Many terms and concepts are adapted from:

“Fundamentals of Mantracking” – The step-by-step method Albert “Ab” Taylor

Donald C. Cooper

ISBN 0-913724-37-82

“Tracking” is essentially:

● Detect direction or movement

● Interpretation of clues

● Investigative tool

● Operational tool

Following sign left by someone or something

“Oh, how simple it would have been had I been here

before they came like a herd of buffalo

and wallowed all over it.”

“Here is where the lodgekeeper came, and they have

covered all the tracks

for six or eight feet around the body.”

Sherlock Holmes

In The Boscombe Valley Mystery

Original track (notice that detail

does not transfer the same to soil)

Same track one hour later

after more snowfall

● Track yourself

● Have a friend walk a path and track them

● Follow some tracks on a trail ……..

for the heck of it

● Seek out more experienced trackers

● Attend search exercises

● Watch for sign anywhere!

Local park, parking lot, side of road…….

OR

Tracker attempts to find as many pieces of sign as possible

As a principle

there is no

“Assumed” DOT

Involves guesswork, luck,

and essentially no skill Assumed DOT

Step by Step tracking takes time

The active track is not discontinued

Essentially “Heading off at the pass”

Assumed DOT

100 yards, 1 mile, 5 miles?

Can be natural or searchers may make track

traps at trail junctions or strategic locations

Next mission can tell if

someone passed through

Note location/description on ICS-214

Track Traps may also

deteriorate quickly

● Clothing appropriate for terrain, weather and is durable

● A walking or sign cutting stick

● A measuring tape

● Notepad & Pen/Pencil, track reports

● Flagging tape

● Flashlight

● ICS-214, ICS-204

● Orienteering tools, Map-compass, GPS

● Digital camera

● Communications – Radio & cell phone

● Equipment as listed on the SAR Pack Checklist

Lug

Herr

ingbone

E W

Morning & afternoon may

be the best tracking times

with natural light

Noontime would have

created difficulty for finding

this track

Headlamp

Flashlight

Moonlight

ATV light

Mirror

May leave obvious sign of passage….. Time sensitive

A “Track Report” provides a scaled

representation of the track.

Most people would have difficulty “freehand”

drawing a good detailed track.

The grid blocks allow you to transfer real

measurements to the track drawing

Digital photos are excellent ways to

document tracks. Take from several angles

Place a measuring device beside track to give

perspective.

Have a way to transfer file during debriefing

O-Rings to keep measurements

Stride O-Ring

Print Length O-Ring

Stride

You should still measure all

parts of such a print with

your measuring device

And take a digital picture!

Shoe Size

You need two consecutive

tracks to determine stride

You are truly attempting to go “Step-By-Step”

Using the “Stride O-Ring”, each

radius sweep helps focus and look

for the heel of the next print.

CLUE

Perpendicular approach

Don’t trample

your evidence

Clue Found

Crew ID

Date

Time

Remember that clues are not necessarily discovered in

the same order they were laid down.

Known to be subject’s

vehicle?

Not know to be

subject’s vehicle yet?

Cut for sign

Other vehicle/Bike/ATV tracks?

Human/dog tracks – How many?

Trash/cigs/… any sign?

DOT-Direction of travel?

Do tracks from their vehicle lead to

other tire tracks and stop?

One path in,

Limit personnel,

Secure scene

One path in, one person or limit personnel Tag ID?

Cut for sign

Other vehicle tracks?

Human/dog tracks – How many?

Trash/cigs/… any sign?

DOT?

Do tracks from their vehicle lead

to other tire tracks and stop?

Take photographs

Wide/Intermediate Survey

Close in Survey

Vehicle warm?

Windows up/down?

Doors locked?

What can you see inside?

Take photographs

Close in Survey What can you see or do without

messing up fingerprints/evidence?

This may or may not be coordinated

with a detective