When tracking there are many indicators you should look for. There will always be some disturbances in the soil. The vegetation will be crushed, bent forward, and turned with each passing step.
When you pass through grass wet from rain or dew, you will brush or knock some of this moisture off the vegetation. Causing a noticeable difference when compared to the undisturbed vegetation in the shine. This shine is often noticeable from a distance. Which is handy in open areas as you can was your binoculars to scan ahead and see the track from a distance.
If you are tracking in a training situation you should still find every single track. Finding each track, vs only the obvious ones, as this is where the most learning takes place. If, however, you are tracking in a real-world scenario then you can jump ahead as the path will almost glow.
Because the moisture was formed at a specific time, you now have a time stamp on track you were following. For instance:
- Dew forms when the temperate drops. In most places this is just before the sun rises. In others it can begin as soon as the sun goes down.
- When did the rain stop falling?
- Is the rain still falling? If it is lightly sprinkling and you have a path the trail is very recent.
- Is dew still forming?
- It pays to get to know your area.
This is not all-inclusive. But the most knowledge you will gain regarding tracking will be through experience, not from reading about it.
Get out there and train.
-Joseph
Outpost 95 