Who has jurisdiction in this search? Most places in the west place SAR coordination with the county sheriff, however is not this the responsibility placed on the park service in National Park lands?

Totally off topic, but would you mind starting a post on tracking basics, maybe some good sources to learn more? I mean, it's easy in the snow to see "something," but a lot tougher in the kind of dirt we have in CA.


Thanks in advance if you do this

I second the motion. That would be a great thread. Back when I was doing SAR, we got some informative sessions from the local Border Patrol agents, and that was super helpful. One source they recommended was Tracking: A Blueprint for Learning how by Jack kearney. I'll bet Pete will have other references.

I know that incentive is a major factor. My most prolonged tracking operation was finding a subject described as "female, 5'6", 115 lbs, blonde over blue." We followed her prints all night, reaching her about 4:40 AM. Amazed, she asked, "you walked all night just to find me?"

"Aw, shucks, ma'm, weren't nothin'"

I suppose I was well practiced. I have been looking for similar subjects for many years....

Sometimes SAR is basically just a lot of fun (but not always!)

Yes, female, 5'6", 115 lbs, blonde hair, blue eyes... I think I've been looking for her, too. I guess they're hard to find because they're all lost in the wild.

Alright, enough kidding around. How do you learn tracking? Do you have to study under a genuine Indian, or can you learn from books? Are there good schools? While we're on that topic, what do people think of Tom Brown? I can't figure out what his school teaches by the titles of the courses.

Tracking is somewhere in my list of things to learn eventually, but it has a low priority, since it seems like an advanced skill. I'm still trying to find a bushcraft school...

I am definitely a rudimentary tracker, and, furthermore, my skills have lapsed and I am rusty as all get out. But I started tracking on occasions when I was beginning to hike in fairly wild country just to recover my own tracks and find my way home, One thing led to another. Instruction by a competent tracker is surely the best way to learn, but you can certainly get started by simply getting out and watching and learning from experience.

One thing I found out. High noon is a bad time to track. The high angle, bright light washes everything out. It is actually easier to track at night with a good, medium power light source which can be held at varying angles, usually low,to make tracks and sign more evident.

Kearney's book on tracking is good. The early Tom Brown books were good as well. There are many books out there, and most have the same basic skills.

You have to ask yourself first: "What will I use tracking for?"

Many of the books and schools are geared toward either military tactical tracking or fugitive recovery. The basic skills are the same, it more about how you organize and operate.

The key to learning initially is to learn to be more observant in whatever environment you are in. When tracking, you are looking for sign that is out of the ordinary, different, that doesn't fit. You also need to observe more about how people walk, types of shoes, and other human behavior.

Learning observation techniques is also important, for when you are searching for sign. You must observe in an organized manner, and observe comprehensively. An old friend of mine runs a very good school: ASF Combat Tracking

It is geared to military and law enforcement though. There are others.

Yes, I have had quite a bit of training in tracking; several SERE schools, sniper school, strategic reconnaissance school, and others. Most of my training was focused on evading a tracking team or dogs though.

you can start learning tracking - by tracking yourself.
choose an area with mostly dirt, so it will be easier to start with. walk randomly around a large circle, weaving through brushes. do not make it too difficult!

as you walk, lay down a few small items on the ground. e.g. put a penny right beside one of your footprints (or partial footprints). when you start going over the trail again - try to recover all the pennies.

the goal of tracking when you start - it to literally find EVERY footprint and every partial footprint that you made. it will help you to have a tracking stick. see the following book to get started ...

"Mantracking - Introduction to the Step-by-Step Method" by Roland Robbins

The military has always had some excellent trackers. The US Border Patrol also used to have some guys who were outstanding trackers. You can enroll in classes from some of these guys. Like any other skill - it requires a lot of practice ("dirt time"). I'm prety rusty and need to get back out and spend some time in the deserts of CA or AZ. It will come back, if I put in the time.

And if you want to avoid a lot of frustration - start learning on dirt or sand. In spite of what you see in the movies, the number of people who can really track on difficult terrain (including hard rock surfaces and mixed vegetation) is not many. That is a very advanced level of the skill.

Pete2

My favorite tracking story --

In the old West, a guy comes upon an Indian prone with his ears on the ground, saying softly, "Two horses, a wagon, two men with rifles, a woman, three children..."

"Wow," said the guy, "you can tell all that just from the wheel tracks? That's amazing!"

"No, that's what ran over me."