Photo by Emily Gibson
Tracking Guide: What to Take With You
These are just a few little tips that I’ve picked up. While for some they may be old news, for those who haven’t been tracking long perhaps they’ll be of some help.
A few things to have with you:
- A good dependable tracking book. There are a few smaller pocket size books that give you a good clear print of most of the animals in your region.
- A tape measure (again, a small one that is relatively light weight) for determining strides and straddles.
- Some sticks for marking tracks. I like popsicle sticks sharpened at one end but any stick will do. These will help you in establishing a track trail which will make you search for the hard tracks which will improve your ability to see tracks (completely bypassing the rational part of your mind).
- Dress for the weather. Though some folks like to pit mind over matter in the tracking club, I find freezing to be a distraction. One of the best investments I ever made were in wool Army Surplus pants. They keep you warm even when wet.
- Take you camera on occasion!
Clint Hollingsworth was the FoxPrint lay-out artist for several years. He is a passionate cartoonist and tracker.
