Tracking : A Blueprint for Learning How by Jack Kearney

Tracking : A Blueprint for Learning How Reviews

• 
  Montaigne

  they say this guys the best
• 
  Marc

  Jack Kearney authored this book in 1978 based on his experiences as a U.S. Border Patrol officer, a law-enforcement agency that actually does (or did) quite a bit of mantracking. This book predates, the emphasis on tracking by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan and illustrates not only a history of tracking but also the techniques before the school in Mesquite brought it the craft to prominence. It is part of the history of contemporary military and law enforcement tracking.
  
  Kearney's work begins with tracking basics common to all tracking operations, but, unlike the tactical tracking taught by contemporary schools, focuses more into microtracking and it's application in search and rescue.
  
  Microtracking is "inch by inch" along the trackline and develops high granular characterizations of the spoor and trackline. It is not as suited to P3 F3EAD as tactical tracking but very well-suited to forensics, animal studies and search and rescue tracking where capture of spoor and trackline details are important.
  
  Before the resurgent interest in tactical tracking began after 11SEP01, Kearney's book was about all there was.
  
  This is an essential work in the history and craft of tracking, mantracking and tactical tracking and a useful text if you are developing tracking skills in yourself and group, not only in the learning microtracking and it's application but also the history of contemporary tracking craft. It is one of the few books that go towards actually teaching the subject, rather than talking about it. It's a textbook for tracking and while not widely used in tactical tracking, Kearney is highly respected.
  
  This book, if read and practiced, gives the student a resource for self-education in learning their own craft and building a tracking capability of their own and enriches the study of tracking.
• 
  Raven

  This is the only book that Search and Rescue recommended on the subject. After a year or so of training, I see why! It's a concise and excellent summary of the things we practice in the field. While the area in which the author originally gained his expertise is pretty different from my life experience (Southwest desert vs. Northwest rainforest, LEO vs. civilian volunteer, different politics) I still found it highly relevant to what we do. Additionally, there are areas that I haven't had firsthand experience with due to where I live -- tracking in snow, tracking in sand -- that I appreciated the coverage of. If I ever get a chance to try them, I'll be slightly more clueful due to this book, heh.
• 
  Doyle

  Another great addition to the library of tracking. It is one of the first on the topic. Anyone interested in tracking and for those who want to teach, it is a definite reference to curriculum development for a course. Really wish I would have had a copy in the 80s.
• 
  Kyt Walken

  Milestone of Man Tracking!
• 
  Craig Wanderer

  This Is one of those books I really did not think I needed to learn. However some "Operators" suggested it to me and insisted taht despite being a lifetime outdoorsman/hunter I had a lot to learn.
  
  Wow did I!
  
  If you have just a passing interest or a desire to find lost game or more, this is an amazing book well worth your time.