legends and traditions. So they say that the golden eagle, named " Sarykus» (« Red bird"), which belonged to a certain Tiney from the Naiman clan, easily “went” not only on foxes, but also on wolves, deer, and deer. And the famous " berkutchi» Jalair Shora, could easily determine not only the species, but also the age of the bird of prey, barely looking into the heights.

Experienced catchers for hunting needs They tamed very different predators from the feathered family, however, the strongest, bravest and smartest was always considered golden eagle- steppe eagle, which Kazakh hunters is still called " bird god" Was especially valuable at all times eagle, living in the highlands. The large and strong body of this bird is covered with thick and long feathers, the graceful neck is crowned with a dry serpentine head, the bird has powerful straight shoulders, a proud posture and burning, deep-set eyes.

It is not at all easy to catch and then tame this cautious and vigilant predator. He is brave, smart and strong enough to give a tangible rebuff. Taming and training wild golden eagles- a difficult and very dangerous task, requiring special patience, courage and incredible endurance. But then the trained pet will more than reward its trainer: it will catch up with any steppe living creature, it will be able to outwit a fox, and it will not be afraid to fight a wolf.

Usually hunting « berkutchi“They went out in groups or individually. Knowing perfectly well the habits of any steppe animal, its habitat and dietary features, the hunters foresaw in advance where the animal could hide, where it would attack, and how it would try to cheat, confusing the trail. Hunting required a person to have considerable experience, knowledge, courage and perseverance.

Kazakh nomads- real children of nature, treated this activity not only as getting trophies. After all, the word “sayat” itself is voluminous and multifaceted; it invariably combines three different concepts at once: competition, hunting and recreation.

Actually, this, in essence, was “ salburyn» - collective hunt, organized as a solemn, festive event.

Led by experienced " berkutchi", V " salburyne" took part " mergens" - sharp shooters, greyhound owners - beaters, numerous volunteer helpers, as well as musicians, singers, folk epic storytellers and just people who want to have fun and know a lot about a good joke.

Somewhere on the banks of a mountain river, in an area rich in birds and animals, they set up a large yurt and began a noisy holiday, alternating hunting trips with a fun holiday, accompanied by songs, jokes and stories around the fire.

Going on a hunting trip, " berkutchi“They dressed the birds of prey in special equipment. However, upon seeing potential prey, the cap was pulled off the head of one of the eagles and directed towards the fleeing victim. The rest did not interfere and waited for the moment when the time would come and they too could show hunting art.

Often on " salburyne“They also organized raids. The beaters dispersed around the area and made incredible noise, shouting loudly and beating loud objects with improvised means. The animals, frightened by the loud sounds, ran out straight to the " mergens" And " berkutchi».

Sometimes they would follow the trail of a fleeing animal swift hounds - cans, dogs This local breed has excellent hunting characteristics, with amazing endurance and speed.

It should be noted that traditional Kazakh hunting usually carried out without guns, only with birds of prey and hunting dogs, because these animals have long been held in special esteem by Kazakh people. They say that a skilled eagle could fetch up to 10 camels, and a good tazy cost up to 50 heads of cattle - almost like a bride price.

Immediately after a successful hunting trip, all participants " salburina“We made ourselves comfortable by the fire and celebrated good luck. The dastarkhan was served, abundant food appeared, sonorous songs started, cheerful music flowed at full blast, jokes and laughter were heard, stories of experienced hunters were heard.

But, the turn came, and the fun subsided; it was at this very moment that heartfelt speeches were made in praise of art “ berkutchi", praise was lavished on fleet-footed horses, courageous hunting dogs and proud birds of prey.

This is what real " salburyn" - a unique competition between man and nature, hunters' skill parade, a celebration of enjoying the beauty of nature and the harmony of the world.

I'm very glad that ancestral traditions not forgotten by the current generation, passion of the hunt and today stirs the soul of real Kazakh men, forcing them to revive such beautiful types of fishing as “ sayat" And hound hunting.

Since ancient times, Kazakhs valued animals and birds and used them in their lives. Highlighting the distinctive properties of animals, they perceived them as a symbol of happiness and wealth. Hunting for the Kazakhs was both a means of survival and entertainment. In ancient times, a spear with a stone tip, a club, a bow, a snare and a trap were used for hunting. Later they tamed dogs, birds of prey, and horses. A gun appeared. Skins, meat, feathers, down, and horns were obtained from hunting trophies. Hunting equipment was also improved. When hunting horses, the victim was caught using a long hair lasso with a loop at the end, or the wild animal was shot with a bow. A spear was used against argali, gazelle or wolves. There was also a net for catching animals and birds. They went out against predatory animals (wolves or foxes) with a club. If they came across a predator, they used a knife. Iron traps were placed on large and cautious animals. For small animals, hand traps were used. Wire snares were intended to catch marmots. One of the leading areas of the Kazakh hunting culture is hunting using dogs and birds of prey.

