Hunting Eagles in Kazakhstan: It's Not What You Think

"You get one piece of carrion luggage…"
Oddly Enough, Reuters blog (December 12, 2009)

"Blog Guy, I know you're a respected travel writer and I need some advice. I'm going to Kazakhstan next week, and…..

"Do you mind if I ask why?

"That's a funny story. I got it mixed-up with Scotland, and now it's too late to change. So what's the best domestic airline for getting from place to place over there?

"There is one small one that's kind of unusual. They tie a huge eagle on your wrist, put you on a horse that gallops around 30 miles per hour then abruptly stops at the edge of a steep abyss, and the eagle takes over...."

Enjoy the rest of the Oddly Enough post: but don't take the airline advice too seriously. Unless you're really skinny, and have a good head for heights.

I learned something about the source information for the photos: apparently, hunting eagles are part of Kazakhstan culture.

Not hunting for eagles: Hunting with eagles.

Back in the day, the folks my ancestors worked for in Europe used falcons and sometimes hawks for the same reason. But eagles?

My hat's off to Kazakhstan: They saw Europe's hawks and raised them an eagle.


(Shamil Zhumatov, via Oddly Enough, Reuters, used w/o permission)

Now that's hunting!