Back when I was a kid in Explorer Scouts Search and Rescue, we all cut off a
different bit of the vibram "stars" on one boot sole, so when other searchers came across our tracks they could be reasonably sure it wasn't the person being searched for.

My father in law often leaves a note in the car at trailheads saying something to the effect
"Bob, out sighting in the new rifle, back in a few hours."