Ruslan Abinov, a resident of Bishkek, has been hunting badgers with Laikas for 10 years. He notes: “Previously, I had dogs of different breeds, but eventually I chose West Siberian Laikas. These dogs stand out for their excellent hearing, sense of smell, and vision, and their endurance makes them the best for hunting. The main task of the Laikas is to find and hold the game. They can go distances of 2-4 kilometers in search of tracks, and sometimes up to 10 kilometers, which determines the success of badger hunting.”
Typically, hunters with one or two Laikas head to the mountains or valleys in the evening, where the badger burrows are located.
“Before approaching the burrows, it’s better to come within about three hundred meters and maintain silence. At the moment when stars begin to appear in the sky, you should carefully approach the burrows and make sure that the badger has gone out to search for food, after which you can let the dogs off their leashes. It’s important to close the burrow and all side tunnels to prevent the badger from hiding. By listening to the dogs’ barking, you can determine whether they have found the game. Laikas detect badgers by their tracks and can attack. Some of them, especially large and aggressive ones, can even suffocate the game before the hunter arrives. However, this happens quite rarely. More often, they simply prevent the badger from escaping, which allows the hunter to reach it and shoot, but you need to be careful not to injure the dogs. If the badgers are not found in the evening, you can try in the morning when they are still foraging away from the burrows,” shares Ruslan Abinov about hunting secrets.
The badger is a serious opponent for the dog. In Kyrgyzstan, they can weigh up to 35 kilograms, but even smaller individuals weighing 10-15 kilograms can pose significant resistance to several inexperienced dogs.
The badger hunting season begins in September and lasts until late autumn when it actively gains fat for winter. The badger lives in burrows and hibernates, but on warm days it may come to the surface. Badger hunting is conducted for their meat and fat, which has healing properties and is scientifically proven to be beneficial. In Kyrgyzstan, the price of one gram of badger fat ranges from five to seven soms.
