Track and sign evaluation

  • Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.

nigelp

Native
Jul 4, 2006
1,449
1,065
New Forest
newforestnavigation.co.uk
Just back from a fantastic weekend in Midhurst area doing another Track and Sign Evaluation with John at https://www.woodcraftschool.co.uk/

56 track and sign to identify scored from 1-3 points depending on complexity, and my first ever set of Mink tracks. As always the evaluation questions are followed by a comprehensive explainer from John with time to ask questions about track morphology, sign creation and possible confusion species etc. Great to meet up with fellow tracks and sign nerds!

I scored a pleasing 91% and am now a level three - that’s considered a good standard to do some instructing. Future plans for some autumn track and sign themed ‘hedgerow Safaris’ are now in the works.
 
Thanks. It’s a never ending subject and takes you off into many directions, tangents and quite literal rabbit holes.

The evaluations highlight strengths and areas to improve on where you have adequate knowledge but not the depth required to score a bit higher or if something obscure come along. I need to do more book and dirt time on feathers, eggs, bird nests, small mammal bones/skulls and less common bird tracks. I have some owl pellets to rummage through and always seem to come home with some ‘treasure’ or other after being out.

Timewise I’m having a short ‘sabbatical’ of sorts having wound up our (me and the wife’s) handy person business. Gives me a few months to spend getting out looking for and looking up track and sign, trailing and planning some future work ideas. I’d like a level three in trailing next. I find trailing to be the most ‘mindful’ of outdoor activities and probably unlocks a primordial part of our psyche - probably in a similar way that the deer still retain an innate sense that we pose a threat to them and make it more challenging.

John does do some one day evaluations. You can only get a level one on those but the balance of questions is the same as the two day (less questions) and gives you an idea of how the system works.

@Brizzlebush if you are interested in the subject John’s Tracks and sign book is great - you can find lots of dog, fox, squirrel, deer and small rodent tracks in urban areas, parks and quiet country lanes. It is also amazing how much sign you spot walking on a public right of way that often goes unnoticed. All a puzzle to solve.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brizzlebush

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE