Tracking & Trailing Game & Man

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TRACKING on the Selous Scouts site, derived from some manual. For MAN tracking.

HOW TO TRACK As you are tracking, look for evidence (track signs - known as Spoors) of disturbed grass; bent blades will reveal the direction of travel. The top of the grass will point in the direction the person is walking. if the enemy has passed through after sunrise the dew will be disturbed and a faint darkened area will reveal his trail. Watch for broken spider webs or cobwebs. When examining spoor always keep your head slightly up and look 15 to 20 yards ahead of you. It will enable you to see the spoor better, determine the direction of movement, and keep alert for likely ambush areas, If the terrorist knows or suspects he is being followed, he will try to set you up. Be alert, patient, and careful. Watch for rocks that have been overturned. The dark side will be up or you will see the impression on the ground where it once rested. Although mid-day heat will dry the rock quickly, it tells you the terrorist is only hours ahead of you. If you find it in the morning, then he has been moving prior to sunrise. The darker and wetter the rock, the closer your quarry.

Wild Animal Tracking...WJPrescott (essay) Just as man leaves signs of his passing, whether it be his footsteps, tire tracks, land cultivation, or even dwellings showing past civilizations, so to do most animals.

[MSAR] Oct 28-30 Tracking conference, Texas Landscape Tracking is a powerful tool that tells the person using it where the tracks of their target wildlife are going to occur.

TRACKING TERRS / GUERRILLAS This Tracking information is the basis of what the Rhodesian tracking program built off. This data was used and expanded from conflict to conflict; Kenya, Malaya and then for Rhodesia. This outline concentrates on the use of African native trackers, due to the fact it was originally written by British army personnel, were it was common practice to employ indigenous persons for various tasks; like tracking. The British indecently were quite aware of the importance of trackers in a counter-insurgency conflict but maintained no tracking unit per say at the time. The Rhodesians took the tracking concept to new heights; not only did they maintain dedicated tracking units (TCU / Selous Scouts / Greys Scouts), but the whole Rhodesian Security Forces had taught all personnel a basic level of tracking awareness.

Tracking & Trailing From "The Book of Woodcraft," Ernest Thompson Seton, Doubleday, Page & Co.: It was Fenimore Cooper who first put the good Indian on paper--who called the attention of the world to the wonderful woodcraft of these most wonderful savages. It was he who made white men realize how far they had got away from the primitive. It was he who glorified the woodman and his craft. Yet nowhere do we find in Cooper's novels any attempt to take us out and show us this woodcraft. He is content to stand with us afar off and point it out as something to be worshipped--to point it out and let it die... [Dog & Cat] [Wolf Tracks] [Rabbits & Hares] [Fox Tracks] [Night Tracking] [Tracks, Ground, Weather] [Training in Tracking]

Tracking Part 1 The same fundamentals of ancient hunting still apply as well today; (a) To hunt you first need an area to conduct the endeavor; (b) You have to have the skills to be able to find your quarry; (c) When found (hopefully) and when you have made your kill, you need to know what to do with it.

OA Guide to Animal Tracking by Rick Curtis. The information in this workshop is taken from my notes from a course at Tom Brown's Tracking School in New Jersey, in a course taught by John Stokes of The Tracking Project, and from my personal tracking experience. See also: OA Guide to Nature Observation

On The Right Track Many people gain their first experience of tracking when in the scouts, or at the hands of an older, wiser relative. With a knowledge of animal tracks and habitats and not a little practice everyone should be able find the run or lair of their quarry. Combine tracking skill with a sound knowledge of trapping and you will be eating well all year round!

Virtual Dirt Time, a website that has great photos of real wildlife tracks.

Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den by Kim A. Cabrera: The most incredible resource on the internet for tracking that I have found to date! The links below will lead you to several species in each category - and not just tracks, but histories, habits and habitats as well! Very Impressive. [ Species List ]
Mammals	Birds		Amphibians
Reptiles	Insects		Humans
General Tracking Information
Where to find tracks.		Tips for seeing tracks and following them.
Tracking activities for teachers and naturalists.		Plaster track casting procedure
Canine vs. Feline tracks (Is it a cat or a dog?)		Real Animal Track Impressions from Sooted Bait Stations
Quick Reference Animal Track Guide		Tracking Adventure Stories
Glossary of Tracking Terms		Animal Scat Section
Test Your Knowledge
New Fun Tracks and Tracking Quiz		SAR Tracking Quiz
Animal Tracks Quiz		Animals Quiz

Tracking. Kind of a mix between tracking humans & animals. Interesting read. Part of the old 'Survival Bible,' I think, which never was all that coherent. Nor did it ever seem to stay in the same place for long. Well, this part is here to stay, now.

Animal Tracks of Humboldt County A Guide to the Common Animal Tracks Found on California’s North Coast. Select an animal from the list below to view a picture of its tracks and some natural history information about the animal.
Black Bear	Black-tailed Deer	Black-tailed Jackrabbit		Brush Rabbit
California Valley Quail	Coyote			Deer Mouse
Douglas’ Squirrel	Duck	Elk		Gray Fox
Gray Squirrel	Great Blue Heron	Human		Killdeer
Lizard	Mountain Lion	Opossum		Pacific Treefrog
Porcupine	Raccoon	Raven		Ringtail
Robin	Snake	Spotted Skunk		Steller’s Jay
Striped Skunk	Turtle	Western Toad		Wild Pig
Wild Turkey	subscribe Signcutters List		archives Signcutters List
Join the new Tracking and Signcutting Club and talk to other trackers. It’s free. Includes trackers message board and our own private chat room.

Tracks & Tracking. One of the best tracking pages, yet.

Mantracking & Anti-tracking techniques. Interesting article. Chapters 7 & 8 of the South African COIN manual for anti-terror ops.

Lost Person Behavior Distances Traveled by Category of Subject
343 cases studied - from Ken Hill, Nova Scotia

Lost Person Behavior Characteristics (From SARBC’s page.) Fairly amazing bit of statistical prediction. Apparently different "groups" of people tend to get themselves lost in the same or similar manner. SARBC has compiled a database which helps predict the actions one might expect based on the group. What I want to know is what happens when you have a mixed group?

FM 21-75 Appendix E In all operations, you must be alert for signs of enemy activity. Such signs can often alert you to an enemy's presence and give your unit time to prepare for contact. The ability to track an enemy after he has broken contact also helps you regain contact with him. Visual tracking is following the path of men or animals by the signs they leave, primarily on the ground or vegetation. Scent tracking is following men or animals by their smell.

FM 90-5 Appendix B (Section III) Practice in tracking is required to achieve and maintain a high standard of skill. Because of the excellent natural concealment the jungle offers, all soldiers should be familiar with the general techniques of visual tracking to enable them to detect the presence of a concealed enemy, to follow the enemy, to locate and avoid mines or boobytraps, and to give early warning of ambush.

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