- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Messages
- 312
Geo, Practice from the comfort of your home!
Get a pair of binoculars and start closely watching the birds and animals, wild or domestic.
To learn tracking, the first thing I would start watching is the critter's feet as they move and as they stand still. Pay attention to the physiology of the animal's body as it shifts it's weight, whether on the move, standing still, starting, or stopping. Try to visualize the weight transfer as a critter starts moving off. Four-legged critters will most often shift their weight rearward first, then "lift" the front leg(s) to take the first step(s). The front feet will leave a shallower impression of the "launch" than the rear feet.
A turning start will cause the outside foot to leave a slightly smeared track, deeper on the inside, and the rear feet tracks will also show that with added rotation.
A coyote that has suddenly stopped because of movement or a scent that it has encountered will often slightly move it's front feet, leaving more front foot imprints than rear prints. This is caused by the shifting of it's weight as it decides to flee or investigate further.
Just as with people, a coyote on a walk-about will wander a bit, checking things in it's path. A coyote headed towards it's water source, known "best" hunting area, scent of a previous kill or returning to a kill will be less wandering and more purposeful.
Long strides on a track indicate purposefulness. Long strides with deeply dug in toes indicates a running coyote. Short strides are indicative of more general hunting and will often be accompanied with little "side trips" from a few inches to yards as they seek scent cones, to identify objects they are not familiar with, or to check out some small movement.
In the Spring and Fall I place "rub-rocks" along trails to gather the critters attention and to provide a "scent post" or a place to rub against. These rocks are more small boulders then fist size rocks because they have to withstand a coyote leaning into them to rub themselves.
I try to place them where I can get a clear shot at the critter as they approach and stop to check out the rock. Being blessed(?) with Caliche rocks here, they are bright white and are an attention getter!
This being cattle country, a surprising number of coyotes have previously broken legs and feet that have healed over. These were acquired while trying to take down a calf, resulting in the momma cow, or even the calf will kick it or step on it. Each of these coyotes will leave distinctive tracks.
There's a lifetime of learning about tracking and I'm nowhere near being fully educated!
Ed
), we tend to shoot, then look up to see the results of our shot.