Taming dogs and training in hunting is called salburyn. This is a truly national heritage that has come down from time immemorial. Before the hunt, the Kazakhs organized a holiday, a general celebration. This is where the word “salburyn” comes from. "Sal" - fun, games, competition. At the first snow, hunters on horseback go hunting and hunt until the end of February. Thick snow will fall, and the next morning it will be cloudless, light and quiet. The Kazakhs call this very favorable day for hunting kansonar. With the advent of life on earth, the dog became man's first companion. She was always a faithful friend and helper. Dogs are duregey (mongrel) and tazy (hounds). Outbred dogs guarded homes and livestock. Tobet - wolfhounds capable of strangling a seasoned wolf - were bred from them. These large, calf-sized dogs have sensitive hearing. Among them there are smooth-haired and thick-haired individuals. The Kazakhs call a hunting dog a tazy. This is a medium-sized hound dog. Its coat is smooth, its legs are long, its color depends on its habitat. Basins were used when hunting hares, foxes, and wolves. In steppe Tazy, the height at the withers corresponds to the height at the hips. They are light, fast, and seemingly fragile. An experienced hunter does not allow her to get fat or lose weight.

That's why this breed is called Shih Tazy. Tazy from mountainous areas have a higher back than at the withers, sinewy, strong legs, and a long and thick neck. In a state of extreme anger, Tazy enters into a duel with a wolf without fear. Kumai is of purebred blood, fleet-footed, tenacious. Legend says that the kumai is born rarely, from the egg of a dog-like goose (italakaz). The Kazakhs compared their beloved tazy to the fast-winged bird Kumai. Kumai Tazy is a dog hunting an animal. Trained to hunt as a puppy, she has agility and speed, an excellent sense of smell, audacity and courage. When fighting with a seasoned wolf, Kumai Tazy does not allow herself to be wounded: grabbing his throat, she quickly calms him down. Only one in a hundred has such power. A dog howling is a bad omen. And the owner shouts at her to silence her, saying: “Let this happen only to you.” But whining is a sign of something good. The folk tradition of burying famous horses and thoroughbreds according to human customs goes back centuries.

Kusbegi is a specialist who teaches golden eagle, falcon, and kite hunting. Until the golden eagle learns to return, it flies on a long leash. Then he is fattened. When molting occurs, they feed him, sit him on a loosely stretched lasso so that he loses weight, and do not allow him to sleep as much as he can. When the bird begins to easily take off and land, it is taken for hunting. Catching with a golden eagle is a favorite type of hunting among the Kazakhs; several people participate in it. When going hunting, the kusbegi sits the eagle on his right hand, holding it by the leg leashes, supports his hand with a stand (baldak) and mounts the horse. In his left hand he holds the reins. Having arrived at the place, the kusbegi with the golden eagle stands on a hill. The rest, making noise and shouting, scare the victim. Having removed the tomagu, Kusbegi releases the golden eagle. Each attribute for hunting with an eagle has its own purpose:

tomaga - a leather case that tightly covers the eyes of a golden eagle;
shyzhym - knitted lasso;
tamak bau - ribbon around the neck and paws;
baldak - a stand on which birds are planted;
tugyr - a stand on which a bird sits;
zhemsauyt - dishes for feeding golden eagles;
yrgak - a movable stand for taming a wild bird;
tutik - a tube for pouring water;
kalta pearl - a bag of food to attract a bird during the hunt.

There is a belief that a house where there is a golden eagle avoids evil spirits. Therefore, its wings, feathers, and paws are hung in a place of honor, the head of the cradle. The sacred bird protects from troubles, the evil eye, damage, and protects from misfortunes. Other methods include hunting for various baits: dragging from the tail of a fox, corsac. Saigas and deer are driven into deep snow. It happens that the animal is chased in circles for a long time. Because its head is constantly turned to one side, its neck becomes so stiff that the animal is unable to turn its head in the other direction from where the blow is delivered. Depending on the size of the deer, gazelle and other animals, a hole is dug, where they end up. Sometimes an ordinary network is used. On frosty days they chase wolves. Without giving a break, they make them sweat profusely, and their wet body freezes overnight. In the morning the animal is driven again so that the ice does not melt. As a result, the animal, heavy with ice, becomes the desired prey of the hunter. Sometimes a hunter hides in the habitats of wolves and howls like a wolf. The deceived animal runs to howl, and the hunter kills it. But foxes are caught differently. Hidden in the thickets of grass, the hunters emit mouse squeaks. The deceived foxes fall for this trick and come themselves. Traces of large animals are clearly visible on the sand or first snow. The hunter chases them and shoots them. If the animals' holes are not deep, hunters fill them with water or blow smoke into them - and the prey is in their hands.