Counter Tracking Fundamentals

[@puffdufftv1904]

I'm from sweden and here we have a lot of blueberrybushes basically everywhere. when I was little we had a dog, granted that he wasn't trained to track but if you hide in fresh bushes they seem to be able to mask your smell. me and my brother would tape bluberry bushes to ourselves, go out into the woods then call our dog to come find us. he never found us when we took these meassures but if we just hid after not doing any of that he usually did. those were some good times, saddly this dog isnt with us anymore.

[@OldNavajoTricks]

But his teachings are still with you 👍

[@navigator1372]

Bless your little doggie. 🐕

[@rdsmith334]

In my neck of the woods, bad guys have shown carpet shoes are pretty effective. You can still track them, but it’s significantly more difficult. Also walking on cattle trails. Your prints will be trampled over inside of a day.

[@stevek8829]

I just use short stilts with cattle feet.

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

What exactly are carpet shoes? When I Google it it gave me little wraps for shoes and fluffy slippers.

[@jelkel25]

The Selous Scouts used to use running shoes with the soles worn to the point of having no grip or discernable pattern. If you've been to Southern Africa this is bravery enough but some of them would jump out of planes in their tiny Rhodesian short shorts with their worn out tennis shoes on. I'd imagine the breeze on places unmentioned was a bit of a concern on the way down, then you had to land. If the worn out tennis shoes worked and made you hard to track, maybe worth it.

[@rdsmith334]

@@jonathonfrazier6622 carpet shoes come in multiple styles, but the main idea is that you have a layer of carpet, facing down, on the bottom of your shoe. I’ve seen ones that are like over boots, that go over the entire shoe and tie around the ankle. And I’ve seen ones that are like crampons, that use eyelets and crisscrossed bungee cords to hold the carpet onto the bottom/sides of the shoe. Used primarily by drug traffickers, to carry loads across the border on foot.

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

@@rdsmith334 Very helpful. Thanks. Does any type of carpet work? Does it need to be thick and fluffy of will any bit of carpet do?

[@dennisseverns4014]

Had a Deer I was tracking employ that button hook technique once. Also was following some mountain lion tracks that were following a wounded Elk, the mountain lion left the trail going up hill into the timber. I continued to follow the Elk for a ways, then turn around. I found that the Mountain Lion had come back to the trail and was following my tracks and then left the trail again going downhill as I got close to it again. Figure the mountain lion was watching me both times it left the trail.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Crazy! My dad shared a similar story about a bear

[@THEL0G1CAL1]

A friend of mine was in a tree stand and watched another hunter walking the trail and right behind him, about ten or fifteen yards, was a deer following him. The hunter sat down to pour some coffee from his thermos and it ended up all over him when my friend took the shot.

[@sharkk2770]

Good topic Stoker. I'm more of a tracker than counter tracker but many animals have taught me tricks over the years. Counter tracking is all about deception and using as many opportunities as possible to shake your trackers. Terrain and weather are two of your biggest considerations. I can track a cricket in a desert on a calm day but loose a moose in a blizzard. I look forward to more on this topic. As always thanks for all you do Stoker.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Right on brother!

[@slappy8941]

Loose a moose? 😂😂😂 Loose is the opposite of tight, but lose is the opposite of find. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@douggief1367]

@@slappy8941 both

[@robertweldon7909]

4/25/2022 Very interesting video. Although I'm not in need of SEER tactics now, knowing how to avoid people is a good thing to know. For many years I would be hiking alone and hear others approaching (Lots of noise) and would step of the trail and go up hill from the trail. For some reason people do not like to look up hill, right or left while hiking a traversing trail. I've been 50 feet away, in plane sight , wearing bright yellow, and gone unseen by doing that. Avoiding a tracker is another story. The button hook method can make you the hunter instead of the hunter too. This is a big part of the "Gray Man" concept too. Become a gray man, avoid un-necessary contact, and leave no trace. Stay mobile and give no reason for having to be tracked. It ain't easy, one slip can cost you dearly. Oh, there is so much involved in disappearing purposefully. Even special forces folks train all the time and still screw up. You have spurred my curiosity, I will subscribe. ;-)

[@STOKERMATIC]

Glad our paths crossed Robert.

