THE TRacking team

Trail Detectives: Where Every Step Matters

The Tracking Team excels in clue detection, meticulously analyzing and preserving evidence to pinpoint a lost individual’s last known direction, enhancing the search operation’s success.

What it takes…

Join the Tracking Team—where only the most devoted and sharp-eyed make the cut. Seeking to maximize tracking training and experience, our team members are the epitome of focus and precision, unwavering in their pursuit amidst the wilderness.

Learn to effectively use tracking skills on a search by ongoing training, including classroom, lab, and field work. Team members must exhibit patience and a methodical nature in the field.

Become a Volunteer

Tracking Team Focus

Being Track & Sign Aware

So, what is a sign? Sign is all evidence, not limited to footfalls, of a person’s passage or presence. Learn to recognize key charctersistcs of a track, stride, and to identify potential track traps while documenting key details.

Lighting

Lighting shapes the very essence of man tracking. From casting shadows that reveal subtle disturbances to highlighting minute details in tracks, proper lighting is indispensable in unraveling the narrative of those who have passed through an area.

Investigating a PLS (Place Last Seen)

Work to preserve a PLS while looking for clues and signature prints. Obtain and document signature print and identify a DOT (direction of travel).

Tracking and Sign Cutting

Working as a 3 person tracking team begin step by step identification of a subjects tracks. Quickly advance the line by utlizing sign cutting techniques.

Tracking Team Practice

Team members meet and train frequently to sharpen their tracking and overall observational skills.

Searching for a Missing Subject

NCSSAR Team members look for human sign while on a real winter search.

Mutual Aid – Tracker Guidelines
Download Guidelines