View Full Version : Is there a tracking bible?
Abbe Osram
25-12-2004, 15:07
Hi Guys,
I am looking for a very good book to learn about Tracking. Is there such a thing as a tracking bible? A book every good Tracker would consider the book to have. I had a look in our bushcraft shop but could not find a book about tracking.
thanks for any info
cheers
Abbe
There is a book by Paul Rezendes which should be quite good, but I haven't seen it meself.
What I have is :
The Art of Tracking - The origin of Science. By Louis Liebenberg, South Africa. ISBN 0-86486-293-8. Good book by the guy who developed the CyberTracker.
Field Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife, by Chris & Tilde Stuart, South Africa. ISBN 1-86812-764-8.
Signs of the Wild, by Clive Walker, South Africa. ISBN 0-86977-196-5.
Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking, Tom Brown, USA. ISBN 0-425-06177-9.
Dyrespor, by Preben Bang & Preben Dahlstrøm, Denmark. ISBN 87-12-01890-2 (in Danish).
Spor og Sportegn, by Sverre M. Fjelstad, Norway. ISBN 82-516-1656-5 (in Norwegian)
Abbe Osram
25-12-2004, 16:50
Thanks Tvividr!
very nice I think I picked my book from your list.
I am going for Tracking & the Art of Seeing by Paul Rezendes.
thanks mate
have a nice Christmas!
cheers
Abbe
ChrisKavanaugh
25-12-2004, 20:12
Adolph Murie wrote a book of North American Tracks which is still in print. I'll have to find the publisher ISBN. Murie was a pioneer field Biologist and wrote foundation works on many north american animals. His wife was a driving force in the creation of ANWR and many conservation measures in her native Alaska. The emphasis on animals common to Sweden and NA will be usefull. Murie was also swedish.
This is a good book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0198507968/qid=1104008518/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/026-8174645-0529236)
Justin Time
25-12-2004, 22:26
Gerd, The Liebenberg book is like Gold Dust. If you ever feel the need to get rid of it give me a shout :wink: I've seen it go for $200 which is far to rich for me....
This is a good book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0198507968/qid=1104008518/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/026-8174645-0529236)
That might be the english translation of this one:
Dyrespor, by Preben Bang & Preben Dahlstrøm, Denmark. ISBN 87-12-01890-2 (in Danish).
Gerd, The Liebenberg book is like Gold Dust. If you ever feel the need to get rid of it give me a shout :wink: I've seen it go for $200 which is far to rich for me....
:yikes: :yikes:
When I bought mine in 2001 it was brand new (second impression. First published in 1990), and I got it for about 60 South African Rand as far as I remember, which is about $11,5 :yikes: :yikes:
No need to worry :wink: I'll never part with mine :o): . But I will check a couple of bookstores when I'm back down in South Africa next year :naughty:
Carpe_Diem
27-12-2004, 03:30
Hi
If you want to buy The Art of Tracking: origin of Science go to www.cybertracker.co.za and follow the bookstore links at the bottom, a bookstore called Kalahari.net has it for R130.00 which is about AUD$40.00.
I looked at Amazon (US) and its listed at US$150.00 and Amazon (UK) is selling it for GBP180.00
HUGE difference...
regards
Jeelan
Abbe Osram
27-12-2004, 05:56
Hi
If you want to buy The Art of Tracking: origin of Science go to www.cybertracker.co.za and follow the bookstore links at the bottom, a bookstore called Kalahari.net has it for R130.00 which is about AUD$40.00.
I looked at Amazon (US) and its listed at US$150.00 and Amazon (UK) is selling it for GBP180.00
HUGE difference...
regards
Jeelan
Thanks a lot mate, that is indeed a difference... :You_Rock_
/ABBE
Hi Guys,
I am looking for a very good book to learn about Tracking. Is there such a thing as a tracking bible? A book every good Tracker would consider the book to have. I had a look in our bushcraft shop but could not find a book about tracking.
thanks for any info
cheers
Abbe
there are 6 books on tracking in the BCUK book shop: http://www.bushcraftuk.net/bcukstore/books/main.php?category=tracking
The Rezendes book is excellent. There are some absolutely superb photos in that book and some outstanding natural history information as well.
The best book I have seen that is still in print, Sells for about $45.00 USD is Mammal Tracks and Sign A guide to north ameican Species By Mark Elbroch.
Has good photos of tracks, Scat, and other signs. This book was recommend to me by a tracking instructor I know and whose classes I have attended. I found the format to be useful and there are more than enought drawings, photos, and diagrams to enable me to follow the text easily.
Jim
Abbe Osram
28-12-2004, 09:42
The best book I have seen that is still in print, Sells for about $45.00 USD is Mammal Tracks and Sign A guide to north ameican Species By Mark Elbroch.