[@jxk7712]

Time well spent, thank you

[@johnburgin7478]

Made me think of the movie Southern Comfort for some reason. Guess it was the guardsmen cutting across the swamps in Louisiana. Great tips . Snow could definitely be a b*tch unless it was blizzard conditions. Have a great evening

[@STOKERMATIC]

Same to ya John. 🥃

[@sirseigan]

Where I am from bears like to do the button hook to potentially ambush a prusuer. A friend of the famliy got abushed like that while on a snowmobile tracking a male bear that had woken up in the winter and was grumpy as all hell. He came up a slope following the tracks when he got jumped by the bear who punched him of the snowmobile while he was trying to get up his rifle. His rifle took the blunt of the punch and got trashed. Luckily he had his pack of bear hunting dogs with him who jumped in and distracted the bear long enough for him to get back on the snowmobile. He got away with a bunch of cracked ribs, but he lost a few dogs in the incident. He later took down the bear in a bit more ordely fashion. Another bearhunting friend of tge family were tracking a bear on foot and suddenly he saw his own footprints and two sets beartracks instead of one. The bear had looped back and now followed him. I was creepy but luckily there was no incident. Another couple of old friends of the family tracked a wounded bull moose with a dog on a lesh. The dog, which they had lent from us, was well trained but the hunters did not know that at the time. At one point the dog wanted to diviate from the track but the hunters force her back as they saw the blood track clear as day. They went up a ridge and there to the side was a thick old spruce. Suddenly the bull moose attacked the from said spruce and made the first hunter (who had the rifle at ready, do not know why he was going first) fall to the ground. The moose pinned him with a hoof and was ready to gut him with the horns. Hunter number two further down the slope (who had held the dog) just got barely got his rifle (that had been on the shoulder) up and and hastily shot the moose just a feet over the head of hunter number one, luckily killing the moose instantly. The hunter number two who had had the dog swore to never ever again to correct a trained tracking dog because when the got a better overview the saw that the moose had looped back and was waiting on them in a last stand ambush. Had they just followed the dog they would have come up behind the moose instead of in front of it. So beware of the button hook whatever you are tracking. Stay safe.

[@GDNPD1]

EXCELLENT WELL DONE. ☕🤔

[@philippejoyal8065]

Great intro into conter tracking! Keep em coming our way.

[@STOKERMATIC]

🇺🇸🥃

[@clivedunning4317]

When I was being taught, two things were emphasised. 1. Avoid dogs ,or possible dogs ie houses , 2. Use streams as much as you can !

[@STOKERMATIC]

indeed!

[@geektarded]

Excellent info as usual. Thanks man!

[@Rockymountainvibe]

Great presentations.

[@firearmsolutions46]

Great video I belong to a Search & Rescue Team here in Pennsylvania,just completed a 3 day hands on Tracking course with Fernando Moreira of World Wide Trackers.Keep up the great work.You have me Stoked Sua sponte

[@STOKERMATIC]

Outstanding! Good to hear of folks serving their community. Hope to have a short series on SAR later this year.

[@firearmsolutions46]

@@STOKERMATIC that’s awesome Iam 70 just received my SARTech 2 still humping the boonies with a 30lb ruck lol If you ever get to Pennsylvania look me up. Great hunting here in Pa

[@RonaldJMacDonald]

Would it help to cover your boots with heated socks in winter? This would cause your boot print to slightly melt and then freeze, making it appear the print is old.

[@macgyver5108]

Just put thick socks on the bottom half of your boots. That's enough to get rid of most of your tread pattern... "I'm thinking wool work socks?!" - Red Green

[@19AKS58]

Great video

[@mpen7873]

Good work 👍

[@keithowen-js9ob]

good info and I thank you for it - cheers .

[@ambushedimagination1931]

Be still, be patient, if situation is in favor of it

[@dennisseverns4014]

Thank you for this great information you share with everyone.

[@peterbehringer63]

Good lesson...i hope i become a good student of your skills...as a bountyhunter mercenary tracker has a big role in scriptwriting work i am doing now. But it's set in a tropical country.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Glad the content resonates with ya. And best of luck to you on your project! Not to toot my own horn, but you may find my SHTF Field Manual helpful - as it runs through a lot of what your looking for as well as what’s on the channel in my Fieldcraft playlist. stokermatic.com/shop/

[@peterbehringer63]

@@STOKERMATIC Yes, it's very timely stuff....we are n Venezuela, so i have to make some slight adjustments, as 50% of the story action takes place in warm tropical forest zones, some arid brush country, and a tiny bit divided among dense tropical jungle, open plains cowboy region, and cold Andean mountain area moors. Edit: i forgot to say, the first few chapters/episodes take place in dense urban areas of the capital and some nearby small cities, some scenes in ugly crumbling decaying buildings or abandoned industrial zones.

