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Author: Hha

Date: Friday 13th of August 2010

Url: http://www.huntingworldtop100.com/hunting-articles/hunting-tips-animal-tracks-34/34.html

Every animal has a particular pattern and form to its tracks that you can follow on any field or terrain: sand, soft soil or snow. If you get to know the patterns and particular quirks of the animal tracks well you will have an edge at your hunting trips. From an animal’s tracks you can identify its type, sex and size, but with a deeper knowledge you can learn lot more info, like the direction the animal took and how old the tracks are.

Much of the info you can get of a track will depend on the time that has passed since the animal has made them, the weather conditions and the terrain itself. If you manage to detect and read the tracks you can determine if you are in fact at the right place to hunt your prey and if you are proactive enough you can follow the tracks to catch up with the game a lot faster.

 Deer Tracks

Every animal has a particular pattern and form to its tracks that you can follow on any field or terrain: sand, soft soil or snow. If you get to know the

patterns and particular quirks of the animal tracks well you will have an edge at your hunting trips. From an animal’s tracks you can identify its type, sex and size, but with a deeper knowledge you can learn lot more info, like the direction the animal took and how old the tracks are.

Much of the info you can get of a track will depend on the time that has passed since the animal has made them, the weather conditions and the terrain itself. If you manage to detect and read the tracks you can determine if you are in fact at the right place to hunt your prey and if you are proactive enough you can follow the tracks to catch up with the game a lot faster.

Deer hoofs leave such a unique trail that they are one of the easiest game to track down by just the footprints they leave. Avery track will have 2 long

toes with an inverted heart form. They can be 3 to 6 inches in length. Usually, the tracks will be found in diagonal patterns because of the way the deer moves.

Bears Tracks

These animals use the same paths to travel, so picking up a trail should be easy. You can also search for claw marks in trees and branches around their habitat. Bears tend to move carelessly, so their footprints will be deep. You should be careful if huge tracks are found near caves, dense woods or open fields. Their long claws will leave a very unique track, with 5 toes and 1 large pad.

Canines

Usually, these leave long prints with an oval-shaped rear. Their footprints are a bit small; they have 4 toes and 1 large pad. The front toes are close together. Normal dogs leave prints 3 to 4 inches long, but wolfs leave larger tracks the size of a human hand.

Felines

These preys are a lot harder to hunt since they are nocturnal animals. The ability to track down their trails is the best way to hunt them (particularly Bobcats and Mountain Lions). The main issue with feline tracks is their similarity to wolf tracks, but the retractile claws of a feline is the best clue to tell them apart.