Has good photos of tracks, Scat, and other signs. This book was recommend to me by a tracking instructor I know and whose classes I have attended. I found the format to be useful and there are more than enought drawings, photos, and diagrams to enable me to follow the text easily.
Jim
Hi Mate,
thanks for the info, it sounds like the right book for me but boy the price is heavy, I know the swedish taxes will put 20 percent on top of it. My wife would kill me if I buy it. :shock: :yikes:
all the best to you
cheers
Abbe
Hi Mate,
thanks for the info, it sounds like the right book for me but boy the price is heavy, I know the swedish taxes will put 20 percent on top of it. My wife would kill me if I buy it. :shock: :yikes:
all the best to you
cheers
Abbe
Are you sure about this Abbe ? In Norway (and to a certain extent in Denmark too) buying books and most other printed matter is excempt from taxes for the end user. This applies to importing books too (no import tax and no general sales tax).
Abbe Osram
28-12-2004, 10:49
yes, I am sure about it because I got to pay one day a lot of taxes when they opened up my order from amazon. Most of the time I get it through the taxes, choosing at amazon that they "gift wrap" the book as a present. Otherwise we have to pay, I think it is around 20 percent, taxes here in sweden on books. Here everything is taxed to the max, it really sucks. I think it would be a good idea not to have taxes on books to encourage people to study more.
:?:
cheers
Abbe
Too bad. Bad swedes :tw: :wink: :lol: (sorry Viking :o): )
........ I think it would be a good idea not to have taxes on books to encourage people to study more. :?: cheers Abbe
I think that is the whole point of books being excempt from taxes here in Norway ! Very good :biggthump (but then we have 24 % tax on everything else, except food which is 12 %. Bad norwegians :tw:)
Anyone want to do a group buy on the 'The Art of Tracking: origin of Science'? I'd offer but my card couldn't take it at the moment!
maximus otter
04-01-2005, 23:38
"Nature Detective" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140054383/ref=ed_ra_of_dp/026-8357515-6830039#product-details) by Hugh Falkus is an interesting book. Though not a tracking guide per se, it has a lot of info on spoor, habitat etc.
It's also cheap!
maximus otter
Yes that is a really good book, although fairly simple, it's more useful and readable then many others.
dredlockhart
08-01-2005, 02:44
mark elbroch: Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species
ISBN: 0811726266
pricey, but worthy.
Burnt Ash
13-01-2005, 12:58
"Nature Detective" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140054383/ref=ed_ra_of_dp/026-8357515-6830039#product-details) by Hugh Falkus is an interesting book. Though not a tracking guide per se, it has a lot of info on spoor, habitat etc.
It's also cheap!
maximus otter
I agree. Nature Detective might not be the definitive technical manual on tracking, but it is an excellent book and sets the right tone for anyone interested in the subject.
The late Hugh Falkus achieved legendary status in sea trout and salmon fishing circles. His film, Salmo, the Leaper, remains one of the finest on the life history of the Atlantic salmon. Falkus provided the commentary for the English language editions of Jacques Cousteau's underwater TV series.
Burnt Ash
Animal Tracks and Signs by Preben Bang & Preben Dahlstrøm is an exellent aid the tracking course run by woodsmoke is simply sensational every pun intended, it really gives a great grounding to open your eyes, ears, nose and touch I couldn't recommend it more.
Hope that helps :wave:
Abbe
As with most things there are a lot of tracking books out there with different angles and approaches and styles. Of the tracking books I've come across my favourites are:
Preben Bang & Preben Dahlstrøm - Animal Tracks and Signs (http://www.badgerland.co.uk/shops/books/nature/animals/mammals/animal_tracks_and_signs.html)
- excellent on all aspects of animal sign for NW europe but also plenty of transferable knowledge, I have a copy of the latest edition but the older ones are also good and have slightly different material and pictures
Tom Brown - Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Awareness and Tracking (https://www.trackerschool.com/BookTBFGNOTR.cfm)
- good intro to tom brown style tracking, will open your eyes to a huge amount of what you normally miss. I think this book is the best place to start on learning tracking
Tom Brown - The Science and Art of Tracking (https://www.trackerschool.com/BookTBScienceArtTracking.cfm)
- taking those pressure release studies further (will do strange and wonderful things to your everyday sense of perception)
Bob Carss - The SAS Guide to Tracking (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1585740314/102-5855241-0515340?v=glance)
- a very different approach to Tom Brown but an excellent compliment to his skills, although this is more orientated towards human tracking and does not go to half as much of the level of detail that tom brown ultimately works on
I hope this helps.
Ollie
Abbe Osram
13-01-2005, 21:55
whoa, wonderful....thanks to all of you for the great information.
cheers
Abbe
:You_Rock_