Ruslan Abinov, a resident of the capital, has been hunting badgers with Laikas for ten years. He noted: "Previously, I used different breeds of hunting dogs, but now I prefer West Siberian Laikas. These dogs have excellent hearing, vision, and sense of smell, and their endurance during hunting is unique, making them the best for this task. Their main job is to find and hold the game. They can go distances of 2-4 kilometers in search, and upon finding a trail, they can cover up to 10 kilometers. Therefore, hunting with Laikas for badgers is very successful and interesting."
Typically, hunters armed with one or two Laikas head to the badger habitats in the mountains or valleys in the evening.
“When approaching the burrows, it is necessary to maintain silence and wait for twilight, staying three hundred meters away from them. When the stars appear in the sky, you carefully approach the burrows and watch the dogs' behavior to ensure that the badger has gone out in search of food. Then you release the dogs from their leashes and try to close the burrows and side entrances. After that, you listen to see if the dogs that went out searching have started barking. Laikas find badgers by scent and attack. Some larger Laikas may manage to suffocate the game before the hunter arrives, but such cases are rare. Usually, Laikas, by attacking and nipping, do not allow the badger to escape. Upon hearing the barking, you rush towards the sound, illuminate the badger with a flashlight, and take it down with your gun, while being careful not to injure the dogs. If you fail to catch the badger in the evening, it’s worth trying in the morning, before dawn, when they are still near their 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, and even a small badger weighing 10-15 kilograms can put up a fight against two or three inexperienced dogs.
The badger hunting season begins in September and lasts until late autumn, when they actively gain fat for winter. The badger lives in burrows and, like a marmot, can hibernate in winter, but on warm days, it sometimes comes to the surface. Hunting badgers is conducted for their meat and fat, which is considered beneficial for treating various ailments. Its effectiveness is scientifically substantiated, and the price of one gram of fat in Kyrgyzstan ranges from five to seven soms.
