When we think of tracking, we often picture the quintessential footprint, pawprint or hoofprint that’s left behind on the earth for all to see. We imagine following a string of tracks, observing all the sign that relates to the tracks, eventually catching up to the animal or person. But what would you need to know about tracking as a survivalist?
Tracking is broadly defined as the ability to identify and then follow a person or animal based on the track and sign left behind. Sign, then, is defined as supporting evidence, such as the chews, rubs, scratches, various scats, bends, breaks, smudges, scuffs, bones, digs, lays, runs, trails, bed-downs, feeding grounds and so forth—all clues leading to the goal, so that we can follow the target and eventually catch up…