Mana - Eagle Hunter

Mana is a top eagle hunter East Mongolia who has won many contests that are run every year in central Mongolia. He has recently retired and now training his son Ibik to take over the family tradition. Here he is having a break while we were discussing the techniques and training methods of the hunters with thier eagles. Most eagles are taken from the nest as a chick and trained to hunt by the men. They are usually kept for approx 6-8years then let back into the wild to breed, by then thier hunting skills are incredible and usually the released bird is replaced by a chick from thier young when hatched. This shot was taken inside his Ger with his family.