Tracking skills

~ when I was really young, this man came to our 4-H club meeting, and gave us several lessons on tracking. I was so enthralled by it, that I used to go looking for tracks in the woods all the time. I never found many! LOL that weren't my dogs (following me no doubt.) Rolling Eyes

trying to keep me out of trouble...

anyway I still love finding tracks.

here's a useful site I found. http://www.bear-tracker.com/guide.html

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~ to know, to dare, to will, to keep silent. ~

Last edited by taken by the wind... on Sun May 20, 2007 2:26 pm; edited 3 times in total

Taken...

Nice quick guide. Thank you.

I can remember reading Tom Brown's stories ("The Tracker", and such) many years ago, and then his wilderness books. They helped me learn and recognize some of the basic signs... but I wish I could be proficient at tracking. Extremely useful skill, even for the everyday or urban world.

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"Asinus sæculæ maximus."

Tracking takes a lot of "Dirt Time' (practice) there are some good books out there.

http://www.amazon.com/The-top-25-tracking-books/lm/3GORLXZJA9M52

~ thanks tfisher! I need all the help I can get! LOL!

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~ to know, to dare, to will, to keep silent. ~

Great links guys Very Happy

This is the only track book I have but it's great and it's very small too (5 3/4" by 4 1/4") Very Happy

eric

	turd wrote:
	Great links guys This is the only track book I have but it's great and it's very small too (5 3/4" by 4 1/4") eric

thanks for the links guys
hey turd i have that same book only its for alberta

cool great stuff guys! did yall know that mussel make tracks!! I was hiking in a river and saw a line on a muddy area just above water and at the end of it was a baby mussel. it was teat Very Happy

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quote of the week: "Missed it by that much,"- Get Smart.

Cool!
I think there's one for every province Very Happy

eric

If only I lived in Canada! Very Happy

_________________
"Asinus sæculæ maximus."

	Dobry wrote:
	If only I lived in Canada!

I hear ya man. Very Happy

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quote of the week: "Missed it by that much,"- Get Smart.

Anyone have any tips? I want to learn more about trackin.

_________________
-Thou may'st break, but shalt not bend me.
-"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can"~John Wesley

What specific tips would you like to know?

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SURVIVAL..........it's all in your head

	tfisher wrote:
	What specific tips would you like to know?

Anything you can tell me about tracking. If you want we could like make a new subject "Tfisher and friend's tracking tips" lol.

_________________
-Thou may'st break, but shalt not bend me.
-"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can"~John Wesley

I'd like to learn more about tracking. Very Happy

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Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. - Prov. 27:17

Several forum members have expressed an interest in beginning the lifelong skill set of tracking.
Whether it is for aiding your hunting skills or your outdoor understanding of nature it really does not matter. I am going to develop some future posts to this forum in hopes that I can fuel your interest in tracking and maybe guide you on how you can become competent at tracking. Keep in mind that post space is limited as well as my time is limited too, but I will attempt to get you down the right path.
First and foremost you have to get in the right mindset of “Why You Want to Track”. What I mean by this is that I believe there are two types of trackers. The first type is easily illustrated by the usual beginning tracker; they approach tracking as a mechanical process that the instructor can list in outlines or specific instructions on what to look for and how to conduct a follow-up (following your target). Then they just follow the detailed instructions and instantly “You are Now A Tracker”. Well…..while it is true I could give you lists, and pictures of things to look for in your tracks that usually happen, and in fact that is how many tracking instructors start to teach tracking; so you know what disturbances to look for. Although that is not the most exciting type of tracker. The second type and more exciting tracker is the tracker that can use the simple mechanics that I described first and actually READ the story being told by your target. For example Tracker Type ONE: can find tracks in the outdoors and identify them, the tracker can locate the path and direction of travel of his/her prey. Tracker Type TWO: can find the same tracks, the direction of travel, but can also tell where the prey could be going, when the prey is getting tired, or if the prey is injured, can tell if the prey is male, female and other physical characteristics…..this tracker can get into the mind of the prey.
Unfortunately becoming a tracker in not the easiest thing to study, just about anyone can be a Tracker Type ONE, finding tracks, identifying them and following them. But to become a Tracker Type TWO takes some time and experience most importantly some thought and analysis. It is also the hardest to teach because nature, the tracks and the prey have to teach you; and many students just don’t take the time to learn Type TWO tracking. Students seem to take the easiest path and that’s the Type ONE tracker, the world is full of Type ONE’S and many of them have very high egos.
When you have graduated from Tracker Type ONE to Tracker Type TWO you will be excited beyond your wildest dreams, but on the other hand you will be a little humbler as well because you will be one with nature and your prey, it is almost a spiritual understanding.
Also to be a good tracker you have to study it practice it and be it every day. Not once a week or a month or when you go to the wilderness……….everyday! Even when I walk from my car to work I observe the tracks made by my coworkers to see if I can identify who they are and what kind of day they are having.
So hopefully I can get your interests going in my next posts; if you are up for the journey……..

