Tracking – Signs of Man, Signs of Hope : A Systematic Approach to the Art and Science of Tracking Humans
David Diaz, V.L. McCann
The Lyons Press, 2005

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It is said that trackers are born not made; but David Diaz, a twenty year veteran of the Special Forces in the United States military, would disagree. As long as the person was in good shape for the hunt and was observant than he or she could be trained as a tracker. Tracking – Signs of Man, Signs of Hope by David Diaz with V.L. McCann takes us deep behind the curtain of professional trackers in the military, law enforcement and professional rescue communities. His book is designed to help the novice tracker pick up the skills needed to become proficient in tracking across all the various terrain types he or she might find himself in.

It should be noted that this book is intended for military, law enforcement or rescue personnel, but can be used by anybody interested in tracking. Also the book freely admits that just by reading it you will not become an expert tracker as only experience and field work can do that, but it is a good head start for the novice tracker. So who makes a good tracker? The first requirement is that the tracker be in good shape as the chase might take days and cover a lot of ground and different terrain types. David Diaz’s minimum requirements are: be able to cover 100 miles over steep and varied terrain carrying anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds of equipment with no other means of transportation than your own two feet. Next you must be able to find or carry your own food and water and be able to protect yourself from all possible dangers during the chase. Next is the tracker must have, as David Diaz puts it, “an excessive amount of attention to detail” as the tracker will need to be able to spot details an average person will miss. Finally the tracker will need the tools of the trade.

Gone are the days when the tracker could track without worrying about collecting evidence for post-mission debriefs. Among the gear that David Diaz recommends are: compass, maps, clothes and shelter material appropriate for the environment, writing tools, tablet, digital camera or video camera, tape recorder, batteries, plastic or zip-lock bags, tweezers, digging tool, gloves and optionally a magnifying glass. Now that you’re in shape and have the tools of the trade, what next?

The single most important step before beginning the chase is to learn all about the subject that you can. Learning the history and trends of the chase will be invaluable when trying to determine which sign is the chase and which sign is from somebody else. One area that I had never considered before reading the book is how the diet of the chase can impact the track. Body waste products in the urine and feces not only reveal the current diet of the chase, but general state of health as well. Naturally as the chase moves into the wilderness the choices of food will change, but knowing the diet of the chase can prevent you from following the wrong track. Okay; you’re in shape and you got your tools and intelligence, now what? Now you track. And this is where the book comes into its own as both as field guide for the experienced tracker and a field manual for the novice.

David Diaz spent twenty years in the armed forces of the United States serving as a tracker in the Special Forces. From the testimonials in the front of the book, his bona fides as an instructor in tracking is well established. After the preparatory work has been accomplished, David Diaz and V.L. McCann take the novice tracker through each art in tracking. The first major chapter deals with the art of using one’s senses in tracking. Besides the obvious sight and hearing senses, the author also emphasizes the use of scent tracking and tactile tracking. All the senses must be used or a small sign could be missed and a day or more wasted or worse yet a needless loss of life can occur. What I found particularly helpful was that at the end of each chapter was a story of a hypothetical chase that took place in South Korea which recaps all the major elements in the chapter and places them in context of the chase.

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