OBJECTIVES: To understand and determines the different signs. To apply the different methods of deception. Have the ability on how to counter the method of deception.
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION: 1. DEFINITION OF TERMS: VISUAL TRACKING – is an art of being able to follow a man or group of men using the sign they have left. SIGNS – are marks on the ground and disturbance of vegetation left by a man or animal passing through the area. GROUNDS SIGNS – a sign left by a man or animal on the ground. TOP SIGN – signs above ankle level. JUNGLE - is a feature of impenetrable growth of vegetation forbidding in appearance and filed with wild life. ROCKY COUNTRY - the most difficult terrain to track.
2. TYPES OF SIGNS GROUND SIGNS – is a sign that could be found on the ground which includes the following: a. Foots or boots marked b. Broken twigs (small branches) c. Disturbance of vegetation d. Mud deposit water e. Debris-broken on something left or dropped beside f. Sap latex (plant liquid)
FOOT OR BOOTS MARKS NOTE THE LUG PATTERN FROM HEEL TO TOE. THIS IS A VERY GOOD PRINT IN MUD.
NOTE THE DAMAGE TO THE VEGETATION, BROKEN STICKS AND TWIGS. BROKEN TWIGS (SMALL BRANCHES) NOTE THE DAMAGE TO THE VEGETATION, BROKEN STICKS AND TWIGS.
DISTURBANCE OF VEGETATIONS NOTE THE CRUSHED VEGETATION AREA. THE BLADES OF GRASS ARE POINTING AWAY FROM THE HEEL. Photo by Ted Fisher
MUD DEPOSIT ON WATER NOTE THAT YOU CAN STILL SEE THE HEEL MARK AND SOME CLOUDINESS OF THE WATER, GOOD SIGN OF AGE OF THE TRACK. Photo by Ted Fisher
DEBRIS-BROKEN OR SOMETHING LEFT OR DROPPED BESIDE
SAP LATEX (PLANT LIQUID)
B. TOP SIGNS b. Scratches on trees c. Bruises moss on trees a. Direct sunlight b. Scratches on trees c. Bruises moss on trees d. Hand hold marked on trees e. Changes of color, position of vegetation.
DIRECT SUNLIGHT – IT ADVERSELY AFFECTS SIGNS BY DRYING OUT GROUND SIGNS.
DIRECT SUNLIGHT – IT PROVIDES THE NATURAL ELEMENT TO BRING VEGETATION BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION
SCRATCHES ON TREES
BRUISED MOSS ON TREES
HAND HOLD MARKS ON TREES
FACTORS WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECT TRACKING Direct sunlight Strong wind – covers the tracks with dirt and obstacle Heavy rains – erases the track Time – affect the time of the length the track faded
DIRECT SUNLIGHT – IT PROVIDES THE NATURAL ELEMENT TO BRING VEGETATION BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION
STRONG WINDS
HEAVY RAINS
T I M E THE OLDER THE TRACK THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO FOLLOW . IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR OF ALL IN VISUAL TRACKING
HOW TO FOLLOW A TRACK
MARK THE SIGN AND DO NOT FIDDLE WITH IT.
2. PUT A COMPETENT TRACKER UNTO IT
3. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW IT BY YOURSELF UNLESS YOU ARE A COMPETENT TRACKER
4. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SEARCH AROUND THE AREA UNTIL THE TRACKER ARRIVED .
METHODS OF DECEPTION Walking on the steam Scattered Fade out Dead end of false trail
WALKING ON THE STREAM
Traveling on or in Waterways. Look for disturbances Look for transfer. Look for where the subject left the water.
FADE OUT (JUMPING OFF TRACK) – ACTION - THE TRACKER WILL LOOK AT THE SIDES OF THE LAST SPOT. TRACKER TRACKER TRACKER
SCATTER – IF THE ENEMY SCATTER THE PROCEDURE IS TO FOLLOW THE LARGEST GROUP AND THE EASIEST TRACK. TRACKER TRACKER
DEAD END OR FALSE TRAIL – THE TRACKER HAD TO GO BACK AND SEARCH THE SIDES OF THE TRACK.
COUNTER METHOD OF DECEPTION The tracker will concentrate himself on the last and search the area approximately about 10-15 meters. If is unsuccessful the tracker will search the side of the tracks. If it is unsuccessful the trackers move approximately 50 meters of the last ground axis. If it is unsuccessful he increases his search radius to approximately 25 meters.
1. WHEN THE TRACKER IS LOST HE WILL CONCENTRATE HIMSELF ON THE LAST VISIBLE SIGN AND SEARCHES THE AREA IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION FOR A RADIUS OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15 METERS. 10 – 15 mtrs LAST VISIBLE SIGN TRACKER
2. IF UNSUCCESSFUL THE TRACKER WILL SEARCH THE SIDE OF THE TRACKS.
3. IF UNSUCCESSFUL THE TRACKER MOVE 50 METERS FROM THE LAST GROUND OF AXIS. 50 MTRS TRACKER TRACKER
4. IF IT IS UNSUCCESSFUL ANOTHER 25 METERS. 25 MTRS TRACKER
PLACES WHERE SIGNS WILL BE MOST OBVIOUS Bank of a river stream Muddy and sandy patches Top kill side Edges of clearing or plantation High grasses or thick undergrowth with obstacles have to be crossed and canalize the route
TYPE OF TERRAIN THAT PRODUCES DIFFERENT SIGNS A. JUNGLE 1. disturbance of leaves and stones 2. broken twigs or branches both green and dried 3. vegetation passed aside will be unnatural position and probably show the light on the other side 4. boots impression on soft ground
B. ROCKY COUNTRY Smaller stones will be knocked off from their resting place of rest into the ground. Nailed boots will leave scratches and rubber boots will leave blank marks on the ground. Moss growing on the rocks will be disturbed. Insect hiding inside the stone maybe disturbed or seen. Signs may be found in the area of soft ground near the stone.
INFORMATION FROM A TRACK Direction of enemy movements Number of person making a track Age of sign Loading Sex-under favorable condition Speed Time
THANK YOU AND GOOD DAY… RANGERS LEAD THE WAY