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SURVIVAL..........it's all in your head

Good post tfisher. Cheers.

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A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
We are Known By The Tracks we Leave Behind
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

	Drummer Dave wrote:
	Good post tfisher. Cheers.

I second that. Very Happy

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Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. - Prov. 27:17

Tfisher,

Wonderful post. I'm looking forward to more posts on this. I know it's a great skill to learn and possess, I wish I had it. Very Happy

_________________
"Asinus sæculæ maximus."

GOOD POST Tfisher!!!!! I am going to start this now!!! Wish me luck!

_________________
-Thou may'st break, but shalt not bend me.
-"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can"~John Wesley

Beginning Tracking 001
First some definitions to ponder;
SIGN: All evidence that your subject, prey or target has passed this way. Does not necessarily mean complete identifiable tracks, it may be just disturbed vegetation or a scuff mark.
SPOOR: Can be used interchangeably with the term tracks, trail or indications that your subject, prey, target passed this way.

TRACKS: Complete identifiable marks such as footprints left behind by your subject, prey or target. Example a complete footprint or deer hoof print.

FOLLOW-UP: The physical act of a tracker or tracker team following sign and tracks of the subject, prey, or target.
VEGETATION DAMAGE: The observable breakage, smashing, compressing, bruising, splitting, or other damage done to vegetation by walking on or brushing such vegetation.
AERIAL SIGN: Evidence that is located above the ankle. Example broken twigs.
GROUND SIGN: Evidence that is located on the ground. Example a footprint or track, a scuff mark.
ACTION INDICATORS: Foot or body marks left upon the ground indicating that a certain identifiable action has taken place. Example a skid mark when someone slipped on a steep hill.
LINES OF DRIFT: are those paths across terrain that are the most likely to be used when going from one place to another. These paths are typically those that offer the greatest ease while taking into account obstacles (e.g. rivers, cliffs, dense unbroken woodland, etc.) and modes of transit (e.g. pedestrian, automobile, horses.). Common endpoints or fixed points may include water sources, food sources, and obstacle passages such as fords or bridges.
Local paths may be derived from game trails or artificial paths created by utility lines or political boundaries.

One of the first this to consider in beginning tracking is where to look for your tracks and sign. Remember tracks are identifiable indications of your subject, or prey or target. From now on let’s call it your target; for simplicity sake. Sign is just slight indications of your target, a partial print or track, or a scuff mark, or a broken twig, or just damaged vegetation. The majority of tracking will be identifying just sign not full tracks or prints. One of the keys to tracking is locating, observing, and analyzing the sign and tracks as a group instead of just analyzing one single track. All of your sign tells you the whole story not just one track.
Where to look:
Tracking animals; first try to know the characteristics and habitats of the animal you are trying to track. Know where they are on the food chain. It is also a good idea to know the other animals reptiles, and insects that are in your area so you can identify those tracks and signs to eliminate that sign from your follow-up. Once this is eliminated it will be less confusing. Also try to know your preys sleeping and eating habits, for example do they den up or are they ground sleepers.
Next observe your landscape, look at the type of cover it provides, what food and what water is available. What you will find is individual areas or sections. View these areas as separate little islands. For example you may observe a grassy area (not much cover), a heavily forested area (that has many trees but not much brush or cover), a buffered or transitional area that has grass and thick vegetation(lots of cover). What you will observe is that certain animals like certain types of landscape areas (although they will pass through other areas in search of food, water, mating or escape.
Next observe these areas and what types of animals are in them by whether they are Herbivores or Carnivores. Herbivores attract Carnivores. Herbivores like cover and plenty of vegetation, they are less likely to search for ground water because they get their water from plants and dew. So as you observe these landscape areas and note a high population of Herbivores like rabbit, mice, deer these are prime areas to locate your Carnivores preying on the Herbivores.
Animals travel; so the next places to search for sign is their trails, runs and paths. Animals like humans often times take the “path of least resistance” unless they are being pursued. This roadway connects feeding areas to water areas and sleeping or bedding areas. Usually a prime area you can locate tracks and sign. These trails, runs and paths we will call “Lines of Drift” This will be used later to locate aerial sign.
So this should give you a start as to where to look for animal sign. I know we have not addressed insects or reptiles. But let’s keep it simple so far.
Next Session; Tracking People Where to Look……. Thanks

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SURVIVAL..........it's all in your head