Tracking courses

[Adi]

Has anyone done a tracking course and if so which one?

I am thinking of doing the Natural Pathways, Tracking One Course and work through to complete all three courses.

 

[Razorstrop]

I odnt pretend to know anything about tracking just at the minute, but have heard nothing but good things about Shadowhawk courses.
Give them a google

Mr Strop

 

[stoddy]

highly recommend shadowhawk

 

[Marts]

Hi Adi

Bambodoggy just did Natural Pathways Tracking one course and he put a review of it here

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=8981&highlight=pathways

 

[Adi]

Cheers Marts I have read that, i was hoping to hear from others that have done other courses like the Shadowhawk Course or others and hear there views.

 

[leon-1]

I have done the fundamental and the intermediate tracking courses with Shadowhawk, both are very good.

I have also done a trip to Namibia with Woody of Bushcraft expeditions. Woody has a good style of teaching as well and the trip had been well thought out.

All tracking instructors have a specific style and both Max and Woody try to keep things in the real world rather than the "mystical tracker" concept. Both have good tracking skills and experience in the real world.

Although both have slightly different methods and styles they are probably more in balance with each other than some of the other styles of tracker training would be.

I can and will recommend either of these 2 as schools because I have seen the product and know what you will get for your investment.

 

[Joff]

I have also done the basic and intermediate with Max of Shadowhawk. Top bloke who knows his stuff. Courses were cram packed with info and the tracking was fun.

I have been back to help out so I might see you there sometime if you decide to go with Shadowhawk.

Cheers

 

[Ed]

One thing I do have to say about max is that he makes his courses enjoyable and fun.... it make it an easy environment to learn in.


Ed

 

[Adi]

Cheers for the replies everyone.

I hope to do a course during 2006 but I am no closer to deciding who with. Can someone tell me if the Shadowhawk course is certificated? I like the sound of them for what has been said here and I like the idea of there Law Enforcement course but I would be learning it for myself and primarily for wildlife tracking but if it was certificated I would inform the local police of the skill and would be added to there call out list for missing persons and the like.

 

[leon-1]

Adi, have a look at this course as well, it may cost a little more, but it will give a little more dirt time and continuity.

 

[Adi]

Adi, have a look at this course as well, it may cost a little more, but it will give a little more dirt time and continuity.

Cheers for that

I will be contacting each company with questions and take it from there

 

[leon-1]

That's OK mate

 

[Paganwolf]

Hmmm mystical tracking lol anyone (within reason) can learn the technicalities tracking from a book or a class room but that's not all tracking is about, tracking also needs to come from the heart and soul, you must always be honest with yourself and have an "open mind" and sometimes go with a gut feeling or go with an educated direction learnt from a previous tracking experience, tracking should be absorbed and practiced methodically and you never ever stop learning, a Swedish bushcraft and survival teacher said to me once " to practice 1 time is not practice but to practice a hundred times is to have practiced once" this is a perfect saying for learning to track and knowing Geoff, Max and Woody which ever one you choose to go with you will be hooked and inspired to track and look at the world around you in a completely different way. Have fun buddy!

 

[Adi]

Have fun buddy!

Cheers for your reply, as a kid i was taught to track by an old poacher. I have also patrolled track lines with native and and none native trackers in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa. I have also worked with border patrol teams in New Mexico although I was not employed as a tracker in any of these cases.

I am looking at expanding on the knowledge i have gained and gain further experience with wildlife tracking here in the UK, i have forgotten a lot of the stiff i learnt in the early days so am wanting to be refreshed with a bit of guidance, I am already out tracking when i can and if just out for a walk or a hike i am track aware of both mine and there's.

 

[amott69]

I've done two courses with shadowhawks they were very good. Have a look at the survival school web site

 

[Fallow Way]

Adi Fiddler - the police will not use you.. and in the worse case scenario will laugh at you



The police have their own search and rescue teams who specialise in the field, a field I should add that is only slowly and in my view very very wisely starting to come around to the idea of employing certain tracking skills. If you are interested in becoming involved in Missing Persons search, contact ALSAR (Association of Lowland Search and Rescue) and join a group and get some training. PM me if you want to know more. vbmenu_register("postmenu_127963", true);

 

[Adi]

Thanks for you reply, i am already on there call out list for certain things, evidence searching, missing persons search and some other things. Its not what you know who you know, if you have a proven working record with the police and have skills that they can use they will often use you. The duty inspector has a list of people that he can call out and it is up to him if there is a need.

 

[Fallow Way]

oh, confused me now as a few days ago you mentioned you would think about getting on the lists, when you say you already are.



It’s strange. but actually quite good, that they use you as the recent Home Office report looking into SAR outlined a process whereby support to their SAR teams would come from trained, certified, accountable groups specialised in their area who are insured amongst other things.

Its a good idea to get in with the OIC but also get some SAR specific training through something like UKLSI as it is quite different to just tracking and can be more effective, as frankly tracking doesnt work in all circumstances. I am both a tracker and SAR technician and know the huge difference between how these two methods work. In fact at the minute I am trying to help the inclusion of tracking techniques in SAR.

 

[Ian "max" Maxwell]

I thought important to address the situation with regard to SAR Trackers.In order to carry out tracking work for the police you will have to show to them your ability to do what you say you can. In order to reduce their exposure to litigation they will ask that you can show them a ticket. Shadowhawk carries out SAR Tracking courses around the world that are used by the police and voluntary SAR organisations.I would suggest that to do a good job and show tracking in a professional light that you join your local sar organisation and do one of our SAR courses.There is a lot more to it than just tracking, too much to go into here.We are carrying out a SAR Tracking course this month and suggest you contact me to discuss the matter further. SARTRA( Search and Rescue Tracking Association) has all the details that you require to conform to police call out for jobs.
It is very important that you represent trackers in a proffessional manner and hence the SARTRA Standards.

Adi Fiddler - the police will not use you.. and in the worse case scenario will laugh at you



The police have their own search and rescue teams who specialise in the field, a field I should add that is only slowly and in my view very very wisely starting to come around to the idea of employing certain tracking skills. If you are interested in becoming involved in Missing Persons search, contact ALSAR (Association of Lowland Search and Rescue) and join a group and get some training. PM me if you want to know more. vbmenu_register("postmenu_127963", true);

 

[Fallow Way]

Exactly, that is why I have been booked on that course for a while now as I love tracking and wish to see more poeple employ it and want to know the correct way in being able to use it for SAR.

Get any of my emails in the last month or so?