The ability to track quarry is an ancient competence which has, over thousands of years, performed a vital function in the development and adaptation of the human species. The evolution of our hunter-gatherer origins enabled access to improved food sources and protein which in turn facilitated the development of an advanced intellect, our complex social construction and our emotional fabric.
As hunters and gatherers, a thorough connection to and understanding of the complexities of nature and the cycles of life empowered those early humans and permitted their ability to use natural resources to their benefit. Our ancestors developed an intuitive understanding of topography and prevailing climatic cycles. They learned the intricate tapestry that links local flora and fauna and thereby enabled their control and manipulation of the world around them.
In many areas of the world, most especially in the past 50 years, ancient tracking skills have disappeared at an alarming rate. Rapid urbanisation more recently coupled with significant technological advancement has meant that ‘part-time’ recreational hunters no longer think they require the skills of the original hunter-gatherers and traditional ‘bushmen’ or ‘master trackers’ to effectively access wild areas and seek game species. The strong connection to the land and deliberate ways of living which maintained field literacy, are fast being replaced by modern and fast-moving materialism which is out of touch with nature.
In the past, a tracker's comprehensive ecological understanding was the cryptocurrency of the day. This value was measured by their knowledge, ability and respect of nature. Competent trackers were the leaders of their communities and the keepers of the ‘values’ of ancient culture which ensured the conservation of species. Fortunately, in some limited and remote areas of every continent of the world, these customs, to some degree, still endure within localised traditional hunter-gatherer cultures. To this day, tracking is wonderfully evidenced by elements of the Iban (Dayak) people of Borneo, the Q'eqchi' (K'ekchi') of Central America, the Khoisan, Basagwa and vaDoma of Southern Africa, the Hadza of Tanzania, the Inuit of the Arctic, Tungusic (Evenks and Chukchi) of Russia and also to an extent exampled by elements of the Pintupi, Gunwinggu and Yolngu of Australia.
Across the world today, the hunter-gatherer economy is resilient, but its Achilles’ heel is its vulnerability to the presence of large population concentrations and the foibles of contemporary culture.
As hunters we have a responsibility to regain and maintain a spiritual, physical, social and cultural connection to nature. For the good of nature and of hunting, we need to re-establish ourselves as the leaders and protectors of nature. Tracking is the ideal way to develop a legitimate interest and appreciation for nature and to facilitate our in-depth understanding of the natural cycles. We as hunters should learn to traditionally read tracks, scats and signs as tracking is integral to the knowledge of animal movement. With this knowledge we will begin to hunt more effectively, expand our protected areas, monitor our priority species, track the poachers that threaten our endangered wildlife, and, with substantiated authority, knowledgeably stand up to the detached dialogue and propaganda that is increasingly spruiked by animal rights and other anti-hunting activist groups.
No matter your experience, tracking is a learning process; no-one knows it all. It must be thought of as a puzzle to solve and it is about learning to get to know the animals you are tracking — their behaviours, their traits, their nuances. It is important for you to learn to build your awareness of the ground, aerial and vocal clues that surround you, learn about wildlife tracking technology and learn how tracks and signs are incorporated into the development of conservation initiatives, especially those pertaining to the field-based conservation of endangered and priority species.
Tracking has a vitally important role to play in conservation in the 21st century and beyond. For example, both the use of traditional tracking and modern technology tracking along with artificial intelligence are critical in the ongoing global cat-and-mouse game to keep our priority species alive and away from poaching harm.
Contributed by: Ian Blevin.
In a series of articles in upcoming editions of Australian Deer Magazine I will further discuss the science of tracking by focusing on the principles of track and sign identification, the tracking Ten Commandments, tracking pre-engagement, and tracking post-engagement.
Bon chasse,
Ian
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