As the tracker moves up the hill towards the den the tell-tale signs unravel a story. The “spoor” (sign) at the entrance signifies a presence within and judging by the size of the tracks on the approach, it was probably caused by the male of the species.
Observing the den it is evident that the “quarry” (prey) has entered from the rear opening. It is easy to see that the movement was recent because a light shower has left the tracks visible across the hard surface leading to the rear.
Peering inside the den reveals feeding sign littering the first chamber, an area normally left immaculately clean. This is more substantive evidence that the quarry is male because the female of the species is particularly clean in its habits.
Looking around there is little more to be seen but a faint noise can be heard deeper in the den indicating that something is still present. Moving through the empty first chamber the tracker finds the resting area still warm to the touch and the “bedding” in dis-array.
Looking around the tracker examines the available options. To the left is a ‘gate’ barring the way to the main feeding chamber, to the right is an opening. Probing forward cautiously through the opening the trail soon offers more options. To the right there is a climb up to the sleeping chambers and a small latrine area, to the left the passage to the front entrance of the den.
Small particles on the trail and discarded items strewn at the top of the climb catch the eye of the tracker and the pace of the pursuit becomes more urgent. The previously muffled sound is now loud and resounds throughout the den.
In just a couple of quick, sprightly steps the top of the climb is reached. Passing the latrine area the tracker notes sign that it has been used recently. Presented now with two more options, the “gate” to the main sleeping area lies ajar; the “gate” to the smaller sleeping chamber is soundly closed.
Ears as well as eyes now assimilating all the evidence our tracker peers into the open sleeping chamber. Ever conscious not to wake the sleeping beast she observes the quarry now lying curled up, snoring contentedly before her.
So who is this amazing tracker? Is it a Bushman woman or an Australian Aboriginal? No, it is simply my wife, tracking me through our home and this brings me to the subject of this article, what is tracking?
The many books on the subject will tell us “Tracking is the assimilation and interpretation of spoor leading to the successful pursuit of a quarry” or words to that effect.
Much has been written on the subject of tracking. To many it is an art form shrouded in mystery, sustained by the passage of knowledge from generation to generation in ancient societies.
Some consider that only truly indigenous peoples, or those lucky enough to have a mentor from such cultures, are capable of tracking. Personally, I hold a different view. I consider that it is nothing more than familiarity.
In depth familiarity of the species and the environment in which it is tracked are the requirements for a good tracker, hence the analogy of my wife and our home.
My wife would be the first to agree that she has never been taught to track. She wouldn’t think that she had the first idea about the subject, yet she can track me (her quarry) around our house (her environment) as well as any Bushman can track a Dik-Dik or Kudu around the Kalahari.
How is this? She has an in depth knowledge of her species, me. We have been together for 23 years! She also has detailed knowledge of her environment, our home. We have lived in our house for 14 years! She knows when even the smallest item is out of place or amiss in her environment.
This is the reason I commence all my teaching with man tracking. We are all familiar with our own species. We have a reasonable knowledge of how people act and we can predict fairly accurately what they are likely to do next.
Consequently, should we loose the spoor, we are likely to anticipate there next action and pick it up again as we can build a picture about them by the sign they leave.
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