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earlyagain
Posts: 6,879 Senior Member
Tracking?

I consider myself a poor tracker. I have had some success at tracking and some failures.
Ive always been fascinated by the idea that a person might be able to tell things like when the track was made, what or who made it, size and weight, possible intentions, health or disability, etc., and so on.
I successfully tracked a bull elk once. Because the dry surface of the dirt concealed moist ground just beneath it. I was able to tell he was just ahead of me. I failed realize how near I was to him and made a combination of blunders that lead to gaining experience rather than a bull elk. Another time I saw a swath of freshly matted grass in the moon illuminated ground cover I was traversing at pre-dawn to get to a favorite dawn location. The way the grass was matted down and other clues like smell and sound alerted me to elk in the area and I managed to get a successful shot from just feet away as light replaced dark. And then there's been many short tacks of wounded game
Fortunately, all hit hard and fell quickly.
The thing is. Im never absolutely positive about what Im seeing on the ground. Its just my best guess. I'd like to possess the skill of complete confidence.
Can you guys track good?
Do you know any tricks or methods? Are you familiar with any good books on the subject? Right now Im not hunting. I don't know for how long. But I'd like to be a good tracker. I intend to spend time in the woods and field to the extent that I can until I succumb to the eventual infirmity of old age. Whether I shoot anything or not, I intend to hunt.
Ive always been fascinated by the idea that a person might be able to tell things like when the track was made, what or who made it, size and weight, possible intentions, health or disability, etc., and so on.
I successfully tracked a bull elk once. Because the dry surface of the dirt concealed moist ground just beneath it. I was able to tell he was just ahead of me. I failed realize how near I was to him and made a combination of blunders that lead to gaining experience rather than a bull elk. Another time I saw a swath of freshly matted grass in the moon illuminated ground cover I was traversing at pre-dawn to get to a favorite dawn location. The way the grass was matted down and other clues like smell and sound alerted me to elk in the area and I managed to get a successful shot from just feet away as light replaced dark. And then there's been many short tacks of wounded game
Fortunately, all hit hard and fell quickly.
The thing is. Im never absolutely positive about what Im seeing on the ground. Its just my best guess. I'd like to possess the skill of complete confidence.
Can you guys track good?
Do you know any tricks or methods? Are you familiar with any good books on the subject? Right now Im not hunting. I don't know for how long. But I'd like to be a good tracker. I intend to spend time in the woods and field to the extent that I can until I succumb to the eventual infirmity of old age. Whether I shoot anything or not, I intend to hunt.
Replies
I prefer to spend my time practicing shot placement and sharpening my skinning knife.
You were warned.
Mike
N454casull
One particular instance that revealed my inadequacy was when I got a winter cougar tag some years ago.
I took an online tutorial of sorts that was required by the Game & Fish here. It gave fairly detailed info on the difference between big and small cat tracks. It was real hard to guage size and age of the tracks in snow that was in a state of constant change. I let my imagination convince of what I should have known better. After quite a distance and great deal of time following tracks. I found where the cat had slept. The imprint in the snow was made by a cat much smaller than an adult cougar.
It was still enjoyable. Id like to spend more time doing that sort of tracking and searching. Hopefully retirement or even vacation time will allow it.
The heck with shot placement. If I take up elk hunting again, Im going for live capture. March em' back to the truck at gun point.
Mike
N454casull
With blood tracking, I found the biggest mistake I made early on was looking at the ground exclusively for sign. The reality, especially in tall grass, is that blood can easily be a foot or more above the ground on various stems, branches, leaves and stalks. Never get tied up on the flat earth itself and always scan vertically. You're far less likely to lose the trail that way.
I have yet to see an elk leave blood. Even with two 50cal holes.
If you whack one in palmetto, but it sounds like he made it to the bayou crossing.....search the palmetto hard first.
Mike
N454casull
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.