Hunting provides a lot of food in a survival situation; game animals rarely walk into your camp, however, so you must hunt them. If you can find where they’ve been and where they’re going you will have an advantage. The following 6 tips is for you to learn how to track game best.
1. Know an animal’s track
Animals leave tracks as they travel. The track of each species is unique and you can tell what species of animal has passed by through observing the track. By observing the species of animal that has passed by, a hunter can best gauge which tactics to use to hunt the animal.
2. Know how to find tracks
Animals don’t walk aimlessly about the forests. They move with purpose, usually to and from water and food. To find track, walk around the banks of a water source and the edges of meadows and tree lines. You are likely to find several game trails as you do this.
3. Know when animals move
Animals take advantage of dawn and dusk hours to move to feeding and watering areas. The low light during these hours helps the animal to stay hidden. Nocturnal animals like raccoons move at night and frequent areas familiar to them where they find food.
4. Know how to read an animal’s spore
Rabbit spore resembles small, dark jelly beans. Raccoon spore is similar to small bear spore. Deer spore resembles very large rabbit spore. Elk spore resembles deer spore, but is larger. Moose spore looks a lot like elk spore stuck together. Turkey spore resembles large chicken spore.
Grouse and quail spore resembles small chicken spore. Knowing what left the spore will tell you the tactics to use when hunting.
5. Noise and movement
If you’re still, you’ll hear animals approach before they sense you. Heavy animals make noisy footfalls. Smaller animals will rustle the underbrush. When close, movement of animals and brush will catch your eye alerting you to the presence of the animal.
6. Set up a stake out near a trail
A game trail is a path made by several herd animals. Tracks usually run both ways on the trail as animals approach and exit an area. Choose a place on the trail close to water. Walk away from the direction of the wind and off the trail for at least twenty five yards.
Be sure that you’re hidden, but can still see the trail. When you detect the approach of your quarry, kill it, clean it and feed yourself.
