It has been witnessed by the civilizations neighboring the old Turkic people and the written texts of the old Turkic people themselves that the old Turkic societies carried out hunting activities to a great extent, in addition to animal husbandry, which was their main subsistence activity. In addition to being a subsistence activity for the old Turkic people, there are many historical records that it (hunting) also contributed to the old Turkic life in matters such as obtaining raw materials, providing some social benefits. Therefore, it is not surprising that the hunting activity, which was of such importance for the old Turkic people, also interacted with their belief systems. In addition to the interaction with the belief system, there are examples that suggest that various rituals related to hunting may have developed in the ancient Turkic life, perhaps even earlier. Despite the changes in the belief systems, living spaces and lifestyles of the old Turkic people in time, space and mentality, such beliefs and rituals have continued their existence, sometimes by changing, sometimes by preserving their existence. In this study, the written materials belonging to the old Turkic period were examined and the belief and ritual dimensions of hunting were tried to be revealed in the texts of this period.

Old Turkic, hunting, belief-related, ritual.