K-CORPS Tracking

Tracking

following signs or track left by someone or something

Why Track?

to cut down a search area and find MP faster

When to track

in the early stages of a search

best time; early morning or late afternoon

Types of tracking

sign cutting

jump tracking

step-by-step

bracketing

Sign Cutting

looking for a sign to start tracking from

Jump tracking

finding a big obvious footprint; then proceeding follow that direction until another confirmed print is found

Step-by-Step

A tracker sees a track sequence and does not go past the last visible track

Bracketing

using previous measurements to confirm a print

Travel Time - 1 hr

—2 miles —12.6 sq miles

Travel Time 2hrs

—4 miles — 50.3 sq miles

Travel Time 3 hrs

— 6 miles — 113.1 sq miles

Complete

entire print is visible

Partial

print is not fully visible

Identifiable

at least one characteristic that differentiates it from others similar to it

Conclusively Human

can be sure was made by a human and not an animal

Corroborant

a sign that is not decisively human and could have been made by an animals

Visual Cues SCCOT

Shape

Contrast

Color

Outline

Texture

How to mark

First track and last track are circled

Left or Right tracks are differentiated by drawing a straight line under the heel and then a perpendicular line to that depending on which way the outside of the foot is facing

Types of track

lug, tennis shoe, sandal, street shoe, western boot, hiking boot, sneaker, barefoot

Types of tread patterns

fish scales, solid bars, broken bars, ripple/wavy, running w, diamond , honey comb, suction cup, lug

Track trap

leaves lasting prints

sand

mud

snow

dust

embankments

game trails

roads

salt flats

Point - one person

stays behind last track found

leads track and team efforts

keeps flankers on track

uses tracking stick

calls in information

marks and verifys prints

Flankers/ Jumpers - 2 or more

watches for upcoming tracks

watches for DOT change

helps point locate next print

Tracking stick

should be light and durable

about 40 inches long

at least two rings to mark width, length, and stride

Other Equipment

tape measure in cm

appropriate clothes

note pad and pencil

trail tape

flashlight

compass

mirror

something to take coordinates with

Sign

any evidence of change in natural state that is caused by a persons passage

Age of a sign

Edge definition - fresh tracks have sharp edges old ones do not

Moisture content - was it wet or dry when MP went missing, fresh tracks could expose damp soil or if it was muddy when MP went missing and its dry now it could be older

Debris - the track could have debris over it if its older

Vegetation - freshly broken grass or bruised grass can indicate its fresh old or browning grass or vegetation can indicate its older

Weather - wind can fill with dust rain washes out details

Frequency Signs

leaves a track every 18-20 inches and over 3000 times a mile

Sign Examples

Human = conclusively - trash, clothing droppings, discarded material

Could be animals = Corrobrant - embedded twigs

bruises on vegetation

broken twigs

bent grass or ferns

stripped moss or bark

rocks pressed into the ground

rocks knocked loose

shiny ground

scuff marks

dirt transfer on rocks

freshly turned leaves or rocks

animals droppings

streams or water marks

Categories

Conclusively human and Corroborant

Father of tracking

A.B. Taylor