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Best book on Tracking?
- Thread starter jlouis976
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- Joined
- May 5, 2006
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I took a class with Jim Bruchac and found him very knowledgeable
http://www.amazon.com/Scats-Tracks-...=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257881544&sr=8-5
He was mentored by James Halfpenny so I imagine any of Halfpenny's books would be worth checking out:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=james+halfpenny&x=0&y=0
http://www.amazon.com/Scats-Tracks-...=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257881544&sr=8-5
He was mentored by James Halfpenny so I imagine any of Halfpenny's books would be worth checking out:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=james+halfpenny&x=0&y=0
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I've been looking for a book on tracking and I was wondering if you guys had someone you recommended.
This one seems to be popular.
And Tom Brown is always another person who seems to come up. Who do you guys recommend/read?
What kind of tracking?
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
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Remember guys, tracking is only part of the equation. Tracking and signing is the total package. You need to learn trail signs. What happens when tracks aren't visible? I recommend getting a couple of the handy pocket naturalist series on the topic and getting a lot of dirttime in. Artists renditions vary and the best way to learn is 1st hand in the field.
I should just take one of your courses.....
Get Tom Brown's books. There are 2 about tracking.
Tracking anecdote: 2 weeks ago I was in Cuba, the beach is perfect to practice tracking. I spotted a guy's fresh trail and told myself "That guy walks like he's overweight", and started following the trail... to find my buddy, who gained 40 pounds this year XD
I warn you: Once you start tracking, you cannot stop.
Tracking anecdote: 2 weeks ago I was in Cuba, the beach is perfect to practice tracking. I spotted a guy's fresh trail and told myself "That guy walks like he's overweight", and started following the trail... to find my buddy, who gained 40 pounds this year XD
I warn you: Once you start tracking, you cannot stop.
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2001
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- 770
"Tracking : A Blueprint for Learning How" by Jack Kearney
Yes this one is pretty good. I have the former edition.
Despite the "SAS" tag it is very didactic and down to earth.
But as Kev pointed it is really an observation skill so what will count in the end is the time you spend outside (although the book gives good hint about developing your skills)
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- Jun 25, 2008
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- 1,484
Good trackers are able to see what they are looking at 
It also helps to know the animals in the area you are in.
To be honest, I'm not sure you can develop either from reading a book.
Kind regards
Mick
It also helps to know the animals in the area you are in.
To be honest, I'm not sure you can develop either from reading a book.
Kind regards
Mick
Check out the library under the "support" heading at http://www.ttos.us (Tactical Tracking Operations School) hope this helps....
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- Nov 5, 2009
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- 538
The Best Book on Tracking, HANDS DOWN:
'The Science and Art of Tracking', by Tom Brown...
I have several books on the subject, and am an avid tracker. This book gives the full treatment. It will propel you into pressure points, macros and micros, etc....
For more basic sign tracking, the most used of tracking skills, esp. for hunters, there are many books and guides suited to the animal life of your area, good books on sign tracking are:
'Animal Tracks' by Peterson Field Guides
'Tracking and the Art of Seeing : How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign' by Paul Rezendes
'Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking' by Tom Brown
All of these are good books, I would recommend any or all. I have them all and more. I find useful information in each....
As said by Mick and Kevin, tracking is only part of the equation. But it ties in directly to the most important skill to have: Observation.
Tracking is observation at base. So much in terms of wilderness skills is dependent on this one thing, to observe. Everything affects everything, disturbances are like ripples in water, so you are observing action and reaction.
A man named Jack Kearney, a borderlands tracker, also wrote a good book on the subject... Especially regarding limb and eye dominance, which I find fascinating, and has helped me in understanding loops/paths of animals, humans included, which has cut my tracking time in half.
A forgotten aspect of tracking is, not in the following of the track, but in knowing where it leads, to go ahead and cut them off either to set traps or hunt... Most predators act in this way. All animals move in loops. They are not always following directly, this advertises too much, too much scent, and takes too long. You will often see the path of predators going perpendicular to those of the prey.... A path used by predators, like humans, is a path soon to be abandoned...
'The Science and Art of Tracking', by Tom Brown...
I have several books on the subject, and am an avid tracker. This book gives the full treatment. It will propel you into pressure points, macros and micros, etc....
For more basic sign tracking, the most used of tracking skills, esp. for hunters, there are many books and guides suited to the animal life of your area, good books on sign tracking are:
'Animal Tracks' by Peterson Field Guides
'Tracking and the Art of Seeing : How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign' by Paul Rezendes
'Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking' by Tom Brown
All of these are good books, I would recommend any or all. I have them all and more. I find useful information in each....
As said by Mick and Kevin, tracking is only part of the equation. But it ties in directly to the most important skill to have: Observation.
Tracking is observation at base. So much in terms of wilderness skills is dependent on this one thing, to observe. Everything affects everything, disturbances are like ripples in water, so you are observing action and reaction.
A man named Jack Kearney, a borderlands tracker, also wrote a good book on the subject... Especially regarding limb and eye dominance, which I find fascinating, and has helped me in understanding loops/paths of animals, humans included, which has cut my tracking time in half.
A forgotten aspect of tracking is, not in the following of the track, but in knowing where it leads, to go ahead and cut them off either to set traps or hunt... Most predators act in this way. All animals move in loops. They are not always following directly, this advertises too much, too much scent, and takes too long. You will often see the path of predators going perpendicular to those of the prey.... A path used by predators, like humans, is a path soon to be abandoned...
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- Oct 10, 1998
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- 627
Nothing replaces practice. That said, it is very useful to have some books (books - plural. Cross referencing is a good thing) to verify what you think you saw, or to supply extra details that may help identify what you've seen when you can't decide between a couple possibilities.
It's off topic, but having a camera along is also key -- that way you don't have to haul the books around with you.