There are basically two types of tracking, where the success of one depends on the success of the other. The first is cognitive or outer tracking, where the spoor of the animal is identified and then followed, one step at a time until the animal is found. The other is intuitive or inner tracking, where the spoor of the animal is identified and the tracker becomes the animal, moving to where the animal would have gone and finding it... waiting for the tracker.

Tracking is a gift.

TRACKING

Tracking
Is a gift of the moon,
Of discovering what it means
To be a finely bitten fingernail,
Unsure of myself,
Alone in a star trodden sky;
Silently sifting the constellations
Yet trusting the sun.

Tracking
Is a gift of the earth,
Tip-toeing into Adam's cave,
Discovering that tracks were born
On the curving rock face
Of his retina
And that everything wild
When named,
Leaps from its painted beginnings
Out of his human eye
And into my leaden feet.

Tracking
Is a gift of the wild
Of retracing steps
Discovering my own spoor
Looking behind me
From time to time
At my own signature
Coming to know the one
Who follows
And who tracks me down
To be born.

IAN MCCALLUM
Wild Gifts