[@batcrazyjt]

Thanks for the info!

[@jbOneEarth]

Great video!!!

[@earlunderwoodjr.6766]

Loosing a adversary in a tracking snow is nearly impossible. I move at a fast pace, until I cross a clearing. Once I have crossed a open area, I move to cover and back track to cover my trail. I then sit and wait for the tracker reach the open clearing to identify, either friend, or enemy.

[@VA434]

Good stuff

[@radovandobric1969]

Great job ser!

[@StrategicSelfRelianceDefense]

Back tracking does not work to an experienced high level tracker. Impact and terminal point gradients,pressure releases and much more of each track give away direction of travel even if you were able to step exactly into the previously left track. The button hook is a very basic trick that’s easily recognized same as cutting the corner. This kinda stuff is very basic and only works with uneducated trackers. Enjoy your videos nonetheless sir. Stay safe.

[@bugoutadventures]

Excellent 👍

[@tcarr1]

New to this. What's the best and most efficient way to get/learn solid, useable skills?

[@STOKERMATIC]

IMO, bite sized discipline will get you where you want to go. Take a topic or skill, break it down and then work it from different angles - knowledge, gear, and most importantly - hands on experience. You may have some local nonprofits that provide free training opportunities as well.

[@chanceblevins6682]

Here's a tip. If you're being tailed by dogs. If you get a hold of ammonia that will ruin there sense of smell for at least 24 hours

[@tallybeaverman9462]

Always carry a small can of black pepper with you. It will defeat a tracking dog's nose for about a day. Which will slow down the trackers when the dog stops working.

[@macgyver5108]

Something you left out, SMELL! Scent plays a huge factor when your typical "American" steps out into the woods, because all their clothes _REEK_ like the laundry detergent isle at a store does from all the toxic levels of added perfumes. Switch to "plain" Arm & Hammer detergent, and if you want you can add some wool balls ("Woolzy" brand dryer balls) to your dryer loads with few drops of lavender oil or some other natural floral oil that even the deer won't mind. Dead serious, I wash my hunting gear that way including the lavender oil and I'm goin on 5 years in a row for getting a buck in _"difficult"_ to hunt WA... Plus, bonus, the wool balls speed up your drying time by several minutes each time and so saves you money on your dryer bill to spend on... other gear!

[@jackfrost3560]

Nice video thanks . NODs are helpful along with thermal if you have a rifle 10.5 with a scope on the side a Red dot with a suppresser for flash. A team would be the best and don't forget hydration camelback Best and remember S.L.L.S stop look listen smell

[@louiemorris9598]

I run a flip cover scope cap on my weapon light. So there are accidental light discharges. And kill flash on my reddots. Don't forget you can be skylighted at night too. And keep on dogleging.

[@STOKERMATIC]

🇺🇸

[@veliborrodic5803]

Good video,can you film some more on that theme?

[@STOKERMATIC]

Look through field craft playlist

[@veliborrodic5803]

@@STOKERMATIC You are one of first channels that work this evasion themes,beside blackscout survival,great stuff,thanks!Keep going.

[@Kevin-ne9bj]

Great videos as always! Where can I buy that hat!!

[@STOKERMATIC]

It’s a Condor. Should be on Amazon

[@acefrost2845]

You can walk backwards if you have time and you have certain sanddles t thay can be put on backwards, some soldiers used mud and leavesbunder their shoes to cover their tracks in the African bushes. Brushing out footprints with old leaves on can help but the way you brush it out the footprints can be disguised it takes time though,best to walk on rocks and avoid grasses and hevaily bushed areas if possible. If you have to make a fire which is not recommend you should dig a hole to make the fire inside. Remeber the gap in the hole for oxygen but it make it easier to cover up the fires evidence.

