Posted: 8/12/2009 9:18:24 AM EDT
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Any good books on tracking (animals)?
Not looking for the Tom Brown Native American stuff. Just like to learn more on reading signs... |
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I gotta agree with river-rat. The best way is to get out there and do it, preferably with someone who knows how so they can point out all the little things they are picking up on.
There are some times when you can actually track using the animals footprints but those times are pretty few and far in between IMHO. Most of the time you are picking up smaller things like a branch that was brushed out of the way and did not quite swing back all the way, some leaves on the ground scuffed up, dew that has been brushed off, and other things like that. Mostly tracking is knowing how your prey SHOULD react and looking for small things to tell you that you are on the right track. On the other hand, animals tend to be unpredictable. Sorry no help on the tracking books, my pop taught me to track when I was just a youngster. Maybe you can find someone close by to you that can teach you. Is there a trapping club by that you could do a meet and greet and maybe get one of those old timers to take the time to show you what he knows, most of those buys are a wealth of knowledge and love nothing more than someone to listen to them ramble on all day about something they are knowledgeable about. If you get the show Mantracker on the tv you can pick up some small tips on what to watch for (ignore the cheesy show, it is kinda annoying what some of the "prey" do to annoy the Mantracker) but remember it is a show for entertainment so a lot of the better stuff is edited out to save airtime. |
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Books are a reference.
Here is a great one: Mammal Tracks & Sign by Mark Elbroch |
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Tracking: A Blueprint for Learning How by Jack Kearney is the standard text on the subject.
Kearney was a USBP agent and taught tracking to the USBP for a long time. It ain't gonna hurt you to read up on the subject before you go out an observe. That's like telling someone they can't learn wilderness survival skills by reading a book.....You can't, but you can drastically shorten the learning curve! |
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Quoted:
Tracking: A Blueprint for Learning How by Jack Kearney is the standard text on the subject. Kearney was a USBP agent and taught tracking to the USBP for a long time. It ain't gonna hurt you to read up on the subject before you go out an observe. That's like telling someone they can't learn wilderness survival skills by reading a book.....You can't, but you can drastically shorten the learning curve! I have relations to this guy, uncle's uncle ect... Regardless of that, the book is good no-BS guide that will give you a starting point to go out and practice. The book covers every aspect you need to know from just starting to advanced skills such as aging in different terrain. m4whore |
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check with your local conservation dept or possum cops. My son got a few really well put together books from them.
They had all the local wildlife, their tracks and habits. It was a very good way to start by correctly identifying what tracks we had seen. Then we went full circle and started tracking trying to find the animals etc. |
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BTDT
Kearney's book is good. Tom Brown has one book on tracking that isn't loaded w/ mystical indian BS. "The Science and Art of Tracking". is a great resource. TSAT is great for beginners to PhD's. You need to learn some basics and then get in the dirt. tracking is 1% knowledge and 99% experience and technique. suggestion: clean out part of your garden and groom the soil to be a track trap. then walk across it and "get technical". get down there and study your tracks. your approach and departure, look at heel strike and toe dig. then pick up a 50 pound weight and walk right next to it, study the difference. then walk or jog 3 miles and repeat next to your baseline track. you'll see amazing differences. for fun walk backwards next to your baseline. this old "trick" is hollywood BS. you'll see why. another good exercise. step into part of your plot once, every day for a month and study the aging that occurs. |