After 7 to 10 years, the hunter releases his eagle back into the wild. As the eagle was trained to hunt, she will survive in the wild, find a mate, and live out the rest of her days, typically up to a decade. The release is an emotional ceremony and the hunter has to make sure that the eagle doesn’t follow him home.
Perched on top of the mountain, the two brothers waited patiently. The only noise came from the wind and the eagles’ wing motion to keep their balance. When the prey was spotted, the hunter removed the eagle’s hood, allowing the eagle to see its prey for the first time. The wait was over. The eagle lifted her wings, and with one flap swooped down like a bullet. The second eagle was launched later as the first eagle missed the prey.
Kulzira was our cook. She understood our need for a balanced diet that is contrary to the Mongolian belief: “Meat is for men and grass for animals.” Several generations of families customarily live together in a nomadic camp known as Khot Ail (“group of yurts”). The camp, generally consisting of two to seven households, serves as a way of pooling labor for herding and hunting, and has numerous social and ritual functions.