[@vektorvictor8252]

Good Topic

[@Grggeorge]

I mean when I was 16 I could have throw rocks down bluffs right and make a little confusion then run down the hills or go across a ridge but that’s far different than a flat land I find this interesting but not something that I need to spend time watching yet so I’ll save this to playlist

[@ronhenry9496]

19D Scout. What was your MOS?

[@STOKERMATIC]

Appreciate your service brother. Spent time in a variety of MOS's, but my favorite will always be 8154, though I've spent most of my time as a communicator.

[@veliborrodic5803]

@@STOKERMATIC Good,but you go thry sere school of some level?

[@Kycirion]

Not sure how useful it would be, but if weather permitting, wouldn't want to do this in the winter; walk on the edges of streams and rivers. Just inside the waters edge. The flow of sand and dirt will quickly fill voids, or if it's muddy water simply conceal them.

[@girlinawolfhoodiewolf2426]

Amazing 😻

[@mikelgeren149]

Ideas on defeating dogs ?

[@dennisseverns4014]

Get in a stream and follow it downstream. Learn about the way scent moves, scent rises during the day and descends at night, therefore the hardest time for a dog to pick up scent is mid day when it is rising with the heat. Best advise is to keep moving and get out of the search area as quickly as possible

[@tomcatt998]

Get in da choppa

[@STOKERMATIC]

Distance for sure. Slipping the stream is similar to cutting the corner and is a good technique. Situation will dictate.

[@backwoodsman6748]

What about bear spray on your tracks

[@jerryj3047]

dogs are mostly right but you can confuse dog handlers. You can create multiple figure 8 footprints if you can thru water😎😎

[@bestvideosthereare]

It's not just the tracking you want to hide. You want to trick them of who they are pursuing even. Maybe when going on the road go back on the road and mud or snow to make it look like you are lazy and don't even know you are being tracked. When in snow carrying another pair of boots in a different size to backtrack in to make it look like multiple people. And when you can't hide your tracks in snow go to rocks, rivers, or a road and if you can't just do big circles to confuse them as it works with humans and dogs. You have to be shrewd and whilly and outsmart them making you look dumb.

[@rdaugherty52]

When I was 10 we use to play a game call chase we would get older boys to chase us and if they caught us they would beat us up or pinch us until we cried if they wouldn't play we would call them names and say your to stupid to catch us anyways they usually would get mad enough to say OK it would be at night and they would give us 2 minutes before they would start hunting us I would go just out of sight and climb the biggest tree I could find go right up to the top and wait when the hunting party had passed sometimes I would come down and go right back to where we started or I would wait it out until they call game over I never got caught and never told m what I was doing.

[@stevek8829]

We used trees for tag in the woods, but you needed one with another leaning up on it for an escape route.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@deanoverton4440]

Yes sir I just watched your video on counter tracking one trick I learned in my youth was the invisible factor sir

[@nc_mtbmedic1399]

If you chew tobacco, don't spit, swallow that stuff, a good tracker and /or dog will have good sign to follow

[@jenniferbauman4802]

You getting tracked . Get out of Dodge. S A P. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts. Fight or flight.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

We learned alot about tracking and counter tracking from Native Americans

[@Godzilla_Blackswan]

I'm kinda good at this, way too good, my ex still can't find me.

[@victorbell1378]

👍

[@sammynatal6471]

I’m different, I disappear in the midst of any city. Because I’ve been hunted by people who couldn’t find me even though I bumped up against them just to test my abilities.

[@JP-qn4uo]

What is that jacket??

[@STOKERMATIC]

My old Carhart

[@oomgawie9175]

More action less talking 👄 👌

[@brandyhouston2105]

Get real people, the only way to truly evade is disappear completely and I've found the absolutely best way is have space aliens pick me up in space craft ya know, like a tractor beam thingy....disappear without a trace...lol🤭 🤔...seriously, escape an evasion are really tough when somebody wants your ass...😎

[@STOKERMATIC]

I am from Roswell. 😎

[@tomcatt998]

There i was,, dogs & handlers almost had me,,, then came da choppa,, & Arnold leans out & grabs me into da choppa,, i gib da dogs & handlers da finga NOW TRACK ME SUCKAS. 🤣 SORRY COULDN'T RESIST 🤣😅😆

[@stevek8829]

But, isn't a choppa an airplane?

[@STOKERMATIC]

😂🤣

[@sorryzorrillo7360]

Talla shit