How to become a highly effective tracker

[hunthikecamp]

Don't forget to eat, drink, and take breaks. It can be super easy to get so sucked in and obsess over it only to realize you haven't had a sip of water or a single calorie for hours, only making your mental effort even harder.

To Ross's point, I took a lunch break after losing a trail this September and within 10 minutes of searching after eating I picked it back up 100 yards away from last blood.


Also, if you are using onX pins to mark your trail, be very careful that it updates your location and the location settles out. And then take a picture of the blood. It might not look like much digitally but it's easy to drop a pin 10 ft from where you are actually standing if you aren't careful. This led me to start carrying something physical to mark blood as well like the TP mentioned above.

 

[yeti14]

Agree with everything that's been posted above ...mark the spot the shot was taken, mark the blood trail, etc....
Not necessarily tracking but, I've had luck in the past finding animals by changing my perspective. I.e. if you can get some elevation and scan an area from different angles. I had a deer pile up between 2 logs and walked by it numerous times. Only found it by getting a look from a different angle.

 

[journeyman713]

This has more to do with recovery than tracking, but - Thermal vision.
A handheld unit can scan through thick timber a couple hundred yards out, in seconds.
It's like looking for a lamp in the dark. Game changer as far as the end result goes.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

This has more to do with recovery than tracking, but - Thermal vision.
A handheld unit can scan through thick timber a couple hundred yards out, in seconds.
It's like looking for a lamp in the dark. Game changer as far as the end result goes.

Those legal in most states? Wife bought me one a few years ago and I've never used it for it's purpose.

 

[Coveyleader]

Hang out with Traditional Bowhunters, and you will get good.

 

[nettereo16]

I just hold on and try to keep up !

 

[TaperPin]

When I shot that bull looking almost directly at me and the bullet came out a hind quarter there was no blood to speak of. I had to first determine his tracks and I carry a little tape measure so the length of his strides and size of his hooves is a known thing. Mark as you go with toilet paper squares - being able to look back and see the direction of travel helps a lot when things get tough. Save time by not searching every inch unless you have to, but at the same time marking the correct tracks with the little white squares.

Yes, you do have to get down on hands and knees at times. I see guys never do so much as bend down and declare the tracks can’t be followed.

Just like any hard skill, it’s hard, so don’t expect anything else. The more you do it the better you’ll get, but almost nobody will get down on hands and knees before the season and practice in hard areas. I’d be shocked if more than 1 in 100 guys has practiced at all. Just looking down at good prints in soft ground isn’t practicing.

 

[velvet muley]

I know this is a western focused forum and there are a number of factors that dont make this as easy of a proposition out there, but I cannot overstate the ability of a good tracking dog. Even a dog that hasn't been trained for it will surprise you with its ability.

This is a useful tool in the old tool box but unfortunately it's not legal in all states.

 

[np307]

This is a useful tool in the old tool box but unfortunately it's not legal in all states.

There are 5 states with an outright ban on it. Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/state-regulations/

 

[Preston]

1) dont take shots you arent certain you can make under hunting pressure/position/excitement, etc.

Now that that’s out of the way…

Taking a photo from where I shot, and using the markup to show position of animal and direction of travel has been really helpful for me. Too often its hard to get started and once you move, that tree or rock you noted is no longer obvious. A photo lets you confirm, bc your mind plays tricks on you.

TP or paper flagging (or plastic if you’ll actually go back and pick up your trash) has been a big help for me. First marker ALWAYS where you shot from so it can be seen from a distance.

If you lose blood and you have access to a tracking dog, it can be better to back out before trampling scent all over the area.

And, since the clarification…I’ll just add that this^ is most common for me in very thick stuff whitetail hunting. One thing that might be more applicable for elk and open areas is I usually make an onx track on the blood trail. In the dark it often seems like the path isnt straight, but 9/10 times the track is pretty close to a straight line along the easiest path to where I find it. Not always, but if you’re going to grid search that track is a likely place to look first.

This!! Taking iffy shors, long shots >300 yards. or hurried/rushed shots usually doesn't end well for the hunted or the hunter. I mostly try to get in really close for good shots, but sometimes things go south and I bring my Leopard Hound. Most hounds can wind game very long distances like 700-800 yards for species like pronghorn, elk, or bear. And have used my assortment of coon hounds to track/find elk and deer. Just be sure and give the animal time to pass away before you take up the trail.

 

[7RemMag]

Since I haven't seen it yet, I'll throw in a little trick of the Old Man's that he got from a forum about 15 years ago or so. Spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. If blood becomes sparse, spray the area lightly. Even the slightest little drop of blood will foam like crazy. Of course, one should at least have a fairly good idea where the animal went/is going for this to be practical, but it can help when a critter stops bleeding/clots up, and then 25 yards on down, he starts bleeding again.


I feel the phrase "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" applies to this topic. However, if you hunt long enough, you're bound to have it happen.

 

[journeyman713]

Those legal in most states? Wife bought me one a few years ago and I've never used it for it's purpose.

Good question, it's legal in Wisconsin to recover a wounded animal, but not for hunting game animals.
Worth looking into in your state first.

 

[Huntingfanatic]

I usually carry an old arrow with a lighted nock on it. I stick it in the ground where I had last blood. Helps to get line of travel as well

 

[spike camp]

I consider myself a pretty solid tracker.

I attribute my perceived ability, to decades of archery hunting and an above average spatial awareness.

 

[RockAndSage]

Since I haven't seen it yet, I'll throw in a little trick of the Old Man's that he got from a forum about 15 years ago or so. Spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. If blood becomes sparse, spray the area lightly. Even the slightest little drop of blood will foam like crazy. Of course, one should at least have a fairly good idea where the animal went/is going for this to be practical, but it can help when a critter stops bleeding/clots up, and then 25 yards on down, he starts bleeding again.


I feel the phrase "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" applies to this topic. However, if you hunt long enough, you're bound to have it happen.

Man, that is one of the coolest tracking techniques I've heard in a long, long time. Definitely going to have to try it out.

 

[ianpadron]

Great thread.

The only animal I've had to search for was a doe a couple years back that I ended up having to leave overnight due to grizz activity. Late November so wasn't worried about meat spoiling.

Came back in the next morning at daylight and the magpies and crows led me right to her, a mere 25 yards from where I had given up. Saved the meat.

Paying attention to other critters is now something I try to do while hunting, squirrels and birds especially will give a critter away before you can see them.